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Nh

i posted a similar ? in the general discussions but thought maybe i should own up to the fact that when it comes to soil testing and knowing if you have high nitrogen levels or phosphate etc i dont have a clue. beyond knowing the reading and whether its a good one or bad, what indicates the specifics?

6/26/2006 5:52:31 PM

Midwest

See Tremor's post about N in the Fertilizing and Watering Forum. The lab you choose either estimates N level based on base saturation or they actually extract N. You should know your N level so there is enough of it to produce a crop (or, healthy growth). I don't know if you applied compost or manures but these organic ammendments contain a pretty significant amount of N. As the season progresses, that N is released by biological activity making it available to your plant. If you over do it before or during the season, your leaves will burn and other processes like flowering/fruiting will be affected negatively. Plants don't want too much N. But, if there's too little, you don't have much of a plant. Wait until next spring when everyone puts their soil test results on-line. It's an education and a real time for learning.
Best wishes!
Greg

6/27/2006 8:29:22 PM

Nh

thanks greg! i can see that it will take time to learn all this

6/27/2006 10:58:55 PM

Montoursville, PA

Hey...........save your bucks right now. Make you soil test during the last month, of your growing season. This will enable some of us to help you based on the test results,to possibly make some ammendments that will help next year's grow.

At this hour if I knew I could grow good healthy weeds I would bet a 500 lb. pumpkin is possible without further NPK or PH knowledge.

6/28/2006 4:07:37 PM

Montoursville, PA

Your big deal would be to haul in manures and leaves to add this fall. It has been my observation that time gets very short when you need to be applying ammendments and fertilizers. When the big bulky things are not ready to toss on the patch it does not often get done. After all that goodness in and tilled be ready to plant a cover crop.

Do that and I will add four to five hundred more pounds to the possible results. :)))

6/28/2006 4:11:30 PM