soil testing

has55 7/4/2016, 5:19 am

how do you collect sample for soil testing when you have several SFG beds?

**camprn** 7/4/2016, 8:22 am

If each bed is made from approximately the same mix one sample should give you a good idea of what's going on. Read and follow the directions from the particular lab you are sending the sample to.

Be aware though that after a season or two the growing medium is no longer the same as some types of plants will take more nutrients than others. To have a definite picture samples will be needed from each bed.

has55 7/5/2016, 12:13 am

Thanks camp. what labs test do you and the others normally order and cost? Dirt Doctor recommend Texas TP&SL . seem pretty expensive. Dirt Doctor no longer support the Texas State A&M soil lab group. See why below. That's why I asked the question.

A&MS 1-0-0 FERTILIZER PUSH BAD SCIENCE

PHOSPHATE PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS by Malcolm Beck

Texas Plant and Soil Lab

**sanderson** 7/5/2016, 12:49 am

Oh, Oh, I know the answer to this one. I even have the forms filled out anticipating when I will sending in samples (2), one new bed one old bed, maybe a third in a pea/bean bed.
http://soiltest.umass.edu/sites/soiltest.umass.edu/files/forms/soilless-greenhouse-media/Greenhouse_050416.pdf

has55 7/5/2016, 10:17 am

sanderson wrote:Oh, Oh, I know the answer to this one. I even have the forms filled out anticipating when I will sending in samples (2), one new bed one old bed, maybe a third in a pea/bean bed.
http://soiltest.umass.edu/sites/soiltest.umass.edu/files/forms/soilless-greenhouse-media/Greenhouse_050416.pdf

would you put up a picture of how you filled out the form. I don't see a garden style.

Thanks, austin

**camprn** 7/5/2016, 11:49 am

has55 wrote:Thanks camp. what labs test do you and the others normally order and cost? Dirt Doctor recommend Texas TP&SL . seem pretty expensive. Dirt Doctor no longer support the Texas State A&M soil lab group. See why below. That's why I asked the question.

A&MS 1-0-0 FERTILIZER PUSH BAD SCIENCE

PHOSPHATE PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS by Malcolm Beck

Texas Plant and Soil Lab

Mel's mix is a soilless growing medium so you wanted to use the greenhouse soil/ growing medium form and test. Check out UMass soil lab in Amherst Mass.

https://soiltest.umass.edu/ordering-information

has55 7/5/2016, 5:54 pm

campn- this one? GREENHOUSE MEDIA; SATURATED MEDIA EXTRACT

**sanderson** 7/5/2016, 5:59 pm

Has, I will post a photo later of how I filled it out. That way, Camp can have a good laugh. Wink

has55 7/5/2016, 6:14 pm

sanderson wrote:Has, I will post a photo later of how I filled it out. That way, Camp can have a good laugh.

Actually, it will be helpful Since my beds are old and have verimcompost and compost, I'm trying to figure it out when it comes to percentage and fertilizers like fish emulsion, blood meal, coffee,etc...

**sanderson** 7/6/2016, 3:10 am

Here you go, Has. I gave them maybe more info than needed, but it might help them "diagnose" if something is deficient. This isn't completely accurate. For example, if I make and use a batch of compost with seaweed, then I don't add the crab flakes and kelp meal. I don't use Espoma on everything, just long season plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. So the form info is just, well, general info.

**camprn** 7/6/2016, 10:11 am

has55 wrote:campn- this one? GREENHOUSE MEDIA; SATURATED MEDIA EXTRACT

I believe that is the only soilless medium test form @ UMass.

has55 7/6/2016, 10:12 am

thank you. quite helpful Sanderson and camprn

**camprn** 7/6/2016, 10:13 am

has55 wrote:
sanderson wrote:Has, I will post a photo later of how I filled it out. That way, Camp can have a good laugh.
Actually, it will be helpful Since my beds are old and have verimcompost and compost, I'm trying to figure it out when it comes to percentage and fertilizers like fish emulsion, blood meal, coffee,etc...

As long as it's not dirt, use the greenhouse mix form.

has55 7/6/2016, 10:14 am

ok. thank you

**camprn** 7/6/2016, 10:15 am

Sanderson, well done. Would you post the results they sent back? How many of the tests did you request?

yolos 7/6/2016, 10:23 am

camprn wrote:
has55 wrote:
sanderson wrote:Has, I will post a photo later of how I filled it out. That way, Camp can have a good laugh.
Actually, it will be helpful Since my beds are old and have verimcompost and compost, I'm trying to figure it out when it comes to percentage and fertilizers like fish emulsion, blood meal, coffee,etc...
As long as it's not dirt, use the greenhouse mix form.

Would you also use that if there is some dirt in the sample. For instance, when I first built my boxes and filled them, because they were 10" deep, I put about 2 inches of dirt in the bottom and then filled the rest of the way up with MM. Over the years, that bottom soil has become mixed in with the MM.

has55 7/6/2016, 10:36 am

Camprn do you include the organic matter %?

**sanderson** 7/7/2016, 1:14 am

Today I mailed 3 samples (sans red wigglers Very Happy

) off to U Mass, one from bean/pea boxes, one non-legume older mix and the third from the new 2' x 7' TT box that is currently planted with tomatoes. I'll post returns when I get them.

**camprn** 7/7/2016, 11:52 am

yolos wrote:
camprn wrote:
has55 wrote:
sanderson wrote:Has, I will post a photo later of how I filled it out. That way, Camp can have a good laugh.
Actually, it will be helpful Since my beds are old and have verimcompost and compost, I'm trying to figure it out when it comes to percentage and fertilizers like fish emulsion, blood meal, coffee,etc...
As long as it's not dirt, use the greenhouse mix form.
Would you also use that if there is some dirt in the sample. For instance, when I first built my boxes and filled them, because they were 10" deep, I put about 2 inches of dirt in the bottom and then filled the rest of the way up with MM. Over the years, that bottom soil has become mixed in with the MM.

Yes

has55 7/19/2016, 12:14 pm

sanderson wrote:Today I mailed 3 samples (sans red wigglers ) off to U Mass, one from bean/pea boxes, one non-legume older mix and the third from the new 2' x 7' TT box that is currently planted with tomatoes. I'll post returns when I get them.

anything yet? huh. huh. bounce

**sanderson** 7/19/2016, 2:11 pm

I checked online and they are really backlogged, like 3 or 4 weeks. Makes sense as it is the growing season. You know I will post as soon as I get them. Very Happy

No_Such_Reality 7/19/2016, 3:02 pm

I need to bag a few up and send them off. The backlog probably works out pretty well. Basically be about the right time to plan fall amendments to prep for the spring growing season, which for me is January.

**sanderson** 7/20/2016, 9:07 am

I checked on line and they are working on samples received July 8. I sent mine off on July 6 so it could be any time now. bounce

has55 7/20/2016, 12:10 pm

has55 7/20/2016, 12:18 pm

The DW wants me to raised the beds another level. that's why I haven't put in the water lines or tested the soil, since I will have to shoveled out 12-15" of soil tomorrow, add additional mulched, then returned the soil, level it off, get soil samples for testing and put in the aquajet water lines.

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