I've seen alot of threads lately asking what fertilizers and other additions to add or create planting soil with. Over and over I've seen advise for fertilizers, minerals and other additions to be used. I have not seen anyone recommending a soil analysis to determine the PH,NPK of the specific soil. Why is this? Everyone's soil is different. You can't just add fertilizers and minerals and expect it to have the same composition as someone else who added the same stuff. By no means am I a professional gardner, but I would like to think I know enough after several years of gardening and research on and off the Internet from very reliable sources.
It's kinda like brewing water. You wouldn't suggest adding a bunch of stuff without knowing what you are missing or needing for that particular brew. Plants are the same way. Most plant species require a specific recipe for success. Ph, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium. Just like in brewing you don't need a water analysis to make beer but, you wouldn't go adding a bunch of salts and minerals without having one either. Plants(hops) will grow just about anywhere without a soil analysis but I wouldn't go adding a bunch of fertilizers either.
FYI most gardening shops will do soil analysis for FREE. Lowes and Home Depot sell a kit for around $10 to determine Ph, NPK.
From my research hops want a ph of 6.5 to 7.
7 being neutral. Obviously they require nitrogen but, this is where my hop knowledge is still in process. I assume they like a medium to medium high level of nitrogen? But too much N will burn them up. It's a lot harder to remove N than add it. Also I assume the same for Phosphorus( medium to medium high levels). Too much P can hurt although hops are more tolerant than some other plants. Too much Potassium is fine. The plant will use what its wants and leave the rest. Other minerals might be needed (magnesium,manganese,iron,zinc,calcium, lime) to correct ph and help plant growth.
This is some of the info that I have learned. If you have anything to add or correct me on please do.
Not my sole sources but some that agree mostly.
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Hop Ph NPK
It's kinda like brewing water. You wouldn't suggest adding a bunch of stuff without knowing what you are missing or needing for that particular brew. Plants are the same way. Most plant species require a specific recipe for success. Ph, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium. Just like in brewing you don't need a water analysis to make beer but, you wouldn't go adding a bunch of salts and minerals without having one either. Plants(hops) will grow just about anywhere without a soil analysis but I wouldn't go adding a bunch of fertilizers either.
FYI most gardening shops will do soil analysis for FREE. Lowes and Home Depot sell a kit for around $10 to determine Ph, NPK.
From my research hops want a ph of 6.5 to 7.
7 being neutral. Obviously they require nitrogen but, this is where my hop knowledge is still in process. I assume they like a medium to medium high level of nitrogen? But too much N will burn them up. It's a lot harder to remove N than add it. Also I assume the same for Phosphorus( medium to medium high levels). Too much P can hurt although hops are more tolerant than some other plants. Too much Potassium is fine. The plant will use what its wants and leave the rest. Other minerals might be needed (magnesium,manganese,iron,zinc,calcium, lime) to correct ph and help plant growth.
This is some of the info that I have learned. If you have anything to add or correct me on please do.
Not my sole sources but some that agree mostly.
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Hop Ph NPK