Be SUPER careful with those herms. I don't recommend even keeping them at all, but if you do, you are going tohave to go in there daily and pick bananas.
Mid 5's, eh? Well I'm not sure which dude yuo spoke to but if it was the older guy (mid 40's, skinny), he REALLY knows his shit. The young dude has less experience (youth, you know...) and hopefully was not confusing the pH range of hydro with that of soil. HYDRO is mid-5s.
I'm north of you but hang out in Hamp when my friends force me to. I just got DRAGGED kicking and screaming to the Dirty Truth (I was on a presonal boycott of the place because the owner is the most pretentious snoot I've ever met) but was REALLY happy with the beer selection- Smuttynose Double IPA ftw!- and the mussels in garlic-wine broth... oh holy shit were they good.
Perhaps we'll talk shop one of these days, eh?