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North Mississippi

I want to have a soil test done but i also wanted to add some manure and leaves and other organics to my patch.Should i do the sample before i add these things or after?What is the procedure that you guys or gals do?

9/23/2002 1:32:11 PM

Cologne / Germany

Add manure and leaves in fall and compost in spring because compost will be "washed out" during winter. Do the soil test after your compost application.

9/23/2002 2:11:04 PM

Bemidji, MN

You want to do sample before you add things to your plot. This way the soil sample results will let you know what your plot needs before you go nuts on it. I see your from down south so you can always add manure and such and have it composted into your patch by next season. Steve

9/23/2002 2:36:54 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Get all the leaves and manure you can this fal and till them in. I would do the soil test first. Then you can add what your soil test say you need this fall and you can see what you'll need in the spring for fertilizer and other things your soil is lacking

9/23/2002 3:38:14 PM

In the shade - PDX, OR

GOB - I think that is a great question, and others were thinking the same thing.

Looks like there is a split decision.
Test before or test after... or both?

Depending on the amt of leaves and manure - won't that change the PH of the area?
I'm wondering if there are advantages / disadvantages to testing before or after.

thanks.

9/23/2002 6:05:40 PM

Cologne / Germany

If you add leaves and manure now (from which you can never have enough), it will decompose and change your soil values over winter. In spring, you want to know what you have to add to your soil concerning PH and NPK, so that´s the best time for a test.

9/23/2002 6:33:17 PM

Bristol, ME ([email protected])

I need to intergect a factor here in that up here in Maine, I'm pushing the envelope just to get my patch tilled by mid-April with the frost we can have. I don't think I could get a soil sample in the beginning of April to have back in time to add the recommendations, till it in and let it set a couple weeks, all in time to set out on May 2 unless we had a real mild winter up here. 48" of frost is nasty. As it is I'm considering putting the rerod for the cloche in the ground this fall.

9/23/2002 7:13:05 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

Hey Gob, I would go with both, first you'll need to know what your starting with. If you have a record of that from before this season you will see the changes that occurred during this season. If you don't you'll need an accurate Ph and NPK idea of where ya need to go. Lime will take some time to bring your PH in balance so get it going. Waiting till next year can raise your calcium out of balance if you have to add alot all at once. Then you'll be waiting another year to get the soil right. Just my two cents the sooner you can get the soil in balance with organic matter, fertilizer and PH the faster your luck will improve! now about those bugs...another session Grow Em Big Buddy! Chuck

9/23/2002 10:35:39 PM

Kuna, Id.

Just had a soil test, Was told organic matter, and adjustments to soil should be made in the fall. This gives the adjustments time to do what they need. PH will not change over night no matter what you do. Test now add what you need to help the soil. Then in the spring recheck to see how your soil adjusted.
Ken

9/24/2002 9:27:26 AM

Southern NH

Hi, I hope you don't mind but,

Where can I send my soil sample to have it checked out?
(I live in NH ;-)

How much do I need to pay?

What is the typical amount of time until they send me the results?

9/24/2002 9:56:53 AM

Okla

You can do a search of this site and find a lot of the Info about what you are looking for.Here is a site that a lot of the growers use. http://www.kinseyag.com The growers say this place is about the best and gives you a lot of recomendations for your soil.
Also check with your local co-ops and they should have a list of the local extention centers for the state you live in. A lot of Farmers use these types soil test for there fields.
Thomas Hathorn
Oklahoma

9/24/2002 11:48:25 AM

Southern NH

Do the test check for biological organizms? (I.E. fungus, bacteria, ect)

9/24/2002 12:01:59 PM

Cologne / Germany

Bluey, a very good idea, but I think they don´t. You could avoid a lot of trouble for your season but it would be really expensive to test it or just impossible?

9/24/2002 12:34:10 PM

North Mississippi

looks like i got some good advice here,thanks to all again.

9/24/2002 10:36:24 PM