Do I need lime in my little garden? Nitrogen? Phosphorous? Formaldehyde? Viagra?
How would I know? I am a writer not a chemist.
But…
Now I will know.
My sweet wife gave me a HoldAll Soil Test Kit for Christmas.
It’s so simple “Even Brewer Can Use It”, they advertise. I am the HoldAll Soil Test Kit poster child.
First of all, no experience is needed to use this handy kit. That means even if you got a C-minus in Chemistry 101, you’re still good to go.
The kit comes with 4 test tubes (unbreakable, thank goodness) and includes a tube stand holder. With the enclosed pipette eye dropper, you can test your soil and get fast and accurate results. It comes with complete instructions (in big letters) and gives a pH plant list in each kit. It lists over 450 plants and what kind of acidity they each prefer.
Most importantly, it includes complete instructions (in big letters) for adjusting soil conditions for maximum production.
I have just mixed some shredded leaves with my garden soil and when the dust settles, I’ll test my soil in several locations and know exactly which – if any – chemicals to add before my spring planting.
The HoldAll Soil Test Kits are available at Lowe’s and other garden stores for about $12 – a great investment.
If I can convince the rabbits not to mow down my string beans this year, I might just have a bumper crop.