Sooner or Later…

Yes Sister Dear I will be getting my soil testing done…but thanks for the reminder. Right now the ground is too wet for an accurate sample. Digging for a soil sample in the freezing rain isn’t a good garden incentive. Instead I’ll  burrow into a blanket with coffee & catalogs -now that is my idea of winter gardening!

For my online friends: Got garden? Get a soil test! (It’s ok Sister agrees I’m bossy.)

A soil test is the easiest way to begin a successful garden. 

The soil test is an excellent measure of soil fertility. It is a very inexpensive way of maintaining good plant health and maximum crop productivity. The standard soil test provides the status of phosphorous (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), pH, cation exchange capacity, lime requirement index, and base saturation. Additional tests are also available for iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), soluble salts, and nitrates.

Ohio State University Fact Sheet

Most state extension offices offer free soil testing – check with your local office for more information.

A good soil test is not the same as the test kit from the local box store. That test is good for finding the pH of your soil & adding amendments (lime or sulphur) but do you know how much to add? or why?

Most soil nutrients are readily available when soil pH is at 6.5. When pH rises above this value, nutrient elements such as phosphorus, iron, manganese, copper, and zinc will become less available. When soil pH drops below 6.5, manganese can reach a toxicity level for some sensitive plants.

The soil test takes the guesswork out of fertilization and is extremely cost effective. It not only eliminates the waste of money spent on unnecessary fertilizers, but also eliminates over-usage of fertilizers, hence helping to protect the environment.

I planted my first garden (at the old home place) exactly like any gardener would. Chose the spot, tilled, planted, watered, weeded, stopped weeding due to heat wave, waited, and waited, and waited….

And fell flat on my face. Oh the weeds were lovely to behold. The food production was sorry at best.  A 4H leader, family gardener, and mommy who could only grow weeds. Being in town I couldn’t even blame it on the airplane’s overspraying herbicide. Oh the ugliness of it all.

The extension agent (and fellow 4H unofficial leader) suggested a soil test. ME!! TEST!! but I have a green thumb…but not anymore…oh alright!!!…

So I did the test and got the results. Seems my nitrogen was zero but the phosphorus and potassium were great. The agent said this was very, very odd as most gardens have exactly the opposite problem – too much nitrogen because most gardeners love to abundantly spred fertilizer. The “if a little is good then more is better” philosophy of gardening.

I also found out that the sample had an extremely high zinc level.  A “Did anyone ever burn tires there?” because nothing should be growing with levels that high.  No, but there had been a AAA battery in the soil dug for the sample collection.  Not knowing an better I picked the battery out, threw it away and continued on my merry way.

Bad idea. I should have taken a sample for testing. In researching zinc toxicity I found an interesting discussion of using shredded tires for mulch. Read more  here.

The agent took the recommendations and told me exactly how much of what to use. *I* did not want to use chemical fertilizer so adapted his advice. I knew exactly (within bounds) how much lime to use, how much nitrogen, and what to look for on the label. I had never discussed soil with my friend before and never realized what a treasure of information was contained in his head. He might not be totally organic but he knows soil. Chances are yours extension agent does too. 

That garden season (2007) I amended with blood meal and had a lovely garden. At least until the 110F heat wave. I could see the garden from the kitchen sink window and carry the picture in my mind. It was lovely and productive.

Last season’s garden (2008) was not so good for many reasons. Soil wise, blood meal is a good temporary fix but does not last long. A good composted manure would have been a better choice. My only excuse - have you tried to find manure in the city? There might be plenty from the politicians but that sort isn’t good for much.

The gardening adventure continues here at the new homeplace – after the freezing rain leaves.

For your own garden – here is step by step directions on how to take a sample with some fun “test yourself” questions.

Love your garden? Test your soil. Because…

Sooner or Later…