Spent $60 on a soil test kit and found out my garden dirt is basically dead

I did the pH and nutrient test on my backyard bed last weekend and it turns out my tomatoes were struggling because the soil had almost zero nitrogen left. Has anyone else found that store-bought kits are accurate or should I send a sample to a lab next time?

2 comments

2 Comments

umathompson26d ago

And honestly @hollyc92 is right, the lab test is worth it for the peace of mind. I did both one year and the store kit told me my phosphorus was fine, but the lab showed it was practically nonexistent. The extra $20 is annoying upfront but saves a lot of guessing later.

hollyc9228d ago

Have you tried the cheap little soil probe kits, the ones with the capsule you mix with water? I used one of those and it told me my pH was perfect, but my plants were clearly struggling. Turns out the kit was way off, my soil was actually super acidic. I'd say send a sample to a lab, it's like $20 more but you get actual numbers instead of guessing. The store kits are good for a rough idea, but they can be hit or miss with accuracy.