Update From Uncle Ralf

Today was somewhat of an adventure.  The wife and I went to our local university to have our soil tested.  Wait, let me back up a bet.  The previous day, I went to the landfill to cop some of the free compost everyone in the know has been raving about.  I lined the trunk of my car with a rain tarp (this thing has a billion uses) and filled up.

So, obviously, I was very pleased with a trunk load of this black gold.  Eagerly, I unloaded and tilled into the soil.  It looked great.  You know, black the way you might expect volcanic ash to look.  So, I just knew this ground was ready yield the best fruit and vegetables imaginable.  However, just to be certain, I went to the garden department to get some combination compost and cow manure to give it some more kick.  Someone had mentioned that compost lacked nutrients and was really only good for holding moisture in the soil.  So, I don't know what to believe.

Back to today.  At the lab, we received what we thought was some  good news.  The lad said our soil was neutral Ph.  We did not really know what to make of that.  It was explained that we should have no problem planting in the soil.  Well, experience would suggest other wised.  So we had to fish for an answer, if our soil was good for planting so we would get the big fat harvest one day.  Finally, they suggested using some fertilizer.  Plants need sun, water and food.  This test was only about PH level. 

I still don't know what PH has to do with anything.  But, apparently our soil was good, and the different samples, one of with was filled with expensive Miracle Gro and everything else, were indistinguishable. 

Finally, we called uncle Ralph.  This is my wife's uncle in Arkansas that grew a prize winning watermelon that weighed 75lbs.  He confirmed that its important to feed the plants.  He used 13-13-13 fertilizer.  I had just put down some 12-5-7 all purpose fertiziler.  With a little bit of research on the web, I felt comfortable that this was indeed some good stuff.  In subsequent feedings, I may upgrade to the triple 13, but this seems good so far. 

The folks at the lab had recommended fertilizer with some pretty low numbers.  Whatever.  I'm going to stick with uncle Ralph.