tips & tricks
T
he importance of soil testing
cannot be stressed enough. Any
grower, from a professional farmer to
a backyard hobbyist, should know the
basics about the soil that they grow in.
Hundreds to thousands of dollars worth
of soil amendments can be wasted per
year if they are applied without testing
to learn just what the soil already has
and what it needs to support healthy
growth and abundant yields. Testing
allows gardeners to make informed
decisions on what to add to the soil.
Fortunately, soil testing is not as
mysterious or complicated as some
folks think it is. Growers don’t need
any advanced degree in chemistry
or need to be independently wealthy
to perform a soil test and analysis.
It is both a relatively easy and
inexpensive process. Gardeners also
have the choice between doing the test
themselves or taking advantage of their
local cooperative extension service.
Cooperative extensions are usually in
every county in each state of the United
States (they also exist in various forms
throughout the developed world).
They are a function of a state’s land-
grant college or university. These are
institutions of higher learning that
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grow cycle