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Entry Date
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Nick Name
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Location
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Saturday, February 25, 2017
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Ron W.
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Coventry RI USA
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Entry 5 of 105 |
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Recent warm temps have made the soil ready for a sample. I get lots of emails from new growers wondering how to take a sample. I do have a soil probe that I use, but in this photo I have shown that a probe is not necessary to take a proper sample. My shovel depth goes to 12 inches deep. I simply dig my shovel down as far as it will go, I then rock it forward and pull the shovel out of the soil. I then dig the shovel back in and take a shovel "wedge" of soil out. This gives a perfect representation of the root zone you will be growing in. I take 6-8 samples over the patch and mix them in a wheelbarrow. I then place a 2 cup sample on a tray and let it dry at room temp for a few days before labeling and sending off to my soil lab for testing. My soil today was dry enough to take a sample, as the soil did not stick to my shovel. If your soil is still wet, wait until it is dry enough to enter and take a sample. This is a very early test, due to a mild winter.
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