Come see us on Saturday, March 25, 2017
@
Columbia Middle School Vendor & Craft Fair
Columbia Middle School
13646 West River Road
Columbia Station, Ohio 44028
9am- 3pm
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Monday, March 13, 2017
Events - Saturday, March 18th and Sunday, March 19th, 2017
We will be attending the following two events this weekend:
Saturday, March 18, 2017
@ Elyria High School
&
Sunday, March 19, 2017
@ Strongsville Holiday Inn
2017 Soil Test Results
I have been wanting to get my soil tested for quite some years now, but just have never gotten it done. But this year I decided that I had to get it done, I have been having some problems growing things in certain areas, and needed to find out what was going on. I looked at several companies that test soil in Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania. After searching around for a day, looking at websites, sample reports, and packages that were available, I ended up getting my tests done with Spectrum Analytic. I liked the look of their reports, so I sent them an email asking how much they charged. Within a matter of minutes I got a reply. In fact every time I emailed them I got back the same almost instant reply, I also asked them a couple of questions and they seemed to really know their stuff. So I was very impressed from the beginning. They also have very good prices, I was planning on only have 1 or 2 samples done, but after I found out how much they charge I decided to have 3 samples tested.
I followed their instructions on taking the soil samples, packaged it up, and dropped off my box at the post office on a Tuesday. I shipped it flat rate priority so I had a tracking number, Spectrum Analytic received my package on Thursday. I was shocked the next day on Friday when I checked my email and they had already gotten the results back to me. Once again very impressed! I would recommend Spectrum Analytic to anyone who wants to get their soil tested.
Below is part of my three reports that I got back from them. They also gave fertilizer recommendations for the next three years crops that I plant to grow in that area.
I am so glad I got these tests done! I have learned so much from them. Now I want to get another 10 or 12 tests done so that I know what is going on with the rest of my farm.
At first when I saw the results, I thought this can not be right, every area is completely different. But then when I looked at them closer and started to think about it everything kind of makes sense.
Similarities between the different samples:
In all three areas the level of Boron is low, and Iron is sky high.
LEFT FRONT #1
This is an area that I really have not added much to the soil, the past couple of years. I have been having trouble with a horrible grass taking over anything that I plant there. I believe that grass likes soil that is low in nutrients, which makes sense now. Also I grew corn there last year which is a nutrient demanding crop. Soil pH is also a little low 6.1, so I will be adding some lime to this area soon.
I have a cover crop of rye currently growing in this area, and it will more than likely be a work in progress throughout the spring and early summer, I will probably plant some later plantings of beans in this area.
RIGHT FRONT #2
I found the results from this area very interesting. This is an area that I have been having troubles growing things in for the last few years. No matter what I seemed to do in this area things just did not grow very well. Last year I even added a lot of manure to this area and still no luck. The only thing that grew well here last year for me was broom corn. So at first glance when I saw the results I was really shocked that everything was so high. Then I looked closer at the report and realized that my pH was too high. A normal pH should be about 6.5, mine is 7.5 in the area. I did some further research and found out that one of the few vegetables crops that can tolerate a pH of 7.5 is corn, which explains why my broom corn is the only thing that did good in that area. Also I had most of that area that I did not plant in had Wild Carrot growing there which is a weed that likes a higher pH. When your pH is too high it can tie up the nutrients in the soil, which explains why the nutrients in the soil are so high, plants have not been able to absorb them. So big thing with that area for next year is to lower the pH.
I will more than likely be planting my tomatoes here this year, once I make some adjustments of coarse.
LEFT BACK #3
This is where I had most of my tomatoes planted last year. I also added a lot of manure to this area last year. All the levels here seem to be pretty good. A little boost of Phosphorus, Potassium, of coarse Boron, and maybe a little Sulfur, and I should be pretty good. I may have to add some Nitrogen also, but we will see. Everything else seems to be in a good range, including the pH which is right where it should be.
This area will probably be used for a mix of things, I am thinking summer squash, winter squash, and maybe some sweet peppers.
I followed their instructions on taking the soil samples, packaged it up, and dropped off my box at the post office on a Tuesday. I shipped it flat rate priority so I had a tracking number, Spectrum Analytic received my package on Thursday. I was shocked the next day on Friday when I checked my email and they had already gotten the results back to me. Once again very impressed! I would recommend Spectrum Analytic to anyone who wants to get their soil tested.
Below is part of my three reports that I got back from them. They also gave fertilizer recommendations for the next three years crops that I plant to grow in that area.
LEFT FRONT #1
RIGHT FRONT #2
LEFT BACK #3
I am so glad I got these tests done! I have learned so much from them. Now I want to get another 10 or 12 tests done so that I know what is going on with the rest of my farm.
At first when I saw the results, I thought this can not be right, every area is completely different. But then when I looked at them closer and started to think about it everything kind of makes sense.
Similarities between the different samples:
In all three areas the level of Boron is low, and Iron is sky high.
LEFT FRONT #1
This is an area that I really have not added much to the soil, the past couple of years. I have been having trouble with a horrible grass taking over anything that I plant there. I believe that grass likes soil that is low in nutrients, which makes sense now. Also I grew corn there last year which is a nutrient demanding crop. Soil pH is also a little low 6.1, so I will be adding some lime to this area soon.
I have a cover crop of rye currently growing in this area, and it will more than likely be a work in progress throughout the spring and early summer, I will probably plant some later plantings of beans in this area.
RIGHT FRONT #2
I found the results from this area very interesting. This is an area that I have been having troubles growing things in for the last few years. No matter what I seemed to do in this area things just did not grow very well. Last year I even added a lot of manure to this area and still no luck. The only thing that grew well here last year for me was broom corn. So at first glance when I saw the results I was really shocked that everything was so high. Then I looked closer at the report and realized that my pH was too high. A normal pH should be about 6.5, mine is 7.5 in the area. I did some further research and found out that one of the few vegetables crops that can tolerate a pH of 7.5 is corn, which explains why my broom corn is the only thing that did good in that area. Also I had most of that area that I did not plant in had Wild Carrot growing there which is a weed that likes a higher pH. When your pH is too high it can tie up the nutrients in the soil, which explains why the nutrients in the soil are so high, plants have not been able to absorb them. So big thing with that area for next year is to lower the pH.
I will more than likely be planting my tomatoes here this year, once I make some adjustments of coarse.
LEFT BACK #3
This is where I had most of my tomatoes planted last year. I also added a lot of manure to this area last year. All the levels here seem to be pretty good. A little boost of Phosphorus, Potassium, of coarse Boron, and maybe a little Sulfur, and I should be pretty good. I may have to add some Nitrogen also, but we will see. Everything else seems to be in a good range, including the pH which is right where it should be.
This area will probably be used for a mix of things, I am thinking summer squash, winter squash, and maybe some sweet peppers.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Saturday, March 11th & Sunday, March 12th 2017
Here are our next two craft shows that we will be attending this weekend.
Saturday March 11th @ St. Mary Magdalene Byzantine Church
&
Sunday March 12th @ Middleburg Heights Community Center
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