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pH testing soil, what do you recommend?

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  • pH testing soil, what do you recommend?

    Having spent the last zillion years growing on the same land, I realized something was
    Wrong last year as a lot of seeds failed to germinate and a poor crop of virtually everything was the result.
    Anyways today I tested my soil using a digital pH meter also a rapitest soil analysis kit, 2 different readings of between 3.5 - 5 digi and 6 with the rapidtest.
    Also tried both on a (new to me) bag of mpc, 5 and 6 respectively.
    So, the question dear readers, what do you use and what do you recommend?
    I am on chalky,flinty soil if that makes any difference to your recommendations.

    Many Thanks for your time.
    Feed the soil, not the plants.
    (helps if you have cluckies)

    Man v Squirrels, pigeons & Ants
    Bob

  • #2
    I find the digi meters unreliable and always go with a soil analysis kit - why can't I find good old litmus paper anymore?
    What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter?
    Pumpkin pi.

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    • #3
      Whenever I have tried these things I've been left totally unconvinced. I tried the liquid kit agas ago and came out with a reading of around 6, which I didn't believe as I am pretty certain I have slightly acid soil. I then tried a pH meter, which gave a reading of 1. That would mean my soil has the same pH as concentrated sulphuric acid, nothing would grow in it at all, and I would likely have no fingers left as they would have been burned by the acid, so I was not at all impressed.

      If your soil is chalky it is almost certain to be alkaline, as chalk is just another form of limestone (both are calcium carbonate). I am very dubious that you would suddenly get the sort of symptoms you describe on land you have been growing on for years as a result of the pH. It sounds more likely that something else has caused this. My prime suspects would be one or more of:
      Manure or compost containing weedkiller
      Lack of watering at strategic times
      Too much water at strategic times

      As most of your crops were affected and as you are used to growing on that land I woud strongly suspect the first of these. There could be other causes, but things like a bad batch of seeds would appear to be ruled out by the scale of the problem.
      A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard Nimoy

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      • #4
        Originally posted by skeggijon View Post
        I find the digi meters unreliable and always go with a soil analysis kit - why can't I find good old litmus paper anymore?
        Litmus seems to have been overtaken by universal indicator because it is possible to get a more accurate reading of the pH as opposed to simply acid or alkaline.
        A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP. - Leonard Nimoy

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        • #5
          Cheap pH meters notoriously unreliable - no calibration ability, no control-solutions with which to calibrate them.

          On that basis I would say your soil is pH=6, which sounds OK ?

          I think the test-tube test kits are not suitable for using with Compost? (not sure why though, something I vaguely remember reading in the manufacturer's blurb)

          Folk like RHS offer soil testing analysis, if you wanted a second opinion ?
          K's Garden blog the story of the creation of our garden

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          • #6
            Here's one I prepared earlier http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1179087

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Penellype View Post
              Whenever I have tried these things I've been left totally unconvinced. I tried the liquid kit agas ago and came out with a reading of around 6, which I didn't believe as I am pretty certain I have slightly acid soil. I then tried a pH meter, which gave a reading of 1. That would mean my soil has the same pH as concentrated sulphuric acid, nothing would grow in it at all, and I would likely have no fingers left as they would have been burned by the acid, so I was not at all impressed.

              If your soil is chalky it is almost certain to be alkaline, as chalk is just another form of limestone (both are calcium carbonate). I am very dubious that you would suddenly get the sort of symptoms you describe on land you have been growing on for years as a result of the pH. It sounds more likely that something else has caused this. My prime suspects would be one or more of:
              Manure or compost containing weedkiller
              Lack of watering at strategic times
              Too much water at strategic times

              As most of your crops were affected and as you are used to growing on that land I woud strongly suspect the first of these. There could be other causes, but things like a bad batch of seeds would appear to be ruled out by the scale of the problem.
              1 & 2 can be dismissed, but going on last years weather, 3 is a distinct possibility.
              Feed the soil, not the plants.
              (helps if you have cluckies)

              Man v Squirrels, pigeons & Ants
              Bob

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by veggiechicken View Post
                You are an icon to us mere mortals
                Feed the soil, not the plants.
                (helps if you have cluckies)

                Man v Squirrels, pigeons & Ants
                Bob

                Comment

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