Excellent advice and demonstrating how to take soil samples in the garden. Growing up on an Alabama farm back in the 50s and 60s, I was always bored when my dad would spend the better part of a day riding around the fields he grew soybeans on to dig up dirt here and there, put the dirt in little white bags and send them off to god knows where for testing. I woulda rather been fishing for bream and bass in the local creeks and ponds on that day (and many other summer days for that matter!). But when I took up gardening for myself, those days of digging up a bit of dirt and getting it tested, I finally got what the old man was doing and why. The county extension agents are waaaay underappreciated!!
I help people all the time with their soil test results at the extension office. North Carolina offers soil testing free from April 1 until November 30 . December 1 until march 31 is $4:00 each box. At this time results back in about 2 weeks
Moved my garden last November and sent a sample to Tennessee Soil Testing, got a box through my county extension office. Soil just needs Nitrogen. They even gave amounts I need to apply for various vegetables in the garden. Took a week to get results, worth the $16. They even had a TH-cam on taking the soil sample. They do specific testing if you want to just test for one veggie or even your yard or shrubs. Great service. Just wonder, what do they do with all the dirt they get???
Unfortunately our County Agent does not take our soil samples as he has nowhere to send them. He does not understand as to why NMSU no longer does them. Tried contacting a couple of companies with no luck. We do not feel that the DIY kits sold will give us the thorough soil sample that we desire. So we continue to seek out a company that we can trust. Thank You for another informative video!
Lesson learned, I failed to test my grow bags soil which had done great two crops prior and my carrots stayed tiny this fall/ winter even though my tops grew well. I added phosphorus during the growing stage but that was it. Getting ready to test it.
I would appreciate soil samples for my raised beds, but that would cost to much money as I have a few raised beds. Money is tight right now so I'm using the best soil I can find and hoping for the best. All my winter veggies are healthy and I've harvested a lot out of them already.
The topsoil was destroyed before I moved here. It will be next year or longer before I even have a garden with soil in it because I`m hauling it in slowly with a wagon and adding grass clippings and chopped leaves as mulch. I do know Louisiana has acidity in the soil. My greens and southern peas do ok but just barely. The weather, armadillos, bunnies, bugs...you name it...have made growing food nearly impossible since I moved to this lot in late August 2023. I`m testing the forest soil by planting and transplanting in it and adding things it might need if plants aren`t growing, waiting, and trying again. I get soil and leaf mold from various areas in the woods. Nothing so far wants to grow in it. Transplanted green onions from the store are remaining alive in it. Radish seedlings came up and did nothing. Nothing else except onion seeds have sprouted in it. Transplanted carrot seedlings just sit there. I have no car and this is LaSalle Parish, Louisiana. This is the original home of the devil. So I`ll have to figure this out on my own however long it takes. I`ve never encountered a problem like this. Normally I can plant things in a regular yard, fertilize it some, and it grows. I think my nephew sprayed weed killer here too. He`s ignorant beyond belief and is obsessed with it. And he knows I don`t want that poison here. But he and my ridiculous sister will never admit it but I saw evidence of it.
I could do a soil test, BUT I live in SW Florida, and area where the soil has a high amount of Calcium Carbonate. My pH is forever more between 8.5 and 10.5. I already know that without adding sulfur to my soil my tomatoes will almost certainly be affected by blossom end rot. It took me quite some time to realize even though I have an excess of calcium the plants cannot lift that calcium(calcium as a mineral is not soluble with out acidity. The calcium as calcium carbonate will nuetralize all acidity. Almost like pouring baking soda on the soil only worse). I pretty much use an 8 pound bag of sulfur pellets to acidify the soil The effects of that lasts for one season, thereafter the effects of calcium carbonate will again make the soil pH alkaline. It is a never ending battle. Beyond that I have to replace nitrogen as summer rains remove 90 - 95 percent of all water soluble nutrients. The nitrogen simply washes away.
Mr Greg. Will amonium sulfate lower the ph level in the soil? I grew a lot of onions this year. And used that on every other feeding. About 4 to 5 times already. But i havent used more than a 1 1/2 lbs altogether in a 10 x 25 ft area.
I say all the time that " if you garden in the state of Georgia and don't use the extension service, you are cheating yourself. It is an awesome resource."
Excellent advice and demonstrating how to take soil samples in the garden. Growing up on an Alabama farm back in the 50s and 60s, I was always bored when my dad would spend the better part of a day riding around the fields he grew soybeans on to dig up dirt here and there, put the dirt in little white bags and send them off to god knows where for testing. I woulda rather been fishing for bream and bass in the local creeks and ponds on that day (and many other summer days for that matter!). But when I took up gardening for myself, those days of digging up a bit of dirt and getting it tested, I finally got what the old man was doing and why. The county extension agents are waaaay underappreciated!!
💙 Agreed
I help people all the time with their soil test results at the extension office. North Carolina offers soil testing free from April 1 until November 30 . December 1 until march 31 is $4:00 each box. At this time results back in about 2 weeks
Good info Greg. Would you mind doing some in depth conversation about the results you get?
Moved my garden last November and sent a sample to Tennessee Soil Testing, got a box through my county extension office. Soil just needs Nitrogen. They even gave amounts I need to apply for various vegetables in the garden. Took a week to get results, worth the $16. They even had a TH-cam on taking the soil sample. They do specific testing if you want to just test for one veggie or even your yard or shrubs. Great service. Just wonder, what do they do with all the dirt they get???
In Texas we get a nitrogen reading also.
Unfortunately our County Agent does not take our soil samples as he has nowhere to send them. He does not understand as to why NMSU no longer does them. Tried contacting a couple of companies with no luck. We do not feel that the DIY kits sold will give us the thorough soil sample that we desire. So we continue to seek out a company that we can trust. Thank You for another informative video!
Lesson learned, I failed to test my grow bags soil which had done great two crops prior and my carrots stayed tiny this fall/ winter even though my tops grew well. I added phosphorus during the growing stage but that was it. Getting ready to test it.
Thanks for putting this video out.
Happy to help!
Always great video's 👍
Thank you for helping me with finding out where I can get a soil sample 🙌
Did out first soul sample last year and it was an eye opening experience. Doing them every year now. Thank y'all and have a blessed day.
Greg - is there a test for aluminum, strontium and barium being sprayed? AND is there something we can do to remediate?
I’m not aware of one.
Yep did mine a month ago and got my results back.Well worth the money.
I would appreciate soil samples for my raised beds, but that would cost to much money as I have a few raised beds. Money is tight right now so I'm using the best soil I can find and hoping for the best. All my winter veggies are healthy and I've harvested a lot out of them already.
The topsoil was destroyed before I moved here. It will be next year or longer before I even have a garden with soil in it because I`m hauling it in slowly with a wagon and adding grass clippings and chopped leaves as mulch. I do know Louisiana has acidity in the soil. My greens and southern peas do ok but just barely. The weather, armadillos, bunnies, bugs...you name it...have made growing food nearly impossible since I moved to this lot in late August 2023.
I`m testing the forest soil by planting and transplanting in it and adding things it might need if plants aren`t growing, waiting, and trying again. I get soil and leaf mold from various areas in the woods. Nothing so far wants to grow in it. Transplanted green onions from the store are remaining alive in it. Radish seedlings came up and did nothing. Nothing else except onion seeds have sprouted in it. Transplanted carrot seedlings just sit there. I have no car and this is LaSalle Parish, Louisiana. This is the original home of the devil. So I`ll have to figure this out on my own however long it takes.
I`ve never encountered a problem like this. Normally I can plant things in a regular yard, fertilize it some, and it grows. I think my nephew sprayed weed killer here too. He`s ignorant beyond belief and is obsessed with it. And he knows I don`t want that poison here. But he and my ridiculous sister will never admit it but I saw evidence of it.
I could do a soil test, BUT I live in SW Florida, and area where the soil has a high amount of Calcium Carbonate. My pH is forever more between 8.5 and 10.5.
I already know that without adding sulfur to my soil my tomatoes will almost certainly be affected by blossom end rot. It took me quite some time to realize even though I have an excess of calcium the plants cannot lift that calcium(calcium as a mineral is not soluble with out acidity. The calcium as calcium carbonate will nuetralize all acidity. Almost like pouring baking soda on the soil only worse). I pretty much use an 8 pound bag of sulfur pellets to acidify the soil The effects of that lasts for one season, thereafter the effects of calcium carbonate will again make the soil pH alkaline. It is a never ending battle.
Beyond that I have to replace nitrogen as summer rains remove 90 - 95 percent of all water soluble nutrients. The nitrogen simply washes away.
Mr Greg. Will amonium sulfate lower the ph level in the soil? I grew a lot of onions this year. And used that on every other feeding. About 4 to 5 times already. But i havent used more than a 1 1/2 lbs altogether in a 10 x 25 ft area.
yes, in large amounts. No problem if following correct dosing.
Do you test for sodium levels 🤔
Also, do you test your water?
yes to sodium, no to testing our water
Thank u for all your videos. Just ordered 21 packs of seeds
Wonderful!
I say all the time that " if you garden in the state of Georgia and don't use the extension service, you are cheating yourself. It is an awesome resource."
Agreed!
Texas as well!
Same here in Alabama!
Adding soil before filling out the form is a mistake you only have to make once! (So I've been told. Wink wink!)