Author: Brian

Does Lettuce Grow Back After Harvesting?

Does lettuce grow back after you harvest the first leaves or the entire head of this fresh vegetable from your garden, or does it die back?

Nothing beats a salad made from a large handful of fresh lettuce harvested straight from the garden. The crunchiness and the fresh juices are to die for!

Most gardeners know that both loose leaf and head style lettuce plants reach full size then are pulled or cut at the roots to harvest the whole lettuce.

However, did you know growing lettuce lets you prolong the season by harvesting it leaf by leaf or using a technique called cut-and-come-again.

So, Does Lettuce Grow Back After Harvesting?

Yes, lettuce leaves will grow back after harvesting. However, this will happen only if proper care and technique are used when harvesting all the lettuce.

If you use the standard method of pulling or cutting a lettuce plant at the roots, you will not have it grow back. But, if you harvest leaf by leaf, you will leave the root to keep developing and producing more leaves.

Harvesting Lettuce For Regrowth

The cutting method works best while picking lettuce so that it keeps growing. This method may take a little practice depending on the variety of lettuce that you are growing. Trimming also works as long as it’s done correctly.

Trimming lettuce involves cutting the entire plant back to a height of about 1 to 2 inches using a sharp knife or scissors. However, it is recommended that you cut your lettuce early enough, so you attain a sweet harvest.

Early morning cutting helps the plant heal its wound before it is exposed to the sun. If the wounds are exposed to the sun, they run into the threat of scorching the open tissues preventing them from growing back.

The time of day for picking your lettuce can significantly affect the quality of lettuce leaves that you get. That’s why it’s wise to harvest your lettuce early in the morning.

How To Know When Lettuce Is Ready To Pick

Knowing when and how to harvest lettuce leaves goes a long way to ensure you make the most of your plants and garden space.

There are different types of lettuce leaves – red, green, heading, romaine, and stalk and over 100 varieties of lettuce that you can grow in your garden.

To determine the ripeness or readiness of lettuce, you mainly use your eyes and hands and check your calendar when you planted.

Lettuce is one of the few crops that thrive in partial shade but still need some sun. Iceberg lettuce does not form a head but instead includes loose leaves. This means that while the entire head of iceberg lettuce is to be harvested, picking loose-leaf lettuce means picking the leaves.

The leaf lettuce harvest can begin any time after the leaves have formed but before the seeds have formed.

What Is The Cut-And-Come-Again Method?

The cut-and-come-again method is the process where you cut the entire lettuce plant parallel to the ground approximately 1 inch from the soil and leave it to grow again. This method is more drastic but allows the latest plants to continue growing.

Once cut, the center of the lettuce will regenerate fast, and the plant will begin to form new leaves that grow to a big edible size. Ensure that you use clean tools to harvest this lettuce to avoid infecting or interfering with the plant.

How many times can you regrow lettuce? For the cut-and-come-again lettuce, you can harvest 2 or 3 times before the quality of the leaves gets poor. Romaine and butterhead lettuce varieties are cut 21 inches. The remaining stubs generate less vigorous but edible second growth.

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Lettuce Types For Leaf By Leaf Harvesting

Loose leaf or loosehead varieties are the best types of lettuce for leaf by leaf cutting. Other varieties like black seeded Simpson and red sails have broad ruffled leaves.

Lobed leaf varieties, commonly known as oak leaves, also have large loose clusters of leaves that make leaf harvesting easy.

Planting a loose-head variety in large pots helps you protect the pot, gathering leaves from your lettuce around the plant. You will notice that your lettuce plant may resemble a palm tree, but the leaves will remain sweet as long as the temperatures are below 75 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cutting And Timing Of Lettuce Leaves

Cutting methods work best when carefully timed. It takes a little practice from one variety to another to learn how to cut the leaves properly that won’t kill the plant.

When lettuce leaves are mature, they are crispy and start to look ready for cutting. Old leaves have a poor look and a bitter flavor, no matter how they are harvested.

The time of the day when you harvest your lettuce leaf will have a significant effect on them. If you harvest your leaves early in the morning, around 7 a.m., they contain twice the plant sugars of leaves harvested at 2 p.m., so to get a sweet harvest cut your lettuce leaves early in the morning.

Growing Back Lettuce From Mature Heads

Growing veggies in water from kitchen scraps have been a subject that has hit the internet with a bang. There are many articles and comments on this subject on the internet, and sure enough, many things can be regrown from kitchen scraps.

Lettuce is one of the vegetables that you can grow in water. Let’s find out how to do this.

This method works with any type of mature head or leaf lettuce. Most people say it works best with Roman hearts, but you can also try with red leaf, Boston leaf, and radicchio.

You can use this method with other members of the Brassicaceae family, including bok choy and cabbage.

To get started, slice the leaves from the stem leaving about 2 inches of the base intact. Remove all the leafy portions that you can without cutting into a stem of a plant. Leaving many leaves attached to the lettuce head may make it rot quickly.

Does Lettuce Regrow From Store-Bought Lettuce Head?

Yes, store-bought lettuce heads can regrow.

Re-growing lettuce in water is a super simple experiment. We call it an experiment because it is fun to do mainly with the young ones. Nevertheless, it will not get enough lettuce to make your daily salads.

This method will not give you enough lettuce because the lettuce plant is growing in water; therefore, it lacks enough nutrients to make a whole head of lettuce again since the water has no nutrients.

That said, it is still fun to try to regrow mature harvested heads using water and get some new leaves.

FAQs

Does lettuce grow back every year?

With head lettuce it will die back, but when you’re talking about leaf lettuce, you can trim it and it will grow back.

Lettuce is a biennial plant. The seed germinates in the spring, and then it grows vegetatively for a year before producing flowers and seeds the following year. The plants will not produce flowers until they are about a year old.

Leaves on perennials die down and then regrow. The seeds of annuals and perennials are dormant until the next year. In some cases, such as lettuce, the plant has a hard-to-see root system that grows out in the soil and re-grows.

How long does it take for lettuce to regrow?

ettuce regrows quickly after being harvested. Most lettuce will regrow within a couple of days, but some varieties need more time.

I don’t have a problem with regrowing lettuce, but I do have a problem with the time it takes to grow it.

How many times can you harvest lettuce?

The answer is two or three times if you do it right.

Lettuce is a cool-weather crop and will die back to the ground after being cut. The leaves will remain on the plant for several weeks, until the top of the plant dies back, and then the entire plant will dry out and die. Once it’s dead, you can pull the plant up by its roots and replant it in a new spot or leave it where it is.

How do you harvest lettuce so it keeps growing?

Harvesting lettuce is easy, but it takes practice to keep it fresh. When harvesting lettuce, be sure to cut the plant at the right time for the best flavor and texture. I just cut the whole head off, and it keeps coming back. That’s the whole point of growing lettuce.

Lettuce is a hardy vegetable that is available throughout the year, making it a versatile food. It’s easy to grow in a container or garden, and you can even grow it indoors.

If you want your lettuce to grow for weeks at a time, you need to plan ahead and prepare your soil properly.

How do you cut back lettuce?

To cut back lettuce, simply use a sharp knife and a firm hand to chop the leaves into smaller pieces. In addition to cutting the leaves, you can also remove the outer leaves of the head and use only the heart of the head, which is often the most tender part of the lettuce.

Final Thoughts

Lettuce can be harvested anytime when the leaves mature but ensure you do it before they overgrow and become bitter. Then you can enjoy watching your lettuce grow back and feed on it several times.
Brian
Brian believes the best days are spent outside with soil on your hands. He finds his rhythm in the details of the garden—from carefully tending to established plants to the excitement of propagating new varieties. A true outdoor enthusiast, Brian is here to swap stories, share advice, and celebrate the rewarding work of growing.

November 29, 2021
Do You Know How Much Sun Does Cilantro Needs?

It is essential to know how much sun does cilantro needs before planting, so you choose the right spot where it will thrive.

Cilantro is easy to grow and requires its own space in the garden where you can allow it to increase for as long as it needs.

It thrives in the cool weather of spring and fall, creating a result of lacy leaves. When the weather warms up, the plants end up being long skinny flower stalks. These bear flower clusters of pink or white blossoms later produce coriander seeds.

You can also plant cilantro in a bed devoted to herbs where it can be reseeded without disturbance. Cilantro makes a good winter companion to pansies in mild climates because these leaves can withstand a light frost.

Cilantro Vs. Coriander

Cilantro has been used for many centuries in India, Mexico, Africa, Russia, Spain, China, and many countries of Asia, especially Thailand and the Middle East. It is thought to be native to the Middle East and North Africa. In addition, cilantro has many culinary uses; cilantro seeds are used medically, especially as a sleep and digestion aid.

Almost in the whole of North America, the stalks and leaves of the Coriandrum Sativum plant are known as cilantro, while the dried seeds are known as coriander. However, different parts of the world refer to this plant as coriander and its seeds.

How Much Sunlight Does Cilantro Need?

Cilantro prefers well-drained, slightly acidic soil that contains more organic material than synthetic fertilizers. Working several inches deep of aged organic compost into the garden before planting is a good idea.

Is cilantro sun or shade tolerant? Cilantro thrives under full sun. It also accepts light shade but not more than 2 hours of shade. When sowing your seeds, choose a spot that receives full sun for about 6 hours or more.

In scorching climates, light shade works better than direct sun. One way to judge the amount of shade allowed for the growing cilantro in your zone is by measuring the air temperature. The ideal growing temperature for cilantro crops is 64 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cilantro seeds should not be sown until the last date of spring frost.

Cilantro Growing Care Under The Sun

Cilantro, also known as coriander, can be grown from nursery transplants or seeds sown directly in the garden. Plant your seeds about 2 inches apart in rows based about 12 inches apart. If you are planting in pots, use a good amount of organic potting mix. Ensure that your soil is rich enough and remains moist throughout germination and growth. When the seedlings germinate, thin them to about 6 inches apart and provide consistent moisture as they grow.

Cilantro always saves seeds, and you are likely to find a patch of cilantro producing new plants as long as you want. You can either leave the seeds to continue receding every season or harvest them and save them for planting in another season. That said, here are some essential tips on how to care for cilantro.

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Provide Enough Light

Does cilantro need full sun? Cilantro loves bright indirect light, but it does not thrive under intense direct sunlight. That said, ensure that you provide your plants with a good amount of sun and shade if you live in a scorching area. However, if your location receives a minimum amount of sunlight, ensure that your cilantro receives about 6 hours of direct sunlight.

If you are growing your cilantro in container gardens, allow them to enjoy the morning sun in an east-facing window or a through a bright seal that does not get too much direct sunlight. If you plan to sow directly into the garden, plant them at a spot that receives the morning sun with afternoon shade.

Provide Rich, Well-drained Soil

Cilantro prefers a very light and fast-draining soil with plenty of sand or perlite mixed with increasing drainage. If growing in the garden, add mulch around the plants as soon as they have grown tall enough to be visible. In a container, use premium potting mix rather than the garden soil, which tends to be too heavy. Ensure that your soil is rich by adding organic, compost manure, or old animal manure.

Keep A Constant Watering Routine

Keep the soil regular moist but not soaked. Good drainage in your soil is essential as cilantro has deep roots. Ensure that you water at least an inch of water each week without fail. If your area receives too much sunlight, you can change your watering schedule to 2 to 3 inches per week.

Provide The Right Growing Temperature And Humidity

Cilantro bolts in warm weather. Once bolting happens, it changes its flavor from being sweet to bitter. Flowering will occur quickly once the temperatures are above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. For potted plants, you can extend the harvest season by keeping the plants in a controlled environment. Keep them around 70 degrees F, bringing them indoors to an air-conditioned environment when outdoor temperatures get too warm.

Fertilize Your Plants

It would help not to fertilize cilantro, but you can use organic compost manure when planting. Use liquid fertilizer or supplement the soil with controlled-release pellets if you don’t have organic manure. Feed these herbs with fertilizer at least once a month.

Pruning

Most gardeners do not know that cilantro requires pruning. To extend your cilantro harvest, snip of its soft stems regularly rotating the plant to encompass the whole plant. As the young plants grow, pinch back at least an inch to encourage fuller plants.

Potting And Re-potting

Cilantro is an annual plant that grows with a deep taproot. This means it does not like re-potting and will likely be damaged at the slightest provocation. Therefore, it is best to re-pot your garden center-bought cilantro only once after bringing it home. After that, keep your plant in that container for the rest of its life. Seed-grown cilantro can transition from your seed starting pot to its permanent home in another container or the garden. Because cilantro is an annual plant, mature plants should never be re-potted. A fully mature cilantro plant can grow up to a height of 24 inches, including its flower stalks.

Harvesting Cilantro

Cilantro leaves will be ready for harvest in about 3 to 4 weeks from the time you sow the seeds. Cilantro or coriander seeds can be harvested in about 45 days or when the plant is about 324 inches tall.

When harvesting, cut the leaves at the bottom of the plant to avoid harvesting more than 1/3 of the plant at the time. Cutting off too much can weaken the plant.

If you want to harvest, the seeds clip the seed heads and put them upside down in a paper bag. Give them a couple of days and the husks will dry, split and drop out the seeds inside the paper bag.

Cilantro Varieties You Can Grow Under The Sun

There are a few varieties that you can choose from they include

Santa – this variety has bushy leaves, and it is slow to become bitter

Calypso – this cultivar produces full plants that are among the slowest to get bitter or bolt.

Cruiser – best cultivar has full stems and large leaves and grows upright

Confetti – it is a highly ornamental variety with fern-like leaves

Leisure – it is a very standard type of cilantro that attracts beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.

FAQs

Where does cilantro grow best?

Cilantro is a hardy annual herb. In areas with mild winters it will come back year after year. In most areas it will not survive the winter unless you mulch or protect it from frost. It does not need much water and can be planted as early as late fall. It prefers to be in full sun, but will tolerate light shade. It does not tolerate wet soils and will not tolerate salty soil.

It can be planted in spring or fall.

What is the trick to growing cilantro?

You can either buy a ready-to-plant cilantro mix or start seeds indoors. Planting seeds is the easiest method. You can grow them in a pot in your kitchen window or under a grow light. Be sure to use a pot that drains well. When the seedlings are big enough to handle, plant them out in a sunny area and let them grow for a few weeks. Remove any weeds and then cut back to about 3 inches above the ground. Water frequently until they start to get bushy. After they have established themselves, you can plant them out in a sunny spot.

Does cilantro like a lot of light?

Yes, it does. If you are growing it in full sun, you will need to water it often. Cilantro likes light shade but doesn’t do well in deep shade. It is one of the few herbs that like a lot of heat. Cilantro does best in well-drained soil. A soil with some organic matter and compost is ideal. Do not let it dry out. In fact, water it more than your other herbs.

How do you care for an outdoor cilantro plant?

It’s very easy to grow and will thrive in partial shade or full sun. It grows quickly and will produce seedheads in the fall. You can cut the plants back to ground level and they will regrow. Cilantro is used fresh in Mexican cooking and is also used as a garnish for Mexican dishes, especially seafood. It’s an herb that should be planted in a container with good drainage and kept in a well-drained spot that receives full sun. The easiest way to fertilize is to add fish emulsion to your drip irrigation system. A good fertilizer for cilantro is fish emulsion (available at most nurseries). Apply this fertilizer once a month in the summer.
You need to water it every day in the summer, and keep it shaded if you live in a hot climate. It will produce a lot of leaves all summer, so when it starts to go to seed, cut the stems off and dry them. You can use them fresh in salads or stir-fries or even freeze them to make pesto.

Conclusion

How much sun does cilantro need? Let’s say enough sun. Because regions receive a varying amount of sun, it is best to ensure that your cilantro is not receiving too much or too little Sun.

Before planting your cilantro, check your area’s weather patterns to know how much sun you will receive. With this information, you will be able to decide how much sun and shade to provide.
Brian
Brian believes the best days are spent outside with soil on your hands. He finds his rhythm in the details of the garden—from carefully tending to established plants to the excitement of propagating new varieties. A true outdoor enthusiast, Brian is here to swap stories, share advice, and celebrate the rewarding work of growing.

November 28, 2021
Low Acid Tomato Varieties You Can Grow

Low acid tomato varieties are an excellent alternative for people who cannot handle high acidity levels due to certain medical conditions.

Some of these medical conditions include cold sores, ulcers, acid reflux, and stomach problems.

Tomatoes generally contain citric acid, and your body uses this acid to produce energy. Unfortunately, some people cannot use this acid due to some dietary problems, thus requiring low acid ones. Low-acid tomatoes are the best option to grow.

The Low Acid Tomato Varieties

Tomato varieties that fall into the low-acid range have smaller seeds and more flesh than other varieties. Low acid tomatoes make the best option for sauces and pastes; hence, they are paste tomatoes.

We have compiled a list of the most delicious, least acidic tomatoes for you who prefer low acid tomatoes.

Low Acid Tomato Varieties To Choose From

Amish Paste

It is a red variety known since 1885 and a good producer. This variety performs well under most growing conditions growing to approximately 1.5m in height with fruits weighing around 225g.

Artisan Blush

This organic cherry variety was introduced in 2017. It is a very prolific producer, growing up to 2m tall. It has elongated small-sized fruits the size of 2 small cherry tomatoes.

Check Out How To Add Calcium To Soil For Tomatoes

Cream Sausage

This bush tomato produces about 7 cm long fruit best for making sweet yellow tomato paste.

Roma

This is the most famous Italian tomato, best known for the best sources made from the bright red flesh. This vigorous plant produces about 50g of fruit, so tasty even when used in salads or dried.

San Marzano

This is another bright red Roma-style tomato with 7cm long tasty fruit suitable for paste, puree, or eating fresh.

Oxheart

This pink tomato has the shape of a heart and is a standard Italian home gardener variety. It is very fleshy, therefore, great for making tomato paste. It also provides nice big slices for salads and sandwiches. The fruit grows up to 600g.

Black Oxheart

This is a medium to large oxheart tomato with dark, blushed skin with great rich flavor. You will need to stake these plants as they grow 2 m high.

Albenga Oxheart

This tomato variety is from the northern regions of Italy and matures later than other varieties. It has a sizeable pear-shaped fruit weighing about 230g with excellent taste. The vines grow up to 1.5 m and have good disease resistance.

Andiamo F1

It is a hybrid variety, very prolific and disease resistant. As with all Roma-style tomatoes, this superb variety is best eaten fresh, make tasty sauces and pastes or use it in salsa.

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Sun Gold, (F1)

The Sun Gold is a sweet, tangerine-orange cherry tomato. It produces beautiful tomato fruits throughout its growing season. It is the best tasting cherry tomato and great for home gardeners.

Supersweet 100, (F1)

The Supersweet 100 Tomato is a small 1-inch tomato with bright red flesh and skin. This variety has an extra sweet flavor and an outstanding high yield. It tastes like candy and has a high disease-fighting ability than most other classics. Supersweet 100 F1 is a delicious treat and one of the most nutritious tomatoes you can find anywhere! This variety has higher vitamin C content than any other tomato.

Big Rainbow

The Big Rainbow variety is one of the most beautiful tomatoes to grow. It has a gold and red sunset color when mature. This variety is a lovely and large tomato with an excellent flavor that you can’t get enough of.

Jet Star, (F1)

The Jet Star Tomato is a gardener’s all-time favorite and the industry’s standard hybrid tomato. It has a high sugar content that masks acidity. The fruits are meaty, globe-shaped, and can grow to weigh 6 to 8 ounces. It produces fruits in abundance in mid-to-late summer.

Ponderosa Pink

This tomato is extra large and tasty with a bright pink hue, perfect for fresh and cooked sauces. It weighs about 16 ounces and is almost seedless.

Pink Girl, (F1)

The Pink Girl variety produces lovely, smooth, juicy, and high-quality pink tomatoes. They are enjoyed all summer long and have low acidity. It yields about 3.5 inches round fruits that weigh about 6 to 8 ounces.

Moneymaker

The Moneymaker Tomato is a terrific popular variety that has a high yield. It produces delicious, bright red, and smooth fruits perfect for fresh eating. Its vine can grow up to 5 to 6 inches making an excellent 4 to 6 ounces. This variety does well in hot and humid areas and greenhouse environments. It originates from England and produces vigorous vines staked to achieve the best results.

Great White

The Great White Tomato is an award-winning white tomato! It is a unique variety with a creamy inside and grows up to 12 ounces. The Great White tomato is an exceptional big multi-purpose tomato with a unique color and great taste.

Amana Orange

The Amana Orange Tomato is a giant 1 pound tomato with a unique bright orange skin. It is very juicy with intensely flavored flesh! Best for eating fresh as one bite into it and you won’t forget its taste! Due to its attractive color, it looks great with any meal.

Sweet Million, (F1)

This variety has a delicious flavor with outstanding yields that keeps producing. Sweet Million F1 produces large clusters of smooth, bright red fruits that come early, producing all summer long. This variety is most popular among home gardeners because it is disease-resistant. The tomatoes are 1-1.5″ long, producing high yields until the first frost.

Conclusion

Low acid tomato varieties are many in the market. You only need to know the one that grows favorably in your area.

Generally, you can read about the acidity of a tomato variety before buying. Most seed packets provide this information, and you can also call your local extension office for additional details.

If you want to grow specialty or heirloom varieties, you may also get the pH information from the company through which you order.

Note that there are no acid-free tomatoes, as most people tend to believe. They are either high or low acid tomato varieties. Have a happy low acid tomato gardening, won’t you?
Brian
Brian believes the best days are spent outside with soil on your hands. He finds his rhythm in the details of the garden—from carefully tending to established plants to the excitement of propagating new varieties. A true outdoor enthusiast, Brian is here to swap stories, share advice, and celebrate the rewarding work of growing.

November 28, 2021
Raising Fishing Worms: Best Way to Build a Worm Box
If you love fishing, you will want to know how to build a worm box for raising fishing worms, to have the best bait for that large catch.

Worms make the best bait for fishing; you should read them more if you are an avid fisherman. Constantly buying worms can hurt your wallet deeply, and you don’t want always to have to stop at the bait shop either. For this reason, most people are serious about growing worms if they are serious about fishing.

Worm farms are pretty common and useful not just for creating an endless supply of fishing bait but for having fun as you do it. In this article, you have everything you need to know to make a worm bed for fishing.

What is a Worm Box or a Worm Farm?

A worm farm is a collective group of worms growing together. Worms are established as means of composting or recycling food and other organic wastes, with the aim of creating nutrient-rich fertilizer and compost manure fit for gardening.

However, did you know worm farms can be used for fishing? Yes, they not only make good composting manure, but they also make excellent fishing bait. It is a 2 in 1 cycle, which recycles old food while also creating an endless supply of live fishing bait.

Materials: Worm Box for Raising Fishing Worms

Did you know you can make your worm farm? Here are all of the materials you will need to make your very own.
- 2 Plastic bins + lids. You will need a couple of plastic bins to make a home for the worms. Get plastic containers that are between 18 and 24 inches wide and at least 12 inches deep. The larger the bins, the bigger the worm farm will be. Ensure that your plastic bins come with snap-on lids.
- Worms. You will need the worms for your farm. You might need to dig them up from your garden or buy some at a local bait store. Start with a dozen worms to get the ball rolling.
- A drill. The drill helps you make the required modifications to the plastic bins in readiness for use.
- Newspaper. The newspaper will be used as bedding for the worms, as well as a way to hold a lot of moisture in your worm farm.
- A flowerpot or brick, or something similar. These will help in separating one bin from the other.
- Food waste. Food waste is what will feed the worms. Try using fruit and vegetable scraps and avoid overly greasy foods, bones, and meat.
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How to Build a Worm Box: Raising Fishing Worms

Having gathered all the materials needed, you are now ready to build a DIY worm box for raising fishing worms. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to set it up.

Prepare the first bin

First, prepare the bin for use. Remember, one container will do inside of the other. Mark at least 24 holes spots using a pencil or a pen – small and evenly spaced holes. You will then use a drill to make each of these holes. These holes allow water to drain out of the first bin so that the worms don’t drown. You will need to drill roughly 40 spots on the sides of this bin. 10 holes on each side of the bin and another 20 on the lid. These holes allow optimum airflow to circulate the bin. Be sure to do this only to the first bin. The second bin remains untouched.

Stack up the bins

Put the first bin that you drilled holes in and place it on top of the second one. Take the second bin, the untouched one, and brick or the flowerpot, or anything else similar, and place it inside, in the middle of this bin. The brick or flowerpot separates the unaltered bin and the bin with holes to allow water to drain out with holes into the new bin.

Prepare the bedding from the newspaper

Take a bunch of newspapers and prepare the bedding by shredding it into long and thin pieces enough to fill up about 1/3 or ½ of the bin. Don’t compact the shredded newspaper together or squeeze it down; instead, keep it relatively loose. Soak the shredded newspapers in water to make them wet and spongy. This is now ready bedding for the worms and a good source of moisture. The newspaper does not compose, so they are the best to use.

Add the worm food

With the bedding laid, you can now add the food scraps. Add all sorts of bread, fruits, and vegetables. Remember that grease, meat, and bones are not ideal for this kind of worm, so keep them away. Worms will grow and reproduce best when given veggies and fruits. This also helps them make the best compost for your garden because nothing is rotting away in meat form. Try to provide them with nonacidic things like citrus, coffee grounds, etc.

Add the worms

The next step is to add the worms into the ready bin after adding all the food scraps. We recommend starting with at least 1 dozen worms, but you can add more. If you have time to grow worms from a small number, you don’t have to add many. They reproduce rather quickly, and soon enough, you will have more worms.

Read more about Do Tomato Worms Bite?

Cover it all up

With the worms and the food scraps in, it’s time to cover up your warm box. Take some flat sheets of newspaper, wrap them around the bedding from the top, and put a lid on it. This keeps your worm farm dark enough and moist, just like the worms like it. It also helps to keep predators out, and it will keep the worms from escaping.
How to Make a Worm Farm for Fishing

There are plenty of ways to make your worm farm. Let’s take a closer look at another one of our favorites. The supplies you’ll need for this worm farm are as follows:
- electric drill
- 2 8-10 gallon plastic bins
- two bricks
- newspaper shredding
- cardboard
- 1lb of worms
Now all you need to do is:
1. Drill 30 holes evenly apart in the bottom of each bin; around 1/4 inch each in size. Then around the tops of both totes, drill holes to allow air to circulate; around 1/16 inch in size. Do the same for one of the lids, but not the second.
2. Once you’ve shredded your newspaper, place it in water and squeeze.
3. With the hole-less lid, place it on the ground with two bricks on, and then place a tote onto the two bricks. Add a few inches of damp shredded newspaper, along with some soil. Once arranged, add your worms.
4. Spray your piece of cardboard with water and place it over the shredding. Your worm farm is ready to go!
5. You should ensure their bedding is kept damp at all times and that they’re being fed well. They should also be kept in a cool, shady area, for best results. This amount of worms will usually eat around 3lb of food a week. You can feed them almost anything, but it’s best to avoid fatty and oily foods.
Breeding Worms for Fishing: Best Species

There are many types of worms you can use to breed for fishing, but some are better than others. For example, I’ve found that both Red Wrigglers and Red Worms are the best. They’re easy to grow yourself in your worm bin, as well as being the ideal fishing bait.

How to Store Worms

You can store worms in a range of environments, as they’re quite hardy creatures. However, the most important thing is that they have good ventilation and air source at all times. Options you may like to consider are buckets or hessian sacks.

How to Raise Earthworms for Fishing

You may choose that you’d like to grow earthworms to use as bait instead, and this is another great choice. Earthworms are good because they can grow almost anywhere, as long as they have good drainage and organic matter. It’s important that the bedding (usually shredded newspaper) is kept moist and cool. Other than that, earthworms are easy to raise!

How to Raise Nightcrawlers for Fishing

Another choice you may like to consider using as bait is nightcrawlers. The best way to do this is by using a bin. Start with a small number of worms, around 1-10lb. Add to the bin with bedding and feed once a day. It’s also important to keep the bedding cool and moist, so check regularly. You should also only feed when the previous feed is gone. Overfeeding your nightcrawlers can cause problems. And it’s as easy as that – you’ll have nightcrawlers ready for bait in no time at all!
Wrap-Up: Raising Fishing Worms

It is pretty simple to learn how to make a worm farm for fishing, and you can DIY your own. You don’t have to buy bait every time you go fishing, but you can keep your own and even sell it to others who love to go fishing. Now go catch that trout, and don’t forget to share it with us!

Do you have any tips or tricks when it comes to raising fishing worms? If so, please feel free to let us know in the comments below. And remember, sharing is caring!

FAQs

How do you make a worm box for fishing?

There are many different ways to make a worm box. The simplest is just to use the bottom of a plastic bucket. Put some dirt or sand in it and put a piece of cardboard on top. Make sure you put something over the hole where the worms come out. If you want, you can make a lid for it that just fits on the bucket and has holes in it so the worms can get out.

Also, you can use a cardboard box, but it has to be really sturdy. The first thing I would do is cover the bottom with newspaper. Then I would put a layer of sand on top of the newspaper.
Then I would put a layer of peat moss. That should give you a good start. I know there are other things you can put in there, but I don’t want to overwhelm you too much. Then you just need to fill it with water. Make sure the worms are in there and then put the lid on. And that’s it. A: If you have a worm box, you can keep it in your garage or anywhere else that isn’t too cold. But I wouldn’t leave it outside for long periods of time. Worms will die if they aren’t kept moist.

How fast do worms reproduce?

The reproduction of a worm depends on the species. But most often it is very fast and can be in the range of weeks. The lifespan of an earthworm varies from several weeks to several years. They can survive in dry conditions for a long time and some species can even survive outside. There are also species that reproduce very slowly.

For example, if you look at the biology of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, it takes about 7 days for an adult worm to produce eggs. During that time, the adult worm spends most of its life eating. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans takes about 7 days to produce eggs.

What to feed fishing worms?

There are many different kinds of worms and what they eat varies from species to species. One thing to keep in mind is that if you do have a worm bin, you can use any food you like. Just be sure that the food you choose is not too fatty or high in protein, as you will get fewer worms when they are feeding. If you are using an aquarium, you may want to consider using a mixture of dried bloodworms and ground-up earthworms. You can find these at the pet store and they are cheap.

How often should I water my worm farm?

Water it once a week.

You can check the water level in a tank by opening the top. If the water level is low, you can add more. If it is high, you can add less. You can use a small plastic cup to measure the water level.

Brian
Brian believes the best days are spent outside with soil on your hands. He finds his rhythm in the details of the garden—from carefully tending to established plants to the excitement of propagating new varieties. A true outdoor enthusiast, Brian is here to swap stories, share advice, and celebrate the rewarding work of growing.
November 28, 2021
How Many Cucumber Seeds Per Hole Should You Plant?
Growing cucumber is easy and fun, but how many cucumber seeds per hole should be planted to achieve the best crop?

Cucumber seeds can be started indoors or sow them directly into your garden after the frost is over and the soil is warm enough.

If you have never tried growing cucumbers from seed, you are in for a real treat! We will share our knowledge of how to do it.

Cucumbers are one of the easiest vegetables to grow from seed. Once you learn how simple the germination process is, you will want to grow them more.

How Many Cucumber Seeds Per Hole?

Not all seeds are created equally; some will germinate well while others will not germinate at all. The problem is, you cannot know their germination rate until you plant them. So to help you solve this mystery, how many seeds to plant per hole is vital to know?

By planting 2 to 3 seeds per hole, you allow yourself the luxury of choosing the best seedlings that look the strongest. All you have to do is determine the one you like most and snip off the weaker seedlings.

Cucumber Seed Starting Methods

There are two methods you can choose from when planting cucumber seeds. They include direct sowing or starting them indoors.
- Direct Sowing. This is sowing cucumber seeds directly in your garden, making it super easy. Planting directly in the garden makes it easy to grow your crop without distracting them with transplanting. Direct sowing should happen after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up.
- Starting Seeds Indoors. You can start your seeds indoors before the end of the cold season to have them ready when the soil is warm enough for planting. Most gardeners prefer this method if they have a short summer or their garden soil is not suitable for sowing seeds.
How To Plant Cucumber Seeds Outdoors

Starting cucumber seeds outdoors in a raised bed is a great gardening hack to protect the plants from cold soil.
- - Choose a raised bed but not too deep since their roots stay close to the surface.
  - Start these seeds outside roughly 2 weeks after the last frost, or longer if needful.
  - Choose a spot that receives lots of direct sunlight, at least 6 hours daily.
  - Create a mixture of fresh soil and fertilizer in a raised bed that is approximately 8 inches deep.
  - Ensure your soil is moist and compact.
  - Prepare rows that run north to south, where you will plant the cucumber seeds.
  - Plant 2-3 seeds in each hole, about 1 inch into the soil and 6-10 inches apart. Leave at least 1-2 feet between rows.
- - Cover the seeds with soil and water well.
  - Leave some mulch on top of the soil to help with moisture reservation and provide the soil with extra nutrients.
  - Check the seeds daily to see if the soil needs watering. Ensure that your soil remains consistently moist but not soggy.
  - Allow your seedlings to grow to about 4 inches before thinning. Keep your thinning to at least 0.5-1 foot apart.
  - Once mature, harvest your cucumbers on time before they start tasting bitter. Be sure to find out the best picking length for the variety you are growing from the seed pack.
How To Start Cucumber Seeds Indoors

If the weather in your area is unpredictable, it is best to start your cucumber seeds indoors. These seedlings are not resilient to transplanting, so the best thing is to sow them on the organic sowing trays.
- - Start cucumber seeds at around 4-6 weeks before the final frost date.
  - Fill the sowing trays with the starter mix.
  - Water the soil thoroughly until it is moist and compacted.
  - Make holes of at least 1 inch deep with your finger in each tray
  - Place at least 2-3 cucumber seeds in each hole.
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- - Cover the seeds with soil, water them again, and gently press the top layer of soil.
  - Keep the containers in a bright spot with direct sunlight. If there is no sunlight, use a heat mat to maintain about 70 degrees F to maintain the soil temperature.
  - Check the soil daily and water it when necessary; keep it moist but not soggy.
  - The seeds will germinate in about a week. 2 to 4 weeks after germination; the seedlings can be transplanted outdoors or to a larger container.
  - If moved to a larger container, ensure it is big enough and has space to grow horizontally.
How Long Does It Take To Grow Cucumbers From Seed?

Cucumbers grow fast, around 50 to 70 days, so you will be able to harvest them soon enough. If you don’t want to have too many overripe cucumbers, plan out your cucumber planting schedule. Leave 2 weeks between each planting season to allow enough time to harvest the cucumbers at their ripe stage.

Alternatively, you can plant cucumber seedlings that you can buy from gardening outlets. Transplant them in the best way you can think of to avoid the shock and death of some seedlings.

FAQs

How do you plant cucumber seeds?

When you sow cucumber seeds in the spring, they germinate quickly and you can expect to see sprouts in about four days. The key to successful cucumber growing is to keep the soil moist and warm. You can plant two or more seeds per hole, but you should wait at least two weeks before you plant any other crops. The cucumbers will grow faster if they are planted in rows with a spacing of about 30 inches between plants. To avoid disease problems, the cucumbers need to be grown in a greenhouse or in a cool, well-ventilated area during the summer. Cucumber plants need plenty of water to grow and produce fruit. If you do not have access to a hose, you can use a watering can or bucket to provide water to your cucumber plants. In the fall, you can harvest cucumbers from the plants when they are ready to pick.

How many seeds should I plant per hole?

You would want to plant about 1 cucumber seed per 3-4 inches of space. You will want to use an indention tool to make sure your seeds are not touching each other. If they do, then you will want to thin them out with a knife. I agree with the other comments about using a trowel, not a pencil. It is not advisable to use a pencil to plant seeds. If you do this, it can cause the seed to become lodged in the ground and it may not germinate. It is best to use a trowel to put the seeds in the ground.

How long does it take to grow cucumbers from a seed?

It takes around two months.

Cucumbers do not like hot weather, so they grow best in cooler climates. They prefer full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. Cucumbers can be planted any time after the soil is warmed up by spring frosts.
It is best to start your cucumber seeds indoors. Most cucumber varieties are seedlings, so you need a small container for each seedling. Planting cucumbers directly into the garden is not recommended, since most cucumber varieties are grafted onto large plants. If you decide to grow cucumbers in the garden, wait until the soil has warmed up. Cucumbers can be planted in either rows or hills. The goal is to have a healthy root system. Do not overcrowd them. Make sure that the soil is moistened well before planting. You can water with a soaker hose, or put a sprinkler on it. In some cases, you may need to cover your cucumbers with a floating row cover.

What month do you plant cucumber?

The best months to plant cucumber seeds are April to June.
When it’s ready to plant, you need to soak the seeds for 12 hours in a solution of 1/4 cup of white vinegar per quart of water. They should then be planted when the soil is warm, usually around 65-70 degrees F (18-21 C).

Summary

Many gardeners love to grow cucumbers from seeds because they are fast growers, and their germination rate is almost 97%. Once you know how many seeds per hole, you can sow your seeds in the right way to get the right crop.

Before sowing your seeds, ensure that the soil temperature never drops too low. If you feel that the weather is still too cold or the soil has not warmed up enough, it’s best to start them indoors and transplant them as young seedlings. You can start them indoors sometime in April and transplant them outdoors at the start of May.

Ready cucumbers should be harvested on time even when you don’t want them because the plant will stop producing if you don’t harvest them on time.

When harvesting, cut your cucumbers from the vine but don’t pull them off, or you will damage your vines. Each vine can produce 20 to 50 fruits in a season. It is possible to get some odd shapes, but they will still taste as good as the straight ones.

That said, enjoy growing your cucumber and, more so, starting them from seed.
Brian
Brian believes the best days are spent outside with soil on your hands. He finds his rhythm in the details of the garden—from carefully tending to established plants to the excitement of propagating new varieties. A true outdoor enthusiast, Brian is here to swap stories, share advice, and celebrate the rewarding work of growing.
November 28, 2021
How To Add Calcium To Soil For Tomatoes
Every gardener needs to learn how to add calcium to soil for tomatoes to ensure they are healthy fruits free from disease that hinders growth.

Have you noticed any small, water-filled patches at the bottom of the juicy red tomato that widened and turned into a dark patch? On touching, did you notice how they give you a sunken and leathery feeling? This tomato is suffering from blossom end rot – a common disease that prevents the proper growth of the plant.

This disease occurs due to a lack of calcium; therefore, it is vital to know the importance of adding calcium to plants.

Importance Of Calcium For Tomatoes

A healthy plant blossoms in rich soil. Tomatoes require an adequate supply of calcium, nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium for them to thrive. Adding calcium to the garden in its soluble form is easy and enters the roots of your plants, making it easy for their absorption.

There are several reasons why you will need to add calcium to your garden before growing tomatoes. They include:
- Calcium is a macronutrient used quite as much as nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous.
- It is the macronutrient of plants.
- It’s crucial to give proper health to plants and be involved with so many functions in plants, from appropriate cell wall formation to fruit production.
Plants need calcium throughout their growth period since it’s used in so many processes in the plant. Therefore, the ideal time to add calcium to the soil is throughout the plant’s growth period. Of course, you can’t keep on adding calcium to your garden soil; but the time you add depends on you.

How To Add Calcium To Soil For Tomatoes

Test Your Soil

Before planting your tomatoes, it is advisable to conduct a soil test to know what nutrients are present and which ones are missing. You can test the soil at home to determine the presence of macronutrients and soil acidity. Calcium deficiency is revealed when soil is tested in a laboratory. In extreme cases, you can get professional help to get advice on how to add calcium to your soil for tomatoes.

Add Ground Limestone And Gypsum

Lime and gypsum work well together and are good sources of calcium. To increase calcium in your soil, add limestone by spreading it all over the soil. Use a machine or hands to mix the soil and get it ready for planting. Both lime and gypsum are coated with molasses, which is an excellent source of calcium. The ground gypsum has inbuilt salt making it an excellent source of calcium. Gypsum can have a lasting effect on the soil with nutrients like magnesium, copper, phosphorous, and zinc. It should therefore be used in controlled amounts.

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Use Fertilizers

Soluble fertilizers can be a good source of calcium for tomatoes. Other fertilizers like soft rock phosphate are naturally rich in calcium and intended for tomatoes used. You can add these fertilizers when tilling it. For tomatoes, be careful not to disturb their roots when giving the plants fertilizer. Give them a one-time application of half a cup of 8-8-8 granular chemical fertilizer. If using organic granular fertilizer, use only 1 cup of 5-5-5 per plant. Mix this fertilizer with the top 8 inches of soil along with lime before planting your tomatoes.

Add Eggshells

Yes, you heard it right! Eggshells are rich in calcium and can be added to the soil. Grind them into a fine powder before integrating them into the soil. Unlike limestone, it must break down into the soil before the plants use it. The breakdown process might take a few months. This method remains one of the simplest and easiest methods to provide calcium to tomatoes.

Use Calcium Spray

You can spray the tomato leaves as a way to add calcium to these plants. And the most significant thing of all is you can make this spray yourself. Simply your choice of calcium solution to a gallon of water. Shower or drizzle the solution once or twice a week when the flowers are set to bloom. Ensure the spritz reaches the fruits too.

Water Your Plants Thoroughly

Water is the number 1 source of calcium. An inch of water per week is required for the growth of juicy and calcium-rich tomatoes. You can use rain or irrigation water to water your tomatoes. Note that these plants love to be deeply watered throughout, or else shallow watering will not improve the situation. Ensuring you have provided your plants with adequate water is essential to provide calcium and feed the plants.

When you use any of the methods above, your plants will not suffer blossom end rot. Pot-grown tomatoes are more prone to catching this disease than garden ones. So ensure you supply enough calcium to the potted plants too.

What Happens When You Add Calcium To Soil For Tomatoes Early?

It is the best time to add calcium to your soil as it will begin to work and stabilize the soil before planting your tomatoes. If your soil has a Ph level of 6.5 to 7.2, it is acidic and needs to be supplemented with lime. You can also add dolomite lime to improve the level of magnesium in the soil. If you forget to add lime early in the fall season, don’t worry; you can still add it in the spring season at least 2 months before planting tomatoes.

What Happens When You Add Them Late?

If you notice you are late to add calcium to the soil, it’s best to add it late than not at all. However, don’t wait until it’s too late because it will not work. Adding lime can be a great solution to eliminate the acidity of the soil. 3/4^th cup of lime is enough for each plant.

FAQs

Why is calcium important to tomato plants?

The calcium in your soil is essential for the growth of tomato plants. Calcium helps the plant to develop a strong and healthy root system and to produce flowers, fruits and seeds.

Calcium is often called “the muscle food” because it helps to build strong cell walls. The calcium in the soil can be used by the plants to build strong roots and stems.

You can get calcium from your soil and apply it to your tomato plants when you plant them. However, if you want to give your plants a boost of calcium, you can also feed them as they grow.

How do I add calcium to my tomato plants?

You can add calcium to the soil in the form of dolomite, limestone, oyster shell, or even rock dust. You can also add calcium to your tomatoes by using a foliar spray. Many home gardeners use a diluted solution of calcium chloride to feed their plants. If you do not have access to a spray bottle, you can purchase a fertilizer with calcium already mixed into it. Foliar feeding is done by spraying the leaves of the plant with a solution of calcium. If you want to know how much calcium you need to feed your tomatoes, you will have to experiment with different amounts.

Can calcium be harmful?

It takes time for your plants to get used to getting their calcium from the soil rather than from the leaves. So start by adding a small amount of calcium to your soil and see how your plants respond.

If you add too much at once, it will burn your plants.

How can I tell if my tomato plants need calcium?

Tomato plants are actually a very good source of calcium. In fact, the calcium content is so high that if you add too much calcium to your soil, it will inhibit plant growth. This is especially true of older plants. Soil tests are good at determining the calcium content of soil, but they can’t tell you what the calcium content is in a specific plant. Soil tests can only tell you the calcium content of the soil as a whole.

What is the fastest way to add calcium to soil?

The most effective way to add calcium to soil is to use bone meal or manure. The best time to do this is in the fall when it is time to start a new crop, as it will improve the soil and provide nutrients for your crops. It is also better to apply bone meal than manure, because of the high amount of nitrogen in bone meal.

Conclusion

Now, you are well informed about how to add calcium to tomato plants; it’s high time you do so. To prevent the tomatoes from suffering from the blossom rot disease, ensure you add calcium to your soil at the right time.

When your soil is well enriched with the right amounts of nutrients, you can now thrive in your tomato farming.
Brian
Brian believes the best days are spent outside with soil on your hands. He finds his rhythm in the details of the garden—from carefully tending to established plants to the excitement of propagating new varieties. A true outdoor enthusiast, Brian is here to swap stories, share advice, and celebrate the rewarding work of growing.
November 27, 2021
The Best pH Meter – An Ultimate Guide For Your Soil
It is critical to use the best pH meter to test your soils’ status to ensure your plants are getting the nutrients they need to be healthy.

One of the most critical factors that determine if your plants will thrive in the soils’ acidity or alkalinity. If the pH value of the soil is off even a little bit, it can have disastrous effects on your plants. For this reason, it is vital to use the best soil pH testers to ensure your plants grow happy and healthy. The pH determines the availability of the nutrients that the plants need. If the pH is too low the soil is acidic with nutrients like Phosphorous being less available. Other things can accumulate in acidic soil and make it toxic. Soil that is too acidic is not a good home for beneficial bacteria.

Soil with a very high pH is alkaline. It prevents the plants from having enough iron, copper, manganese, zinc, and phosphorous. Iron is vital to plants especially the evergreens.

What to Consider when Buying the Best pH Meter

A good soil pH tester will get the job done each time you want to test your soil. All the soil pH readers do not have the same build. Here are key features that you need to check as you shop for the best pH meter.
1. Accuracy of the pH Meter. Always go for a pH tester that offers accurate results. Generally, there is a range that your pH must measure. It can be anything from 3.5 to 8, some ranging slightly larger or smaller. The instructions part contains details that you need to know before buying the pH tester. Pay close attention to these instructions they give you an idea of how to get the best pH meter.
2. Probe the Depth Length of the Soil Tester. Soil pH testers come in singles or doubles designs. These probes are made out of silver, aluminum, copper, or an amalgamation of metals. The probe depth is critical – the longer the probe the better it is in giving you the best results. This is because it not only tests the top layer soil.
3. Single or MMlti-function. Some pH tests the soil’s alkalinity or acidity only. Others can test other factors too like the moisture content and light levels. By buying 3 in 1 test kits you will be able to test your soil of all the tests that influence your plant growth.
4. Portability. Go for a soil pH tester that is lightweight, compact, and durable. The probes could be gentle, but the unit must be strong enough to give you value for your money.
5. The power source. Most pH testers are battery-free meaning you use them without the need to plug in the batteries. Others require batteries to work. You can opt to use either of the pH testers. There is no proof that those with batteries work better than those without.
Read more about The best Soil Moisture Meter in the Market

How to Read a Soil pH Meter Results

Before you can interpret the results of your pH tester, first understand the basics of the acidity or alkalinity. These basics run from 0-14, with 7 being the neutral number. Anything above 7 is alkaline while anything below 7 is acidic. Most testers come with a chart to help you read the results.

Most electronic pH testers have a probe that inserts directly into the soil to get the readings. In some of these cases, you might not get accurate results. The best way to ensure you get the right results is by making a mixture of distilled water and soil. Put soil in a container, add distilled water and stir so that it mixes well. With the mixture ready, you can use the pH strips or electronic tester to get accurate results. You can try it a few times to see if you get the same results especially if you are new to testing.

Be sure to use the chart that comes with the tester. This helps you get the correct decoding for the results every time you carry out the tests.

The Top Best pH Meter

Now that we have seen why it’s important to test your soil’s pH, let’s look at some of the best soil testers in the market today.

YOYOMAX Soil Test Kit pH Moisture Light Tester

YOYOMAX pH tester has a 3 in 1 design that tests the pH, soil moisture, and sunlight. It’s an analog tool that neither uses batteries nor charger and is ready to go right out of the box! This tool is easy to use even for beginners – switch what you want to test and insert the probes into the soil about 2-4 inches deep. Give the test kit for about 10 minutes and read the results. The YOYOMAX test kit measures the pH from 3.5 to 8.

This test kit is small and portable so you can carry it with you and use it anywhere. It’s best for indoor plants.

Pros
- No batteries or chargers needed
- It’s a 3 in 1 measuring light, pH, and moisture
- It is affordable
Cons
- Takes about 10 minutes to give the results
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BLUELAB PENSOIL pH Pen

BLUE LAB pH pen is a new technology pH testing kit that uses a lab-quality probe. It measures the pH in swimming pools, brewing industries, and hydroponic gardening.

Calibration with this test kit is easy ensuring the accuracy of the results. The backlit LCD makes it easy to read the results and reminds you when it’s time to calibrate.

It is simple to use by inserting the probe into soft soil. The pH reads from 0 – 14 and the temperatures between 32 – 122 degrees Fahrenheit. This pH meter uses 1 AAA batter

Pros
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
- Has the ability to calibrate
- It is waterproof
Cons
- It costs higher in price
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GARDEN TUTOR Soil pH Test Strips Kit

GARDEN TUTOR offers pH test strips that are calibrated to deliver quick results. Each strip measures the pH between 3.5 – 9. These strips deliver more accurate results than the universal test strips.

The kit comes with a 16-page handbook for sulfur and lime application charts that are based on your soil’s pH. Most garden plants need a pH value of about 6.5 and this handbook included helps you to achieve that.

This kit is affordable considering the number of tests it performs. It comes with clear instructions to follow in testing your soil and getting the right results. The testing process takes about 20 -30 minutes.

Pros
- This kit has 100 test strips lasting you a long time
- Results are easy to determine using the easy to read the chart
- The strips only measure the pH and give accurate and reliable results
Cons
- The testing process is tedious and takes longer than other testing methods
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LUSTER LEAF 1835 Rapitest Dig 3W Analysis

LUSTER LEAF pH soil tester is easy to use and gives accurate results. It measures the pH level, soil temperature, and fertility rate.

The results are easy to read and displayed on the digital screen. The screen displays 1 result at a time but it’s easy to press up and down buttons to display the rest of the results.

LUSTER LEAF is easy to work with insert the probe into the soil and read the on-screen results. The probe is fragile and should be handled with care. Always wash it before use and never force it in dry hard soil because it could break.

Pros
- It provides accurate readings within a short time
- It was designed in the USA
- The fertility test takes into account the NPK levels in the soil and gives a reading of 1 – 10.
Cons
- It too gentle
- Cleaning and caring for the probe is tedious
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BLUE LAB METCOM Combo Meter

BLUELABMETCOM is one of the best pH meters for hydroponic farming. It specifically tests the water used in hydroponic. This combo tests the pH, temperature, and conductivity. It is lightweight and portable with a long probe of 6.5 feet.

This makes it easy to stretch and get whatever readings I need. It is easy to read the digital display because the buttons are marked. It is powered by 2 AAA batteries and comes with an auto shut off feature that helps you save power.

Pros
- Includes a 5-year warranty
- Saves you power through its auto shut off button
- Allows pH calibration to take place by the push of a button
Cons
- Instructions might be difficult to understand
- Results can be less accurate
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FAQs

What should I consider when shopping for a Ph meter?

The most accurate way to measure pH is with a pH meter. The only problem with pH meters is that they are not cheap and they require some maintenance, but if you are doing research or have a large area to sample, then a pH meter is the way to go. The pH scale can vary by about 0.2 units from lab to lab and even more than that depending on the pH of the water used.

If you are using a meter that isn’t calibrated, it will have an error. You can buy meters that are calibrated for your soil type and the amount of acidity in your area, but even these meters will not be perfect. A good calibration can help you determine the amount of acidity in your soil and also help you understand how to adjust the readings when you dig new holes.

What is the most accurate soil pH meter?

There are a variety of soil pH meters available on the market. Soil pH is one of the most common chemical analyses performed by a home or professional gardener. The most accurate soil pH meter will give you a more accurate reading, which in turn will provide you with an idea of what type of fertilizer to use.

Many of the soil pH meters available on the market are designed to be used by a professional who has access to a lab and is trained in the use of such equipment. However, there are many soil pH meters that can be used in the home, so it is important to know how to select one that will provide the best reading. There are many factors that go into choosing a soil pH meter for your home garden. First of all, you want to make sure that the meter can be used in the field. Some soil pH meters are designed to be used in the laboratory, while others are designed for the home gardener. Also, you want to make sure that you get a soil pH meter that will provide you with an accurate reading. A soil pH meter should give you a reading that is within one pH unit of the true pH value of the soil.

What makes the most accurate soil pH meters so accurate?

Soil pH is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline a soil is. The best soil pH meters measure the actual soil pH and then convert it into a pH number that you can see on your meter. Most people use a soil pH meter to find out what is causing their plants to be sick, and if they need to add some lime or sulfur to make the soil more acidic or alkaline.

The most accurate soil pH meter should be able to measure soil acidity or alkalinity in a wide range of soil types, and be able to measure the acidity of the soil at the depth where the test sample is taken. Soil pH testing requires knowledge of both soil chemistry and soil physics, as well as knowledge of how the pH meter is calibrated. It is also important to understand the limitations of using a soil pH meter.

Soil pH meters can be found in a wide range of prices and accuracy.

The Best pH Meter – An Ultimate Guide For Your SoilConclusion

For your plants to grow to their full potential, the right pH is important. If you notice your plants’ leaves are turning yellow or any other color, it is best to check the pH stage of your soil.

It is critical to use the best pH meter to get the most accurate results. Especially if you are working to correct the soil pH. Always recheck your soil after treatment. This ensures you have the best results before you continue with your gardening. The pH tester should test before and after soil treatment always.

Choose the 3 in 1 tester so that you can be able to test your soils for its health. Your plants will thank you and happily thrive!
Brian
Brian believes the best days are spent outside with soil on your hands. He finds his rhythm in the details of the garden—from carefully tending to established plants to the excitement of propagating new varieties. A true outdoor enthusiast, Brian is here to swap stories, share advice, and celebrate the rewarding work of growing.
October 28, 2020