Soil testing kits or companies.

[Jimmy]

I have had a small plot for 30 years or so. A few years ago converted to raised beds. Wish I had done it from the start.

I suspect my soil has become "unbalanced" over the years.
I use bags of muck and occasionally a bit of lime.
Plus the plot has become much higher due to years of emptying grow bags etc. onto it.

Wondered if soil testing is any good.

What are the kits like now, I remember one from years ago where you had to match one muddy colour against another, very imprecise.

Anyone used a send away company, recommendations ?

Jimmy

[Kleftiwallah]

The test kits where you compare the colour of the 'water' above the mud in the test tube against a colour code are very accurate. I should re-assess your ground in various areas following the instructions as closely as you can.

Far far more accurate than a spike you thrust into the soil.

Cheers, Tony.

[sternyboy]

I got 1 of them colour match kits from my local garden centre the other week and found it very useful too, although I am colour blind so had to get SHMBO to double check it for me.
They also done a battery powered jobby that just has a spike you push into the ground and a guage with a needle from what I could see.
I'm sure your local centre should be able to give all the advise you need

[Feral007]

Is it testing just the pH of the soil tho? It's a good start but not the end of the story.
We will be getting our farm tested soon. Soon as I has the money! But we will be putting 30 samples together and sending it off. They will do a pH def. but then all the minerals will be assessed. Trouble ere is that 'super phosphate' is routinely added to soil, but due to other minerals being out of whack, the phosphate is locked up and not available. As soon as the minerals are sorted then the phosphate that is present becomes available. Sometimes worth getting a full test so that you get good value in your plants

[Kaiya]

Do you have any reason to question the balance of your soil? Are the plants doing ok?

[alldigging]

Kaiya beat me to it - If you can grow a mix of plants then the soil is probably ok.
If plants from particular families don't do well then there might be something worth spending the money on.