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Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

What are the most important components to check for in a soil test? I've never had a soil test before.

I don't have too much time left to do patch prep. So, some of the slower acting elements may be a write off and will need to wait until next year. Afterall, I wouldn't be able to do anything about them anyway. Therefore, there's not much point in testing for them at this time, is there?

I think I've decided on A&L labs, since GVGO members (www.gvgo.ca) receive a 10% discount on soil analysis. I am trying to decide if I need any of the "add-on" packages" in addition to the basic test.
Their basic package includes:

Organic Matter
Phosphorus
(Sodium Bicarb and Bray 1)
Potassium
Magnesium
Calcium
Sodium
(Ammonium acetate)
soil pH
Aluminum
Saturation of Cation Elements including Sodium
calculated C.E.C. saturation %P, %K/Mg ratio.
A & L Recommendations or OMAFRA Recommendations.

Which, if any, of these add-ons do I need?:

S2: Zinc, manganese.................................$4.00
S3: Zinc, sulphur...................................$7.90
S4: Zinc, manganese, boron..........................$8.50
S5: Zinc, manganese, iron, copper..................$10.10
S6: Zinc, manganese, iron, copper, boron...........$15.00
S7: Zinc, manganese, iron, copper,boron, sulphur...$19.50

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

4/20/2005 10:28:50 AM

Belgium

The most important(in my opinion) are NPK, and Ph. It is also very improtant to know what your OM level is as well as Trace Nutriants.

Jake

4/20/2005 3:45:52 PM

Belgium

And I think the basic test would be sufficient, but I would take the advice of one of the more experienced growers.

4/20/2005 3:47:21 PM

Deer Park WA

I think the most important ingredient for your soil is your shadow over it!

4/21/2005 12:07:45 AM

Phoenix, AZ

From what I know:

With sulfur, copper, boron it is extremely rare to see a deficiency. However, if money is not tight, I would test it all and then you have that basis to always refer to if problems arise.

4/21/2005 12:09:03 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

My patch is near a road. Actually, it's downhill from the road and probably gets some run-off in the winter and when it rains.

Are there any particular elements that one would expect to find in road salt or other things found in the street?

I'm thinking that I'll go for the basic test now, and maybe get the full shebang in November. I should be able to pay for the test with my prize money :-)

4/21/2005 2:12:26 AM

Indiana

just get everything, if your going to spend your whole summer out there caring and weeding, and all that crap, why not spend the extra 15 bucks and do it all

Tom

4/21/2005 9:01:27 AM

Saegertown Pa.

Tom is right we end up putting a lot of are time in growing what's a few more dollers. Get S3C from A&L it's $28.00 with out the recommendations and it will give you everything you need.

4/21/2005 9:50:45 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Better idea.....Join the CT Giant Squash & Pumpkin Growers Assoc for $20.00 & have a better lab conduct an extensive $75 test for free.

www.ctpumpkin.com

4/21/2005 10:12:37 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Thanks for the replies everybody. But, I'm probably going to get a full test done at the end of the season.

This is new ground that I'm breaking. And, the season's coming fast. I'm sending my sample tomorrow and getting compost in on Saturday. So, I need to start prepping the bed before I have my results anyway.

I am just curious so that I have some idea of the direction I need to go. Since I'm new and inexperienced, I am not sure if I want to spend as much as I could right away. Isn't it better for me to wait until I know what I'm doing before I start laying out the big bucks?

If the results come back and it turns out that I needed to add some compost, I already would have. If not, the compost should level out and integrate more with the soil by the time the season's done, right?

So, I don't really want to worry too much about this first test. It's the one at the end of the season that will be more important to me.

4/22/2005 1:19:04 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

OK, OK, you convinced me. In a moment of weakness, I just sent off my soil sample for the complete test. Results to follow...

4/22/2005 2:41:08 PM

Canada

who did you end up going with? AL? or Agri?

dave

4/22/2005 3:12:02 PM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

Yeah, I went with AL because of the 10% discount for GVGO members. I think they also test for a couple more things than Agri-food, don't they?

I was all set to go with Agri-food. But, the day I was going to decide was the day that I heard about the discount.

How'd your test go? How long does it take to do it? My sample is probably going to get there early next week. So, I'm hoping that it'll only take a day or two and then I'll have the results in order to do some ammending on the weekend and some planting a week or two later.

4/22/2005 10:15:02 PM

Cameron,ontario Team Lunatic

Marc, mine took just over a week to come back. I asked them to send the results back by email through.

Phil

4/23/2005 6:56:01 AM

Thornhill, Ontario, Canada

OK, that's not too bad, I guess. I checked off the box off the results to be sent by email too. So, I hope I'll get them soon. Although, I suppose they are pretty busy at this time of year.

On a happy note, I picked up a pretty good load of free compost today (photos to come soon in my diary). I got it at the Town of Markham "Spring Compost Giveaway" at Milliken Mills Park around 14 Avenue and Kennedy. Technically it's suppsosed to be only for Markham residents (which I am). But nobody checked our ID. So, if anybody in the area want some, you could probably go and get some nice black, warm compost. We were there early, though. So, you might have trouble finding a parking spot around the pile. They're open until 2pm. Although, realistically, if the piles are still there, they probably won't turn anybody away.

4/23/2005 10:39:30 AM