LaFarm Winter Solstice 2013

We all want to grow healthy vegetables, but do you consider how important it is to ‘grow’ healthy soil in your gardens, too?  LaFarm does a yearly soil test to see how our soil has improved or has been depleted after each growing season.  The test results also point the way towards how LaFarm can best amend the soil in the coming months.  Knowing your soil needs is a great way to apply the correct amount of the right micro and macro nutrients for your particular garden. Applying too few amendments may mean compromised crops and the slew of issues that brings.  Applying too much or the incorrect amendments may mean wasted money or harmful imbalances in your soil.  The Penn State Extension folks recommend testing your soil at about the same time each year, and to test regularly with no more than 3 years in between tests.

A great day for 2013/2014 LaFarm Soil Test

LaFarm Winter Solstice 2013 Soil Collection Field B

The 2012/2013 LaFarm soil test was done on a mild December day during a mild winter.  This year the test was done on a rare thaw during our coldest winter in years.  It happened to be the solstice on the day that we could get into the soil and take our sample, and I may be inspired by that to start a traditional Solstice Day soil test.  What better a day to look back and plan forward than on the ‘birthday of the unconquered sun’?  The soil test was done by the LaFarm manager and a volunteer, with the help of the Penn State Extension soil probe, a useful little tool for proper soil tests.  When we get the test results back we will post them here.  It is important to get your own soil testing envelope kit and follow soil sample directions carefully.  You can test your soil any time of the year, spring and fall are often the most popular times.  Get all the info you need to test the soil at your farm or garden here, on the Master Gardener site for the Lehigh Valley.