[RichardA]

Can anyone please recommend a reliable source and type for ph testing kits please. I would guess I would want to do about 20 to 30 tests a year incl the poly tunnel, greenhouses etc.
Usual range of veg being grown and my soil (according to the meter I have been using) lies between 6.5 and 7.5 across the entire garden which is ex grass land paddock with loam about 12 inches deep.
I am looking for good differentiation from sample to sample across a fairly narrow range of ph which the current ph meter does not give on its small sized but wide range (0 to 14)display.
Can I also ask -- is it it worth testing for anything else as regards soil fertility, chemistry etc.
R

[Jamie Butterworth]

I find that the cheapest one are the best, simple but accurate 

[greenfingeredsarah]

Hi RichardA - You can test your soil pH yourself using a DIY kit widely available at garden centres. These kits are relatively cheap and easy to use and give a good indication of soil pH. But for the best results, send a soil sample to a laboratory for detailed analysis. Always follow the sampling directions given by the test kit or laboratory to get a representative sample for the area in question.
Laboratory tests also detect free calcium carbonate (chalk or limestone). This may not be measured by DIY kits. A quick home test to check for free calcium carbonate is to add vinegar to a soil sample. If ‘fizzing’ is seen, free calcium carbonate is present.

I work for the RHS and this is the advice we give out to people about ph testing kits.

Does this help at all? GFS

[noshed]

The other thing to remember is to use distilled water in the test. Otherwise you're really just testing the Ph of your tap water. I wouldn't get too obsessed by it though, unless you want to grow blueberries or something.

[Salmo]

Simple tube pH test kit from garden centre. I am not impressed by probe types.

You only really need a rough idea of pH. It is not an exact science. The most useful thing is to compare over a number of years to see if your soil is getting more acid or more alkaline.

Does anyone know what it costs to have soil analysed at a laboratory?