Gardening

Soil test reading, amendment math.

Soil test reading, amendment math.

Soil test interpreter for backyard organic growers. Translates lab numbers (pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, CEC) into specific amendment recommendations. Plus cover crop, compost ratio, and bed math.

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Calculators

Working tools that answer one specific question. No "sign up to see results." No upsell paywall.

Most used Soil Test Interpreter Input lab numbers (pH, P, K, Ca, Mg, CEC) and target crops. Returns specific amendment recommendations in pounds per 1000 sq ft. Open calculator → Compost C:N Calculator Mix browns and greens by weight to hit the 30:1 sweet spot. Includes common material C:N ratios. Open calculator → Cover Crop Planner By zone, target soil need (nitrogen, biomass, weed suppression), and frost date. The right crop for your problem. Open calculator →

Real Gear Reviews

The cheap option is usually fine. When it isn't, this site says so. Reviews include real cost-of-ownership math, not "5 stars on Amazon" reasoning.

Cost analysis Soil testing: the $15 home kit vs the $30 lab test Home kits get pH right and nutrients wrong. The lab test through Cooperative Extension that costs $30 and tells you what to actually do. Gear review Cover crops for your zone: the chart that actually works Crimson clover, daikon radish, winter rye. Which one fits your USDA zone and what it does to the soil. With termination timing for no-till beds. Maintenance Compost bin buying guide: why the $20 bin beats the $500 tumbler Tumblers fail at scale and at temperature. The honest hierarchy: open pile > 3-bin system > tumbler. With volume math by household size.

Why this page exists

Garden content online is mostly seed-catalog marketing and unverified Facebook group advice. This site is run by a person growing food in a Wilmington backyard for years.

The amendment math reflects real Mid-Atlantic clay soils, not theoretical loams from extension service tables. Real gardens have pH that drifts. Real composts vary in quality. The tools account for both.

Plain note about money. Some links in the reviews and calculator results go to product pages on eBay with an affiliate tag. If you buy through one, the commission pays for the site. Your price doesn't change. The cheap option is usually fine; when the expensive option is worth it, this site will explain exactly why.

Guides

Practical deep-dives on organic growing questions. No filler, no product-list padding.

Gear actually worth buying

Smart eBay searches we'd start with ourselves. We earn a small commission on qualifying sales through these links; the price you pay is the same whether you use them or go direct to eBay. Full disclosure.

🔍 Shop Gardening Organic on eBay →
Espoma Natural and Organic Mushroom Garden Compost Blend, 0.75 cu ftOrganic compostAged compost is the single highest-ROI amendment for most soil types. Mushroom compost and worm castings are the dense options. Raised Garden Bed with Legs 72x23x30 – Cedar Elevated PlanterCedar raised bed kitCedar and redwood resist rot without pressure treatment. A 4×8 bed is the minimum useful size for serious growing. 2 X 50 ft. Flat Seeper Soaker Hose Drip Irrigation 3/4 in. Thread Heavy DutySoaker hose / drip irrigationSoaker hose on a timer uses 30–50% less water than overhead sprinklers and keeps foliage dry, reducing fungal pressure. 1200 ORGANIC ARUGULA SEEDS | NON-GMO, Heirloom - USA FREE SHIP !Heirloom vegetable seedsOpen-pollinated heirloom seeds let you save seed year over year. Tomatoes, beans, and squash are the easiest to start. Plant Cover Floating Row Garden Plant Cover for Winter Frost Sun Pest ProtectionFloating row coverReemay / Agribon frost fabric extends your season by 4–6 weeks on both ends. Heavier weight (1.5 oz) for frost; lighter for pest exclusion.
Browse all Gardening Organic listings on eBay →

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