Soil Testing confusion

[Lady gardener]

In an effort to improve/understand my veg garden i have attempted to do some soil testing. However, i must be doing something wrong. I have tried 3 test kits all with very similar results. These would suggest that my veg garden is very poorly.
results range from Ph 7.5 - off the scale, Nitrogen, Potassium and phosphorus non existent.
Growing results however would appear to disprove this as, with the exception of beetroot, everything grows to epic proportions.
My soil is quite fine, a little sandy perhaps but with a clayish deeper level. It drains well but there is always moisture further down. I add as much home made compost as i can make along with old/used pot soil each year. I try to green manure a couple of beds per year and my squash/courgette bed gets a bucket full of horse poo per plant. I rotate my crops on a four year cycle.
So what am i doing wrong with the tests. I followed the instructions closely.
You may say why bother if results are so good., but i'm trying to learn, understand and improve my knowledge.
Hope someone can help
Many thanks.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Lady Gardener and welcome. Could you add your location to your profile please because that will give us a better understanding of your local conditions. My soil results are in the 7+ range as well (This is probably wrong and I've misremembered. Please ignore!!). Its good ground for camellias and blueberries!

[Farmer_Gyles]

if your veggies grow well, the soil is probably fine ....
you have a crop rotation going on ... that's a good thing for the soil .... some veggies put nutrients back into the soil, as does your compost .... so adding your compost is a good thing too ....

i've been growing for several years now, never tested my soil .... although i do have a soil testing kit and one of those electric / digital testers and i will use them just out of curiosity .... my veggies grow just fine so i won't change my crop rotation or how/when i add compost etc ....

if it ain't broke, don't fix it ....

[rpt]

I have a pH meter that I got from Wilkinson for £4. Shows my soil is about pH 6.5 throughout my veg bed so it seems pretty consistent. It's useful so I know if to lime for brassicas.

Is soil of pH 7+ good for camellias and blueberries? I thought they needed acidic soil.

[Farmer_Gyles]

I have a pH meter that I got from Wilkinson for £4. Shows my soil is about pH 6.5 throughout my veg bed so it seems pretty consistent.

test it in other people's soil, just to make sure it gives readings other than 6.5 ....

[rpt]

test it in other people's soil, just to make sure it gives readings other than 6.5 ....

I seem to remember it gave a lower reading last year which is why I limed the bed before planting sprouts. Good point though - I'll try it somewhere else.

[veggiechicken]

I have a pH meter that I got from Wilkinson for £4. Shows my soil is about pH 6.5 throughout my veg bed so it seems pretty consistent. It's useful so I know if to lime for brassicas.

Is soil of pH 7+ good for camellias and blueberries? I thought they needed acidic soil.

Apologies - as I'm suffering from Soil Testing confusion too! Camellias do grow well but its a while since I tested the soil and I'm sure to be wrong!

[Kaiya]

There are websites around that list weeds and which soil types they indicate (which you could compare to the test results), although I've found the info of limited use. Since I get chickweed, groundsel and borage that tells me my soil is wet, cultivated and has good fertility. Which, being a clay allotment, is not incredibly surprising... It suggests acid since borage prefers that, as does the occasional plaintain but it's not massively conclusive.

What Weeds Can Tell Us About the Soil | NW Farms & Food
Soil Types And Weeds – How To Tell Which Soil You Have By The Weeds
^ there are more.

[Snadger]

Acid soil (Thats below 7pH, which is neutral) is best for tatties. Alkaline soil (above 7pH) is usually recommended for brassicas.
A good all round soil is about 6.8pH or ever so slightly acid.
Nitrogen is too fluid in the soil to get an accurate test result.
Most soils have an abundance of phosphate (which isn't fluid)
Potassium is very fluid and is commonly in short supply, but easily administered in its various forms.

[Two_Sheds]

i've been growing for several years now, never tested my soil ...

Same here. Ignorance is bliss


(those pH kits aren't worth the paper they're printed on, imo)

[Two_Sheds]

test it in other people's soil, just to make sure it gives readings other than 6.5 ....

Also try testing lemon juice or vinegar, or water ...