Can anyone recommend a soil testing kit? I know we have acidic soil, since we’re in NE, but I have no idea if there is anything else I should be adding. My SO is fertilizer happy, as well, and I feel like he puts way too much on.
You can usually buy basic soil test kits at a good garden center. Some are more accurate than others. Easiest thing might be to submit a soil sample to your local extension service office (CES). Call them for directions on gathering the sample. Collect soil as instructed & put in a ziploc. Bring to CES. They will send it to the local university lab & get you printout of the basic soil nutrient levels and pH, for a small fee. You can often get mirconutrients for an additional fee, but I’d save the money unless you have noticed some definite problems.
If you ask, many will also make recommendations on what and how much fertilizer to use. Then you can “share” with DH and show him how you can save money buy not putting out so much fertilizer. :winkgrin: Excess fertilizer use is not only expensive but also bad for water quality when it leaches into the aquifer.
I like to use lots of aged compost for a variety of reasons. It helps stabilize the pH some, adds organic matter, and aids moisture retention. If you need to bring pH up a lot, dolomitic lime is the go-to material. Realize that lime breaks down very slowly and may take a year to show any effect. Again, the soil test results should tell you how much you might need to add. Most fertilizers tend to acidify the soil over time, so DH may be contributing to an acid pH problem. :eek:
My problem with salsa is that the cilantro is ready first, then garlic, then the tomatoes, then the onions. How do people time it properly? I guess I can stagger the cilantro, but there is a problem with the tomatoes and onions being ready…
Ah, timing is everything. Really it’s not that hard for salsa. Remember garlic and onions both store quite well if kept cool/refrigerated. So they are easy to hold until the tomatoes are ready. As for the cilantro - I use a slow bolting variety; literally named that & available from Renee’s Garden Seeds.
http://www.reneesgarden.com/
Do several sowings, one of which is timed for mid summer (late Julyish here in the far north.) The late one is the one that’s usually ready at the same time as the tomatoes, but if it’s a hot summer and the tomatoes are earlier, you’re covered by one of the earlier sowings as well. Also pinching off developing flower stalks may hold the cilantro a little longer before it peters out.
