Yes, you can apple cider vinegar test soil to get a rough idea of whether your dirt is alkaline. The vinegar will fizz and bubble if your soil has a high pH. But this pantry pH test cannot tell you any specific numbers or help you plan amendments with any real precision.
I tried this test on soil from three different parts of my yard last spring. The sample from my raised bed sat quiet with no bubbles at all. But the dirt from near my concrete foundation fizzed like soda for about ten seconds straight. That told me the runoff from my concrete had raised the pH in that spot.
The vinegar soil test works because vinegar is acidic with a pH around 2 to 3. When you pour it on alkaline soil, it reacts with calcium carbonate in the dirt. This chemical reaction releases carbon dioxide gas which makes those bubbles you see. The fizzing means your soil sits somewhere above pH 7 on the scale.
Here is the big problem with this DIY soil testing method. No fizz does not mean your soil is neutral. You will get zero bubbles from soil at pH 6.5 and zero bubbles from soil at pH 4.5 as well. The test cannot tell apart neutral soil from acidic soil at all. Your garden could be way too sour and this test would show nothing.
The intensity of fizzing also fails to give you useful data. Strong bubbles might mean pH 8 or they might mean pH 7.5 with lots of lime in the mix. You cannot use the strength of the reaction to guess a number for your soil. This makes it hard to know how much sulfur you would need to bring things down.
I use this test as a quick first check when I move to a new garden spot. If the soil fizzes, I know I might need to acidify before planting blueberries or other acid lovers. But I always follow up with a proper meter or lab test to get real numbers I can use.
For any serious planting decisions, skip the pantry tests and spend 15 to 25 dollars on a real soil test from your local extension office. You will get exact pH readings plus nutrient levels that help you amend your soil the right way. The vinegar trick is fun for kids but not enough for your garden planning.
Read the full article: Testing Soil pH: A Complete Guide for Gardeners
