Do you know your soil type?

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by JWK, Oct 31, 2011.

  1. Plant Potty

    Plant Potty Gardener

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    Good site John, it says......Freely draining lime-rich loamy soils

    Its talking about the brown stuff inbetween the flints?:what:
     
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    • JackJJW

      JackJJW Super Gardener

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      Apparently mine is "Freely draining slightly acid loamy soils" which would be fantastic! I'm a bit confused though, I tried testing with vinegar and it did seem to fizz, making me think it is alkaline. I have a probe now though and that does also say slightly acidic. Which would be amazing news, because I can plant out my Cornus Kousa chinensis!
       
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      • Kristen

        Kristen Under gardener

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        If it is a cheap one? they tend to be unreliable, and I would recommend getting a cheap Test Tube kit and double checking with that before buying an expensive plant ...

        Cornus Kousa chinensis is lovely :) I have a couple of Cornus that need acid soil ... mine are in containers with is a faff :sad:
         
      • JackJJW

        JackJJW Super Gardener

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        It was about £15. I did use a PH test tube kit and it looked green / light green. I've just joined the RHS, so I might take them up on their soil testing to be completely sure.
         
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        • maria

          maria Gardener

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          says mine is Slowly permeable seasonally wet slightly acid but base-rich loamy and clayey
           
        • Kristen

          Kristen Under gardener

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        • Freddy

          Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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          I used one of those test meters, which told me my soil was very acidic, maybe 5.5? After a while it was obvious though that this wasn't the case. I'd previously tested with a test kit, which was inconclusive, so I had to rely on the meter. I happened on a decent test kit which told me my soil was indeed quite alkaline, at least 8.0. Quite a difference!
           
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          • ARMANDII

            ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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            I got mine from the USA and it reads "Good for Fracking", "Drill here for Oil", "Toxic Chemicals buried illegally here, soil Acidic".:dunno::heehee:
             
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            • Phil A

              Phil A Guest

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              Blimey, this thread is a bit of a blast from the past :thud:
               
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              • Freddy

                Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                Nah, you'm thinking of a dinosaur fart:blue thumb:
                 
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                • Phil A

                  Phil A Guest

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                  Not something i've ever thought about but I bet it was spelt WHOOM
                   
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                  • ARMANDII

                    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                    I'm not old enough to have experienced that, Freddy, but just wondering how you remember what it was like.:dunno::whistle::hate-shocked::scratch::doh::heehee:
                     
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                    • Freddy

                      Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                      "Life - No-one gets out of it alive" I'm the exception :blue thumb::biggrin:
                       
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                      • ARMANDII

                        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                        I thought I had a contract for Immortality with Big "G" but I've got a feeling he's going to welch on it.:dunno::nonofinger::snork:
                         
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                        • Freddy

                          Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                          Sign of the times I'm afraid, can't trust anyone:biggrin:
                           
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