I’m letting the soil in my garden rest this year. To understand why, you can check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UMHHLTN7Lw While not gardening, I do not plan to completely ignore the soil. I plan on adding more organic matter, maybe broad-forking to increase aeration, and working to improve the overall health and balance. One thing I’ve never done before, it to check the actual pH levels in my garden. So today we’re going to pull some samples from all of the beds, and test them to see what’s actually going on out there in the dirt ♥
pH Test Strips Used: https://amzn.to/3G0uxbU
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Soil pH is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of soil, ranging from 0 to 14. A pH of 7 is considered neutral, below 7 is acidic, and above 7 is alkaline.
Soil pH can impact gardening in several ways. The pH level of soil affects the availability of nutrients to plants. Some nutrients, such as phosphorus and potassium, are more available in acidic soil, while others, such as calcium and magnesium, are more available in alkaline soil. If the soil pH is not in the optimal range for the plants you are growing, they may not be able to access the nutrients they need for healthy growth.
In addition to affecting nutrient availability, soil pH can also impact soil structure. In highly acidic soil, organic matter can break down more quickly, leading to compacted soil that is difficult for roots to penetrate. In alkaline soil, clay particles can bind together, leading to poor drainage and aeration.
Different plants have different pH requirements, so it’s important to know the ideal pH range for the plants you want to grow. For example, blueberries require a more acidic soil with a pH between 4.5 and 5.5, while most vegetables prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
If your soil pH is not in the ideal range for your plants, you can adjust it by adding amendments such as lime to raise the pH or sulfur to lower the pH. It’s important to test your soil pH regularly to ensure it stays in the optimal range for healthy plant growth.
23 Comments
I'm letting the soil in my garden rest this year. While not gardening, I do not plan to completely ignore the soil. I plan on adding more organic matter, maybe broad-forking to increase aeration, and working to improve the overall health and balance. One thing I've never done before, it to check the actual pH levels in my garden. So today we're going to pull some samples from all of the beds, and test them to see what's actually going on out there in the dirt ♥
pH Test Strips Used: https://amzn.to/3G0uxbU
Your braid is so pretty! I love it!
That's why I commented on your abundance of blueberries. They supposedly like acidic soil. Have you acidified them at all? I do mine a little. But it's a guess.
It's yet another thing on that long list of factors to tweak.
Figure it out. Tell the world.
Follow up video idea: send soil samples off to one of those companies and see how the results compare to your test trips strips!
Our garden is 4 raised beds. I've never tested the soil. We used to grow tomatillos in one of the sections and after a really terrible growing season, I moved them to a different bed last year. They did great! So maybe it was the pH?
💚🌞
I've never done soil testing, perhaps its something I need to do when I've sorted my soil a little as the London clay I am on has all sort of issues that I can sort 1st
Your ph is why your soil grows so many awesome blueberries.
You probably have fabulous soil. I would not be surprised if that’s what you’re told. Zone 6b. Go Huskies.
It’s not just about the ph. You must have the correct trace elements at the correct ratio with the proper NPK for success. If you are missing any of them or too much of the essential trace elements, you will have some sort of crop failure such as blossom rot, insect infestation or lots of leaves with limited fruiting.
We just moved to a two acre older home with lots of quirks. Barely has snything been done. I,m starting from scratch which is fine but I need so much. I need top soil, manure, mulch, rock, compost. My main concern is bringing in pesticides. Especially from farmers who spray their hay or straw fields then with the manure as well.
Very wise to rest the land
Rachel, are you going to let your volunteer’s grow?
If your garden soil is close to ideal why wouldn’t you plant ?
Cross contamination with stir stick!
Just curious, were you able to find anything about what a rest year does to the soil in terms of pH, etc?
Last September, we put in a small “instant garden” from Homesteading Family, patch next to the house(just about 3 feet)topped with the soil to plant garlic. Then built 2 raised beds same procedure:cut the grass with a weed Wacker very short, fresh food clippings, layer of cardboard, then we added a layer of Black Kow manure, newspaper & a very thick layer of wood chips. Today we took off the top layer of chips & added the composted manure & soil. The worms were already doing their work! Made me so excited to get planting.
You were going to leave a link for the Garden Sabbath rest but I don't see it… ❤
Aren't you contaminating jars with same stir stick?
We are also resting our land following the Bible is always perfect. We have three gardens and are working the other 2 this year. Enjoy your channel. Father’s Blessing
Pam says- I noticed that you used the same stirrer for all jars and the same water to wash the strips. Wouldn't that cross contaminate your results? If you have time, you might resample 1 or 2 spots by themselves to see if there is a difference. Check twice, cut once. 😎
soil is naturally a bit more acidic in the spring due to a small bloom of anaerobic bacteria encouraged by the melting snow and spring rains. hold off from adding anything to your soil now. test again in the month or so and see. watch, He knows what he is doing.
Grow some cover crops at least.
I've gardened in dead soil at the community gardens and gardened my own soil in my backyard that teams with worms in the spring; the production and quality of vegetables are like night and day. I think you are wise to allow the soil to rest. For me, I like to concentrate on the soil life. I've learned that sometimes it is good to allow roots to stay in the soil and just chop off the tops, which allows the microbes to produce valuable exudates for the plants. I am lucky enough to live near the U of I agricultural extension center and I might check in with them to see what tests they might do for the actual soil life. I'm looking forward to seeing how the fallow garden blesses you next year.