Well, I done did went and did it.
Me. Stingy, penny pinchin’ miserly, cheap, (did I say stingy?) broke down and called the local County Farm Bureau to order a few soil testing kits on Monday. They came on Wednesday and within hours were on the way to the lab.
This was a shocking event on many levels. Topping the list is I really did this! I was also amazed that Cook County, home of Chicago, actually has a Farm Bureau. Even more yet further surprising is there are really honest to gosh farms in Cook County that grow stuff other than pot! I thought the corrupt democrats in charge of everything had outlawed them years ago.
The reason for this outrageous extravagance was that after reviewing my garden’s harvest for the last 2 years, I came to the logical conclusion that it sucked. Not just Hoover sucked, but Tim Allen’s Bimford Industrial strength Tornado Shop Vacuum sucked.
* 8 Squash plants and 1 squash to show for it.
* Beets that were lucky to grow to golf ball size
* Sweet Peppers . . . What Sweet peppers?
* Cucumbers - planted 20 plants, got maybe 8 or 9 cukes out of the deal
I am tired of guessing what could be wrong. I sent in the samples and within 2 weeks I will get the results back. A detailed analysis of what is in (or not in) my dirt. Along with a plan of what to add to get things to grow.
If this does not work I will let everything go and say . . .
“Those aren’t weeds, they are Prairie Wildflowers!”
grumble . . . grumble . . . grumble . . . grumble . . .
LOL!!!
Everyone has some bad years. I wasted money on watermelon seeds one year and got one watermelon to show for it and it was overripe by the time I picked it so was no good anyway.
I’ve wasted lots of time and garden space trying to grow things that just don’t work for me, potatoes, onions, and carrots being the tops. But they are so cheap anyway, that it’s not cost effective to grow them.
I get pretty good results with tomatoes, zucchini, peas, beans, scallions, and decent with peppers. The lettuce almost always bolts. I guess giving it a couple more days isn’t always a good idea.
You will be so glad that you did soil tests! Makes all the difference in the world. I wish you huge harvests! Please share your results when they come in.
I had soil tests done last week (NE Texas) and have received the results back. How much was your soil test? Mine was only $14 as I requested a few other things be tested other than the basic $10 test. I posted the results in post 40 on this weeks thread. I will go see the county agent tomorrow to have him give me an explanation of these results and ask him what he recommends I do for my new garden and where to buy what he recommends.