Got garden soil tests results, Can you help tell me what they mean?
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The garden weasel doesn’t make the task dream-like easy, but it does improve the situation a lot. Taken from the same height as the Before picture.
Question by Corinne: Got garden soil tests results, Can you help tell me what they mean?
Ok, So I did a soil test it yesterday. Can anyone help me with the results?
It was a home test kit by Ferry Morse.
The results are pH:Acid,
Nitrogen: Low
Phosphorous: Medium
Potash: Low
Ok, So what does this mean for my garden?
Thanks in advance!
More Details: The test say’s 6.0 Acid for pH, the other results were just low and medium, no decimables. I’ll be growing veggies, corn, beans, tomatoes, potatoes, and more.
If I need to add something, How much should I add or how do I figure what I need?
There are so many types of fertilizers out there..
We’re in zone 7, Maryland, Sandy soil. Going to plant potatoes on St. Patricks Day.
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3 Responses to Got garden soil tests results, Can you help tell me what they mean?
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Do you live in an Urban area? First, acidic soils are bad for plant roots and leaches nutrients, so you need to add lime to buffer it. Also, plants need Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potassium [?], so you need to spread a fertilizer. That should make your plants happy!
glacier_kn
July 9, 2011 at 4:22 am
When a soil is too acidic or too alkaline, it will lock up nutrients that plants require.
The ideal pH for a majority of plants is between 6 (slightly acidic) to 7.5 (slightly alkaline). When the pH is in this range, a good supply of nutrients are readily available to the plants.
It depends on what you want to grow as well.
p h
July 9, 2011 at 4:41 am
Ph Acid This means that you can grow acid loving plants such as blueberries. Most plants prefer a pH of 6 to 6.5 If you are too acid, I would have to know your reading, most garden vegetables will not do well unless your soil tests in the 6 to 7 pH range. Adding lime to your soil will help reduce the acid. also you will need to begin to mulch heavily.
Nitrogen low-this means that little to no mulching or vegetable matter has been added to the soil. Grass clippings are an excellent source of nitrogen. Grass clippings can be placed around your plants but do not let fresh grass clippings touch the plants. You can allow the grass to dry and then shovel it under into the soil. You can also plant a ground cover in late summer than can be dug into the soil in the spring.
Phosphorus- you probably do not want to add any fertilizer to your garden that has a heavy phosphorous ingredient.
Potash-low Burned wood ashes are great for upping potash in the soil. Just be sure that if you are adding ashes that only wood has been used and not other stuff such as paper, foil, etc.
I am an organic gardener so these are “organic” suggestions. You can add fertilizer but fertilizer is not long lasting. Your best bet is to start composting and use compost in your soil. Before you begin your garden this year, add lime, rototil the lime in add lots of material into your soil. Examples: shredded leaves from your yard, decomposed wood chips, etc. Your soil needs care. Also, the best way to get a real accurate soil test is to contact your local USDA agricultural extension. The cost varies from $ 12 to $ 20 but you will get a real accurate assessment of your soil and you will get specific recommendations at to what you need to do. The results will tell you how much lime per square feet. It will tell you if there is lead in your soil. It will tell you what to use to balance your pH. The home kits are not worth what you get from the USDA for the same price.
juncogirl3
July 9, 2011 at 5:24 am