Soil Test Kits

Buying Test Kits
Some of you had asked about the soil test kits. The test kit I used to use, I bought at Home Depot, but they are no longer available. I ordered a similar one off the internet and it looks like it works the same (I haven't had time to use it yet). It provides 40 tests, 10 each of pH, N, P, K. Also includes a list of what pH various plants like and how to add amendments. Following is one source for getting them:
http://cgi.ebay.com/RAPITEST-SOIL-TEST-KIT-pH-NPK-GARDEN-TESTER_W0QQitemZ360132306307QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item360132306307&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A2%7C240%3A1318

Benefit of Using Test Kits
It is really helpful to know what nutrition your soil contains and what pH your plants like when you add soil amendments in preparation for planting. When they are in the environment they love, they thrive!

Using the Test Kit
You can test the soil in areas that you are about to plant, if you are planning on adding amendments and in areas where the plants are struggling. You can test various areas of your garden, and also at intervals during the year. You don't really need to test soil if your plants are doing really well. I began testing because I wasn't getting good basil but everything else was fine. With testing, I found that basil likes a lower pH and my soil needed some adjustment. After doing that, my basil is huge and lasted for months and months!

Tips
Most garden veggies are in a similar pH range (6.0 to 7.0) and can be grouped together which is particularly important for crop rotation. Some, however, prefer a different soil and can't be rotated in. For example, potato likes 4.5 to 6.0, basil likes 5.5 to 6.5, chives 6.0 to 7.0 and mint likes 7.0 to 8.0. If your plants are struggling, you can use a test kit to see if something needs to be adjusted! It is very satifying to make an adjustment and see a plant thrive!