pH soil testers

Hiya

Has anyone had any luck with pH soil testing kits?

I've tried both the metal ones and the chemical ones but have struggled to find trustworthy results. For instance, in two London gardens, mine and one other, the metal one comes out acid. But using chemical they look green - and I can't tell if that green is meant to be alkaline or neutral.

I've come to the conclusion the metal gadget is broken. But I'm still finding it hard to differentiate between alkaline and neutral :-/

Jack

 

Hi,

Just resurrecting this old thread as it still seems relevant.

Have been using one of the liquid types of Soil PH test kits, the one where you dry the soil sample vs the Rapitest one where you mix the soil with a cup of water.

The results seemed quiet clear but it is a bit of a lengthy procedure with either type.

Many years ago we did try one of those those unpowered push in probe type of meter, but it seemed to give the same reading in anything ! Still no idea how a passive device can detect ph ?

Today we have these more modern battery powered push in probes, so wondered if anyone had tried one and also been able to compare it to a liquid test kit or even a soil testing service like the RHS etc ?

 

Most experts seem to say that the best way of testing soil is by getting it analised in a laboratory. Whilst that would be true for the sample provided, its not the whole truth. Using my own garden as an example, what I have found is that the values change over time, which does tend to make lab testing as regards pH a bit pointless.

My opinion is this. Look for three things in a home tester. Long, double prongs, no battery, and a readout that gives the readings in increments of 0,1. That type should be accurate for most of us amateurs.