Always wear gloves when handling soil.

Temperature

If your thermometer has instructions, it is best to follow them. As a general rule, use a stick or tool to make a hole in the soil (so you don’t damage your thermometer). The thermometer only needs to be 10cm to 15cm below ground level (because this is a good depth for most seeds). Shade your thermometer with your hand or a folder (so the sun does not give you a false reading).

pH

There are many different types of pH testers that you could use. Some are electric while others use dyes or powders. Read the instructions that come with your pH tester very carefully. It is a good idea to take several tests of your area to get a complete understanding of the nature of the soil. For further advice on testing and balancing soil pH visit Milkwood’s How to: test your garden soil’s pH, and balance it for a better veggie harvest webpage.

Type

The Make Me Genius’ video ‘Types of soil’ outlines a good way to test the different types of soil by applying a small amount of water and squeezing the soil tightly in your hand. If your soil has high levels of clay or sand, research what needs to be done to make it better for growing fruits and vegetables.