Where can I buy a cheap soil testing kit?

hollydays

I believe I should do this before I start to grow.

Sola

I think I got one from either Homebase or Thompson & Morgan a few years ago.

chuckles1066

hollydays wrote: »

I believe I should do this before I start to grow.

http://www.solarflow-garden.co.uk/wa/1/52/1778-Soil-Testing.html?gclid=COnpwNnI0JACFSRWMAodUVRdQQ

rustyjemma

chuckles1066 wrote: »

http://www.solarflow-garden.co.uk/wa/1/52/1778-Soil-Testing.html?gclid=COnpwNnI0JACFSRWMAodUVRdQQ

ekkkk- the prices:eek:

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1237

chuckles1066

rustyjemma wrote: »

ekkkk- the prices:eek:

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1237

the price you pay for wanting to be "green" in Rip-Off Britain I'm afraid.....

And yet the Government is always encouraging us to "go green" so I'm confused?

culpepper

Ive got a soil meter thing I bought in Wilkinsons. You poke the ends in the soil and it has acidity,soil temperature and how damp it is.
That seems to have been quite accurate so far and wasnt an arm and a leg(last more than one go too). My brassiccas have done well two years running with me testing and treating the soil based on the meter.

Zazen999

Hi
Never tested soil in my life [well, that's not true: I was a civil engineer in soil lab for years, but that's another issue]; I mean I have never tested it for acidity for gardening purposes.

If you really want to do so, just buy some pH/litmus paper, mix a little soil with some water; let it settle and did the paper it the top. Look online to check the colour. A local chemist might let you have a strip for nothing if you really need it. The other option would be to look at other people's gardens and see what is growing there; that's usually the best way of finding out.

However, what will you do with the information once you have it???

A_Clock

B&Q has one for £1.98

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9371977&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=soil+test&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1199043389654&isSearch=true

hollydays

Thanks for all your contributions-I used to be an enthusiastic gardener-not much on the vege side-but i have done it. I thought i remembered that it is said you should do a soil check to see what you can and cant grow!
That may be outdated now-or only relevant if you live in the far -flung reaches rather than fairly central! Also at the moment I only will have a fairly small area unless we demolish the green house and or the second shed (oh is a shed virgin so is not keen to part with that). My daughter is currently borrowing all my garden books so i couldnt check.

Zazen999

Hi

Pop a raised bed made from reclaimed wood on it, and fill with compost, and you can control the soil in there anyway!
Most things will grow in most soils; the more important thing is, if you are using soil itself, to add loads of compost. Unless every house has nothing but rhodedendrons or azaleas in your road, you should be ok. Also, ask the neighbours if you are out and about, they'll usually know.

I'd just start growing this season, and start a composter for your own compost.

hollydays

We look out over an open field with cows looking into our garden-Is it ok to steal cow pats to compost?! er..is cow muck only good for roses..thinks..