Soil testing without a Kit

[veggiechicken]

A good video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pOJ4uVJ7qo

Anybody going to join me in spitting on a handful of soil and making a ball, a sausage and listening to it?

No really, I'm not making it up. Watch the video and report back with your results.

[burnie]

Is it April already, did I miss Hogmanay again?

[veggiechicken]

I know you haven't watched the video 'cos you posted just after I did.
Watch it and have a play with your soil ball.

[1Bee]

I haven't watched the video, but I have done this.

I've also tasted soil for sweetness/sourness. But I try to choose a patch the cat hasn't visited. ;-)

[veggiechicken]

I rolled a ball (molehill soil mixed with rainwater, not spit as I'd just eaten cheese on toast and thought it might affect the results!).
Then I rolled a sausage which kept splitting up.
Managed a very slight curve before it broke in two.
Had a listen to a piece and I could hear the crunching noises.

At that point a friend arrived and I had to explain that the object in my hand was not dog poo and could they not talk for a moment as I was listening to it.

Verdict - Sandy loam.

[roitelet]

Fascinating, I will give it a try.

[4Shoes]

It was the sort of thing I'd see as a child. You can also tell quite a bit from the weeds.

There is also a thread here on weeds that help to identify soil type.

https://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gr...-ph_88960.html

[Jay-ell]

I've tasted soil before. Not for any other reason except that's what 12 year old boys do.

There's the bicarb and vinegar test. If it fizzes when you add bicarb its acidic, if it fizzes when you add vinegar it's alkaline.

[rary]

I rolled a ball (molehill soil mixed with rainwater, not spit as I'd just eaten cheese on toast and thought it might affect the results!).
Then I rolled a sausage which kept splitting up.
Managed a very slight curve before it broke in two.
Had a listen to a piece and I could hear the crunching noises.

At that point a friend arrived and I had to explain that the object in my hand was not dog poo and could they not talk for a moment as I was listening to it.

Verdict - Sandy loam.

What was your friends verdict?- Nutter

[Chestnut]

Mine is definitely clay. It sticks to boots and spades, and can make a tight ring without splitting.
Will have to try the bicarb vinegar tests, but there’s no way I’m tasting soil with the number of cats which ‘visit’ our site!

[Jay-ell]

Mine is definitely clay. It sticks to boots and spades, and can make a tight ring without splitting.
Will have to try the bicarb vinegar tests, but there’s no way I’m tasting soil with the number of cats which ‘visit’ our site!

Tastes like chicken.

Or possibly tuna - depends on their cat food I suppose.

[dennyjim]

I bought a soil testing kit from Ebay last year. They sent two!! Thought I'd won a prize. I followed the destructions to a T but when I checked the vials they were all clear in colour. :-( A waste of good cash.
Think I'll try the vinegar and bicarb method

[1Bee]

'My' weeds are nettles, docks, buttercup and horsetails. The allotment book I first read said you need to lime as part of your rotation, as adding manure/compost etc will over time lower the pH of your soil, so I do use lime. I've noticed scarlet pimpernel and speedwell on the plot for the first time this year, so I think we're heading in the right direction.