Soil testing?

I was wondering what you all use to test the soil on your plots?
I'm looking at all kinds of different ones but dont want anything expensive.

Thought you guys may have some recommendations please? The simpler the better

 

I send some of our soil off to a lab and they test it for me, only because i know a man that can

 

My own experience. The cheap electronic ones are totally inaccurate and the one-shot tests (a tablet that you add to water along with a soil sample) are hard to read. Better I think to use a kit as described by John.

 

You drop yer trousers, put your bum on the soil, if it don't make you shudder then it's ok to plant into

 

@*Potash*
That REALLY made me laugh - if I got my bum out everything would wilt

@Freddy they were what I was looking at, but wasnt sure what they were like. Will steer clear now - thank you.

Thanks @JWK
Looks like I'll try a kit then. First growing year next year with a plot & ideally would like things to be spot on - ofcourse I cant predict the weather, but lets face it - it cant be worse than this years

*looks out at torrential rain*

 

Could be if the gulf stream switches off and we enter another Maunder Minimum