Creating a plant-based soil tester using outdoor plant boxes is a simple and eco-friendly way to monitor your garden's soil health. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you build your own:

1. Gather Materials: You’ll need outdoor plant boxes (preferably wooden or recycled plastic), a few small plants (like beans or clover), a ruler, and a notebook for tracking growth.

2. Prepare the Plant Boxes: Fill each box with soil from different areas of your garden. Label them clearly to keep track of the soil sources.

3. Plant Indicator Plants: Choose fast-growing plants like beans or clover, which are sensitive to soil conditions. Plant them in each box and water them equally.

4. Monitor Growth: Over the next few weeks, observe the growth of the plants. Healthy soil will produce vigorous growth, while poor soil may result in stunted or yellowing plants.

5. Analyze Results: Compare the growth across the boxes to identify soil quality variations. Use this data to amend your garden soil as needed.

This DIY method is cost-effective and sustainable, providing valuable insights into your soil’s health without chemical testers. Happy gardening!