soil test

[5rod]

Hi all, is there any reason why I can't do a soil  analysis test now for those of you experienced growers

[5rod]

[pigeonseed]

I know nothing about it, but is there a reason you suspected there would be a problem?

[Robert_Brenchley]

No reason at all.

[Pescador]

You can certainly do an analysis now.
Any pH adjustment would need to be treated ASAP, but NPK can then be applied closer to planting.

[pigeonseed]

Do you all test your soil? I've been wondering whether I ought to.

What made you decide to test your plot, 5rod?

[Robert_Brenchley]

I did mine years ago, found it was neutral to slightly acid, and haven't done it since. It only needs doing once, but it's worth having a rough idea.

[5rod]

hi all
thanks for your input, because im growing large
onions this year, im testing. 2 years ago grew 400
pound pumpkin  in this bed. last year my peas were
rubbish so thats why, and im glad i did , i found n.p.k all very low
will be testing all my beds this year.
                                   :) :)

[Tonythegardener]

I really cannot see any point in testing soil pH.  If you are rotating and adding lime only to your brassicae bed then you will probably be maintaining a slightly acid soil.  Most vegetables like to grow in slightly acid soils.  The cabbage family likes an alkaline soil because they are decended from sea side plants living where there were a lot of shells that make an alkaline soil.  Also adding lime to the brassicae bed keeps club root at bay.  If you are going to test and know what to do when you get the results, then go for as simple test as you can find.  Colour ones are good. 

Testing for NPK is slightly different and could be well worth doing.  An inbalance of any of these nutrients may affect how plants can take up other nutrients.  That is why I try only to add nutrients in the form of compost.  Then I know that the nutrients are more or less in the right ratio because it is made up of plant material that has these in the right proportions.  Manure is just plant material that has been through a cow or horse. 

[tonybloke]

if you are growing onions for show, it's worth doing a thorough soil analysis, any deficiencies can be put right with 'straight' fertilisers.
good luck,let us know how you get on

[pete JB]

I get a soil test done every year for growing pumpkins. The people in the link below are good. You can get a thorough test done for about £20. You will also get recommendations for amending your soil

http://www.megalab.net/content/aboutus.aspx


Pete

[chriscross1966]

hi all
thanks for your input, because im growing large
onions this year, im testing. 2 years ago grew 400
pound pumpkin  in this bed. last year my peas were
rubbish so thats why, and im glad i did , i found n.p.k all very low
will be testing all my beds this year.
                                   :) :)

A 400lb pumpkin would have had absoltuely everytnig out of that soil :D ... I treat ex pumpkin/squash patches as nutrient deserts the next season, though given they'll have had a lot of manure the soil will be in good shape vis-a-vis humus content.... I've got a pH spike meter thingy so I tend to check the bits where cabbages are going to see if lime is sensible and check where spuds are going in case I need to acidify the soil a bit...


chrisc

[elvis2003]

how would you acidify the soil chriscross?

[chriscross1966]

how would you acidify the soil chriscross?

Flowers of Sulphur, but it would have to be becasue I had to put spuds there and there was nowhere else in the plot with a more suitable PH.... generally digging in manure will acidify slightly, certainly there will be a change from virgin earth to four or five years down the line.... it would have to be something like that though....

chrisc

[Tonythegardener]

You can acidify your soil with lalandii chippings then you will see the pH shooting down!

[chriscross1966]

Hmm... that'#s handy, I've got a ton bag of the d**n things sitting around..... was wondering what to do with them....

[tonybloke]

Hmm... that'#s handy, I've got a ton bag of the d**n things sitting around..... was wondering what to do with them....

be careful with them, they also inhibit growth !!