Minnesota!

[duluthralphie]

My garden is a complete lost cause this year.

Have you tried placing a dead bullhead under every plant?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

My Garden too Cyrus. Well my vegetable garden. The one I have to hike to on the other side of the pole shed. I have a kitchen herb/flower garden that's clean as a whistle because it's 5 steps off the deck. I'm just getting old and should have everything close to the house in my old age. If it's out of sight it's out of mind. Do some of that raised bed planting business. But I think DH will flip a lid if I add to the hillside. I guess it hasn't stopped me before.

He knows he has no say in the house much any more....

 

[KlopKlop]

Has it just been a bad veggie garden year? The cool weather in spring didn't help plus it's been really wet here. I just assumed my soil is poor.

The UofM extension office does soil sample tests for $12 or so. I plan on sending a sample in to help me prep for next year. They will tell you exactly how much of what to apply

 

[gofeedthegirls]

Has it just been a bad veggie garden year? The cool weather in spring didn't help plus it's been really wet here. I just assumed my soil is poor.

The UofM extension office does soil sample tests for $12 or so. I plan on sending a sample in to help me prep for next year. They will tell you exactly how much of what to apply

If you want to save some money. NDSU is a good place to have your samples checked. We send in about 200 bags a year.

 

[KlopKlop]

Do the do it for free?

 

[duluthralphie]

Do the do it for free?

You might also want to check with the Owatonna High School Ag teacher. I have no idea if they still do it, but a century and a half ago when I was in High School, we did soil tests for free for local farmers. The worse they can say is Nope.


We had to make a report for the farmer with what to add to the soil for a variety of crops. No matter what or where you get the test you will not get one formula will work for everything. All plants have different needs.

 

[gofeedthegirls]

Do the do it for free?

No its not free. But they do however offer different types of tests. The basic one will cover your soil ph. Aswell as your N P and K levels. However they offer another test for a bit more that will cover your micro nutrients and recommendations for them aswell as what the basic test covers too. If I remember right thats where we saved money going through NDSU vs others.

 

[KlopKlop]

No its not free. But they do however offer different types of tests. The basic one will cover your soil ph. Aswell as your N P and K levels. However they offer another test for a bit more that will cover your micro nutrients and recommendations for them aswell as what the basic test covers too. If I remember right thats where we saved money going through NDSU vs others.

I looked it up and it looks very similar to the U's tests. They will give you phosphorus, potassium, pH and lime requirement, organic matter (%) and estimated texture class, test for Lead and Soluble Salt levels (from excess fertilizer or road salt)

Micronutrients are extra but with the basic test they will send a recommendation for soil amendment

 

[scandiafowl]

Our garden is rocking. It's planted where the cows used to hang out. My tomato plants are in a raised bed.

I have no social life but will harvest great veggies.

*sigh*

 

[scandiafowl]

Have you tried placing a dead bullhead under every plant?

Just like the First Nations!