Question about soil test kits

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Earlysville Earlysville, VA Jan 11, 2009

Does anyone have experience with the do it yourself soil test kits. If so, is there a brand with model that you would feel comfortable recommending? If you could also give me the name of any you have had trouble with so I don’t buy it, that would help to. I need something like this to take samples in vegetable gardens.
Thanks,
Ed

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Ozark Ozark, MO(Zone 6a) Jan 13, 2009

Sorry, I've never used a do it yourself soil test kit. I think I have a better suggestion, though.

Here, our University Extension Office runs detailed soil tests for $12. I have that done about once every third year for my vegetable garden. The drill is to take a clean glass pint jar with a lid and fill it with soil from at least three spots in your garden. Don't take the soil from right on top, dig down a few inches. I tape my name and address to the jar, drop it off at our local U.E. office, and the test results come in the mail about a week later.

The results are detailed, showing percentages and ranges of the nutrients and trace minerals as well as the percentage of organic matter, and the soil pH. If any additions to the soil are needed they are listed in pounds recommended per 1000 square feet, so they're real easy to figure. The expert who did the test always writes some notes at the bottom of the sheet, and his phone number is included if I have any questions.

I think that's a WHOLE lot better than a do-it-yourself kit, and the cost can't be much more. It shouldn't be too hard for you to find out what agency does this service in your area.

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paulgrow Allen Park, MI(Zone 6a) Jan 13, 2009

I agree 100% with Ozark.

Paul

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Farmerdill Augusta, GA(Zone 8a) Jan 13, 2009

Concur. I have tried both the chemical and electronic soil test kits. Most of them don't even get results in the ballpark. Get the professional soil test via your Ag extension agent.

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