Northwest
Region
 |
 |
NEWS RELEASE
By: Tim Baker
Northwest Region Horticulture Specialist
University of
Missouri Extension
102 Main, Suite 1
Gallatin, MO 64640
660-663-3232
BakerT@missouri.edu
Release Date: February 26, 2009
Title: “A Primer on Basic Gardening, Part 2"
In my last column on basic gardening, I discussed a number of reasons why you should consider gardening, and how to pick a site for your garden. Now that you’ve found that perfect place, we need to consider what to do before you till the soil and plant those seeds.
The next step is to get a soil test. There is a wealth of information to be found in a soil test. You will usually find that you have less-than-perfect soil, and a soil test will tell you how to correct your soil’s deficiencies.
Some people bringing soil into our Extension Centers have the mistaken idea that a soil test will tell them what toxic substances are in their soil. Perhaps they have tried gardening, and the garden didn’t do so well. They are convinced that some toxic chemical lies beneath the surface, and they want to find out what it is.
While this can be done, it is extremely expensive, and University of Missouri Extension does not perform this service. Toxic chemicals are usually not the problem anyway.
The type of soil test that our lab performs is basic, and will tell you what you need to do before planting. This is usually all the information you need to prepare your soil.
The first item that your soil test will cover is pH. Soil pH is a measure of how acid or alkaline your soil is. If this is off, it can be corrected. The correct pH will depend on what type of crop you want to grow. Most garden vegetables need a pH of 6.5, which is slightly acid. Usually, as long as your soil is between 6.0 and 7.0, you are fine.
Some exceptions do exist. Blueberries, for example, require an acid soil, between 4.8 and 5.2.
If your soil pH needs to be raised, the soil test will tell you how much lime to add. If it needs to be lowered, it will indicate how much sulfur to add. Don’t add either until the results of your soil test are back.
Soil tests will also indicate the amount of phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium in your soil. If your soil is deficient, the test will tell you how much to add. These minerals are very important for plant growth, and getting a soil test and following its suggestions will get your garden off to a good start.
Soil tests will also tell you how much organic matter is in your soil. Organic matter is very important for plant growth, and our recommendations for nitrogen are based on the amount of organic matter in your soil.
Unless your soil has been amended in the past by adding some type of organic matter, it is probably too low. As a general rule, it’s a good idea to get your organic matter as high as you can, since this helps your soil. Many soil tests with high organic matter often do not suggest added nitrogen, since there is plenty there, associated with the organic matter. Soils with low organic matter, however, usually call for some added nitrogen.
University of Missouri Extension offers soil testing, for a nominal fee. We have small boxes in our office, for that purpose.
When you sample your garden site for soil tests, don’t just dig up soil in one place. The best way to accurately sample your garden is to collect as many samples as possible, in a random pattern all over your garden. Collect the soil at a depth of 4-6 inches and put the soil in a plastic bucket. When you are finished, mix the soil in the bucket thoroughly, and fill up that box from your Extension center. That way, you are collecting soil from multiple sites from all over your garden, and it will be more accurate.
When you are finished, bring it back to us, and within a week or two, you’ll have your results. The advantage of using University of Missouri Extension, is that the results come back to you local Extension Specialist, and we can discuss the results with you.
In my next column on basic gardening, I’ll discuss the fine art of preparing your garden’s soil for planting.
University Extension programs are open to all
Return to
Newspaper Columns
Return to
Northwest
Missouri Horticulture Home Page
|
|
|||
 |
Horticulture for Northwest
Missouri |
 |
|
|
Tim Baker |
Tom Fowler |
||