It has been a little while again, but thought I would post this.
I purchased a soil test kit at one of the box stores recently, as I wanted to try to determine what is going on with the seedling beds that were started last July/Aug. Last Fall, the seedlings took off like rockets. So far this year, they have yet to develop as fast as they should be. The foliage just isn't where it should be considering they are babied. They are watered almost daily, and they are foliar feed every two weeks with 1/4 strength MG.
Anyway,
The kit purchased is one with four test tubes w/holder, a dropper, and 10 capsules each for checking the top three nutrients and the PH. I know it isn't as accurate as the extensions office soil test. Still I thought it should be able to get a reading on what's missing, or at least in the top three. Also, it is extremely easy to use, and relatively inexpensive.
I elected to conduct the PH test first and I gathered soil from several areas of the bed. The soil was placed in a clean container, and using a trowel, I cleared stones, roots, other debris. More importantly, the lime pellets that were present were cleared. The soil was blended and allowed to dry naturally before spooning the required amount into the tube, along with the powder. After adding the required amount of distilled water to the mix and shaking, the tube was allowed to rest for 10 minutes. When comparing to the color chart, it revealed that the PH in my mix, is on the higher range. It is my understanding to that with a higher PH, the seeding's and all daylily's for that matter, can't take up or get to little of the macro nutrients. Some acid will need to be added to bring the PH down.
After gathering additional soil for the top three test, it was added to a clean jar at the rate of 1 part soil to 5 parts of water. I capped the jar, and agitated the mix until it was well blended (about a minute) according to instructions. The slurry was allowed to settle 24 hours before withdrawing some of the clearer water and added to each tube. After the powders were added and mixed, they were allowed to rest 10 minutes. Again comparing to the color chart supplied with kit, the test revealed something I suspected. I am very negligent in Nitrogen, which could explain why the foliage isn't what should be. Phosphorus and Potassium are just about right.
Conclusions,
With the PH being high, it could've been due to some of the pelletized lime being present still in the soil. Also, discovered that the foliage is missing its key kick from a Nitrogen supplement. Guess I will need to feed the seedling's a bit more that the 1/4 strength foliar feed from now on.
I took this shot of one of the foundation beds. I wanted to share in a couple places and here in the blog of hard work paying off.
Some shots of some of the planting is in the picture above. Below is 'Swirling Spider'
A clump shot and bloom of 'Crimson Pirate'
Also here is Yarrow 'Terracotta'
Another Daylily not pictured in the group shot but in this bed on the far end is 'Wally'. one of the pictures shows the nuisance weed, Nut grass sedge. Such a pain that stuff!
Anyways, here are the Clump and the cluster of buds on one of the scapes,
Woke this morning to find that Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Country Pride') had oppened the first bloom in my garden of the '17 Season.
Here are a few pictures taken.
Finally got a few others in the ground too. Planted the bare root plants received from Randy and Cindy of Dragons Mead Daylily's. I highly recommend these guys as I have always received great plants from them, and at very reasonable prices. The pictures of the CVs are listed below in a post. They are 'Happy Halloween', 'Cooler than Me', 'Lacy Border', 'Bella Isabella' & 'New Paradigm'.
Saturday, I round up enough motivation and managed to get a chore completed that I've been postponing for months. I cleared out another foundation bed of Indian Hawthorn.
Here is the photo I snapped yesterday.
As you can see, I left a few other them, but I've added Daylily's and a rose.
The Rose is
Hybrid Tea Rose (Rosa 'Double Delight')
My morning walk in the yard had me discovering the first scape of the season. It is on 'Country Pride'.
It showed up just in time for moms Birthday. Happy Birthday Mama.
Took a few other pictures this morning. This one is the of the order received from Fred. I put the standing in ranks next to my flag garden.
I love the foliage on Yarrow, bonus when it's not blooming. But, for now it is.
Meadow Sage Lyrical Blues is blooming. Looks like a visitor is making rounds.
And finally a few more of some of my Daylily seedlings. These were started in late August.
These were started in 2015 and some will probably bloom this year. I can't wait.
This 2015 seedling was one single fan a week ago. It started twisting and I knew something was up. Well, check this photo.
It's a good day.
