Garden Soil?

Question

I'm planning on starting a vegetable garden in my back yard and I am wondering if I need to have the soil tested for contaminants first. So people eating the harvest don't get sick. Is this necessary?

Answer 1

Unless you live on a nuclear dump...the soil is probably fine to use as a veggie garden! :)

If you test it, there will probably be a huge fee for the test.

If you would like to test something then you could test the soil components and pH. You can usually buy a do-it-yourself kit at a garden centre near you (or on eBay!) or you can get it done through a garden centre or send it away. These tests run about $10-$20 depending on who does them.

Also, a side note, usually you are good to go if you are producing your own food. You control the contaminants by putting pesticides (or not) on the veggies, you can save rain water really simply by setting up a few barrels or you can get a system of rain watering sprinklers...and you can control how ripe the food is that you eat. Don't worry about the little things like Organic seed (these usually don't grow well and are costly) or the soil contaminants. You can get some wonderful heirloom quality seeds from almost any seed company (my fav is Heritage seeds) these are seeds that produce true produce and have not been cross bred with anything (some are 100's of years old) and you can save seed so that you can save money by growing your own seed (another way to know that you are giving your family healthy food).

I really hope that this helps.

Answer 2

New plot. There are a few details to consider such as water runoff on a slope, cats or other animals that may have defecated in the the yard, and other additives that may create a less hospitable foundation for the roots of new plants (pH too high). If you are in a new space for gardening and are not familiar with what has been added to this soil it is advisable to get a test at your local hardware store to see. It is also good to test the PH levels so you can create an healthy soil environment for beneficial worms to coexist with your plants.

I would recommend the Sunset Garden book, and at the back there are helpful ways to plan a raised bed, or cultivate a space in your backyard. You will use for the duration of your gardening life- promise!

Answer 3

I don't know where you live but unless it's in an area that is known for having contaminated soil I certainly wouldn't have this kind of testing done. It would be VERY expensive and probably not needed. What you should do is have the soil tested for nutrients. You can usually get this done through the local County Extension Agent where you live. Check with them for the procedure and where to send the sample. Cost is usually $10-20. It's $10 here in Texas.

Answer 4

Unless you have some reason to believe there may be some durable soil contaminants present there is no usual reason to test for contaminants. If you believe there is a leaking septic field or oil storage tank then you may have reason to ask for a specific test looking for a specific type of contaminant.
If you suffered from hurricane flood damage then salinity could be a problem immediately following but it usually washes out quickly. This would require a soil conductivity test.
In general the testing people get is only for pH and the major nutrients listed as N-P-K: nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium.
The minor nutrients can also be assayed for if you believe your plants are showing deficiency problems.
The another test is for soil mineral and organic material percentages. This can help in selecting amendments to improve soil structure, its tilth.
DIY soil texture test
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/hows-your-soil-texture.aspx
I always recommend a soil nutrient test because it gives you exact answers about what you need to add to optimize your soil without wasting money or adding items that will just increase contamination in the water runoff.

Chart of Nutrient Deficiency Symptoms & Remedies
http://www.ghorganics.com/page32.html