Soil Test for Tomato Bed: Question

GaryStPaul · June 23, 2012

I've decided to do what I've never done but always intended to do, namely have my soil tested by the University of Minnesota agricultural extension dept. They have a home vegetable garden test for $15, which evaluates soil fertility (NPK), pH, and percentage of organic matter. For $5 extra, they'll also do a "soluble salt test," which analyzes for "problems due to excessive salts or fertilizer materials." Any of you with experience here: Do you think the soluble salts test would be worth doing? One of the questions on the form is: what plants are you growing, so I assume they'll take that into account when making their recommendations.

I'm growing 90 tomatoes this year, 28 in-ground. It's soil from this bed I'll be sending in. The proximate reason for this is that, while healthy, these 28 plants seem to be lagging behind (based mainly on height) plants I gave to friends which have grown a good foot higher, though the fact that they were planted out 7 days earlier than mine may help to account for the difference. I grow tomatoes in this bed year after year, amending the soil with fresh compost each year (and this year with additional topsoil from raised beds elsewhere on my property). I don't really know if anything is "wrong," but I assume the soil test will help me assess that. I planted out on May 16; as of today most of the in-ground plants average 32" or so.

Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions.

Gary

June 23, 2012	#1
GaryStPaul Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St Paul, MN Posts: 158	Soil Test for Tomato Bed: Question I've decided to do what I've never done but always intended to do, namely have my soil tested by the University of Minnesota agricultural extension dept. They have a home vegetable garden test for $15, which evaluates soil fertility (NPK), pH, and percentage of organic matter. For $5 extra, they'll also do a "soluble salt test," which analyzes for "problems due to excessive salts or fertilizer materials." Any of you with experience here: Do you think the soluble salts test would be worth doing? One of the questions on the form is: what plants are you growing, so I assume they'll take that into account when making their recommendations. I'm growing 90 tomatoes this year, 28 in-ground. It's soil from this bed I'll be sending in. The proximate reason for this is that, while healthy, these 28 plants seem to be lagging behind (based mainly on height) plants I gave to friends which have grown a good foot higher, though the fact that they were planted out 7 days earlier than mine may help to account for the difference. I grow tomatoes in this bed year after year, amending the soil with fresh compost each year (and this year with additional topsoil from raised beds elsewhere on my property). I don't really know if anything is "wrong," but I assume the soil test will help me assess that. I planted out on May 16; as of today most of the in-ground plants average 32" or so. Thanks in advance for any advice or suggestions. Gary