From

Location

Message

Date Posted

West Michigan---Hasekg39@gmail.com

When is the best time for a soil test ? Fall or spring ?

8/7/2019 2:09:53 PM

Morgantown, WV

Depends on what you want to do. Things like PH, calcium, and maybe phosphorus should be added in fall because they take time to "work". Things like nitrogen, potassium, and some micros should be done in spring before or during planting.

If you have not been testing and just want to get a baseline, a fall sample is enough to roughly figure out adjustments as well as spring amendments. If you're trying to dial in, you should do both. Hope it helps!

8/7/2019 7:55:56 PM

West Michigan---Hasekg39@gmail.com

That did help, Thanks. I had an extensive test done about 6 years ago from MSU and have a good feel for where I’m at but I’m due for another as I’m hoping to go big next year. We’ll see how the soils doing

8/8/2019 8:52:10 PM

Oak Grove, Mn

If I were to do only one test per year, I would choose spring. Modifying without time to work is easier than modifying trying to predict leaching. 6 years between tests is way too long. If you really want to grow big, test fall, amend, test spring, amend, test tissue during growing season, amend. No testing...you might save $200 but how many pounds did you lose? What is that extra 300-500 pounds worth? I think if you are relying on just visual indication of leaves to determine nutrient deficiencies, you will never go "big".

8/8/2019 10:29:27 PM

West Michigan---Hasekg39@gmail.com

Grew for 3 years then moved away to Colorado and then Minnesota and didn’t have the space to grow so that’s why I went 6 years without a test. Just now getting back into it and wanted to grow giants with my boy so I’m starting from scratch. Figure this is my first step

8/9/2019 8:31:42 PM