• Register  |
  • LoginLogin
Close
Login
 
 
Register
 Advanced search
  • Search
  • Register
  • Login
  • JOIN!
  • View unanswered posts
  • View active topics
  • Gardening
Gardening Forum   VEGETABLE GARDENING  Vegetable Gardening Forum

Freaking Out on Soil Test




Post a new topic
Post a reply
6 posts • Page 1 of 1

Freaking Out on Soil Test

Thu May 07, 2015 12:07 am

This is my first garden. It's going to be corn heavy (using the 3 sisters).

I tilled my garden and then added 8-8-8 fertilizer and tilled that in. I bought a PH tester with the probes and it tested between 6 and 7 PH. I've planted my corn which I know is a heavy feeder. Was planning on adding Blood Meal when my corn got knee high.

So I bought a Mosser Lee soil tester at my local Lowe's. With the Mosser Lee Soil Tester it showed my PH was close to 5. My nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium test all came back clear. I tested it 3 times and always the same results. I take that as meaning that my ground is dead.

Is there any way to add nutrients to my garden after I have planted? My garden is about 5 days old now.

Thanks in advance for your answers.
mphillips
Newly Registered
 
Posts: 7
Joined: May 5 '15
Location: NE Alabama Mountains (Zone 7)
Top

Re: Freaking Out on Soil Test

Thu May 07, 2015 1:12 am

Your best bet is to get a soil sample and send it off to auburn. You will get accurate as well quick results by email. You can get the boxes from your local cooperative extension office.
Mobile al zone 8b
River
Senior Member
 
Posts: 101
Joined: Aug 21 '14
Location: Mobile
Top

Re: Freaking Out on Soil Test

Thu May 07, 2015 1:26 am

I plan on doing that tomorrow. They only charge $7 and the Mosser Lee kit was $11. Thanks
mphillips
Newly Registered
 
Posts: 7
Joined: May 5 '15
Location: NE Alabama Mountains (Zone 7)
Top

Re: Freaking Out on Soil Test

Thu May 07, 2015 2:54 pm

See a post here from ElizabethB, a master gardener, on soil test kits:

viewtopic.php?f=11&t=61473&p=353982&hilit=soil+test#p353982

I think if you buy a pH meter with the long probes and use it as directed, you can get reasonable results. Any other home soil testing is probably not worth doing.
Twitter account I manage for local Sierra Club: https://twitter.com/CherokeeGroupSC Facebook page I manage for them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/65310596576/ Come and find me and lots of great information, inspiration
User avatar
rainbowgardener
Super Green Thumb
 
Posts: 25132
Joined: Feb 15 '09
Location: TN/GA 7b
Top

Re: Freaking Out on Soil Test

Thu May 07, 2015 4:18 pm

Thanks Rainbow
mphillips
Newly Registered
 
Posts: 7
Joined: May 5 '15
Location: NE Alabama Mountains (Zone 7)
Top

Re: Freaking Out on Soil Test

Sun May 10, 2015 8:24 am

River wrote:Your best bet is to get a soil sample and send it off to auburn. You will get accurate as well quick results by email. You can get the boxes from your local cooperative extension office.


+1

It's not just pH that you need to know about. It's $35 well spent (that's the cost here in the DC area). The report you get back will provide information on all the nutrients in your soil, i.e. phosphorous, nitrogen, organic content, etc... This information is required to properly add amendments.
Dan - "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends..." Emerson, Lake and Palmer - Karnevil #9
lexusnexus
Green Thumb
 
Posts: 359
Joined: Mar 14 '14
Location: MD Suburbs of DC, 7a
Top

Please Share. Thank you!

 
 
Top


Post a reply
6 posts • Page 1 of 1

 

 

  •   Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post
  • Soil Test is in
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    2
    791
    by freedhardwoods View the latest post
  • Soil Test
    in Organic Gardening Forum
    2
    1298
    by TheSilverSurvivor View the latest post
  • Soil test
    in Seed Starting
    1
    764
    by rainbowgardener View the latest post
  • Soil test results
    in Vegetable Gardening Forum
    10
    1268
    by ElizabethB View the latest post
Return to Vegetable Gardening Forum
  • Delete all board cookies • All times are UTC
Privacy Policy | Contact Us
Copyright HelpfulGardener.com 2003-2018 all rights reserved.
All trademarks and copyrights held by respective owners.