Mel's Mix...what is its pH?

s1rGr1nG0 2/5/2014, 11:34 am

I know it depends on what you put in it, but, generally speaking, if you follow the book in regards to varying the compost, adding vermiculite, and peat moss, what would the pH be roughly?

I stopped by our ag extension office today for a test kit and I'm curious to see what the results are.

**donnainzone5** 2/5/2014, 11:35 am

Its pH generally is about neutral, 6.8 - 7.0.

**jimmy cee** 2/5/2014, 12:45 pm

I set up my first SFG beds last year, using the prescribed formula 1/3rd. 1/3rd, 1/3rd I never even gave PH a thought.
Funny thing is, never thought of it till I read this topic.

**camprn** 2/5/2014, 1:15 pm

Speculating about growing medium pH is just that, a guess. For little money send a sample of it to UMASS lab. Turn around time it's about a week. With Mel's mix, choose the soilless greenhouse media order form. http://soiltest.umass.edu/ordering-information

johnp 2/6/2014, 9:47 am

I just bought a test kit that measures ph plus npk. I've always wondered what the difference is in the soil when you plant and then halfway through the summer. It was about $36.00 including shipping from Gardner's supply I believe.

johnp 2/6/2014, 9:51 am

Made a mistake. It is a digital soil test kit from Gardeners Edge.

boffer 2/7/2014, 5:29 pm

I had mine tested by two different labs, and it came in at 6.7 and 6.8.

I second camprn's suggestion above.

s1rGr1nG0 2/10/2014, 11:33 am

I have a soil sample kit I picked up from the local ag extension office. I will be sending the sample to Texas A&M for them to run the tests. pH is one of the tests included.

**camprn** 2/10/2014, 2:04 pm

s1rGr1nG0 wrote:I have a soil sample kit I picked up from the local ag extension office. I will be sending the sample to Texas A&M for them to run the tests. pH is one of the tests included.

Nice! Please do let us know your results.

s1rGr1nG0 2/10/2014, 2:18 pm

For sure Camp! I already pulled the sample and bagged it. I just need to mail it off and see what they say.
Updates to follow!

johnp 2/11/2014, 12:10 pm

I got my soil test kit from Gardeners Edge last Friday and got all fired up to test a ready to plant bed. I walked out to the garden with a cup and realized that the previous Wed. the low was -16 and there was 4 inches of snow on the ground. I don't think a pick would loosen the MM. I had some new MM in the greenhouse ready to plant so I tested it. Best results were with distilled water but I used tap water. My pH was 7.5 and the n,p & k all tested as surplus which is the highest rating. I want to do a test on regular soil when it thaws to see the difference.

Marc Iverson 2/11/2014, 2:05 pm

Gotta use distilled water, though.

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Mel's Mix...what is its pH?

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