Many garden plants in the Brassica family thrive best when grown in soil with an acidity level higher than 7. Tomatoes and soybeans require soil pH levels greater than 7 for optimal growth.
Garden lime can help improve the health of your crops in a vegetable garden, so it’s essential that you know when and how much to apply.
Fall
Garden lime can change the pH level of soil from acidic to neutral or alkaline, helping vegetable gardeners produce healthy crops with abundant harvests. Experienced gardeners recommend applying garden lime in fall or several months prior to spring planting as this gives the soil time to respond and adjust its pH level appropriately.
Gardeners can easily assess their current soil pH level using a special soil testing kit. With quick and accurate results in minutes, it is an effortless process. Once gardeners know their pH level they can determine how much garden lime to apply and when. Furthermore, it may be wise to test multiple locations within their garden to account for variations in pH levels between areas.
Soil pH ranges from zero to 14, with various factors influencing its level. Most vegetable plants prefer slightly acidic or neutral soil conditions. Unfortunately, commercial fertilizers often increase soil pH outside of its healthy range for vegetable gardening – therefore it is crucial that soil testing be conducted prior to adding garden lime or any other amendments as recommended by professional gardeners.
Though many vegetables benefit from garden lime addition, certain ones do not. Berry crops like strawberries, raspberries and blueberries prefer acidic soil environments so do not require garden lime for optimal performance. It’s best to steer clear of using garden lime when growing tomatoes, capsicums or sweet potatoes since its additional acidity could cause irreparable harm.
Once a gardener has tilled lime into the soil, he must water thoroughly to activate and saturate the soil with it. A great option would be using soaker hoses which slowly but thoroughly saturate soil layers with lime. When this step has been completed, sowing vegetables or flowers is likely next.
Granular garden lime is preferred by many gardeners because it can be easily spread with a sprayer or hand-held applicator, and worked into soil more readily than powdered lime. Furthermore, its less dusty composition means greater safety for gardeners and their surroundings.
Keep an eye on the soil pH level throughout the growing season and treat as necessary, particularly since acidity in soil may take six to twelve months to fully dissipate. Gardening Know How recommends limeing in early or late spring for best results and then testing until planting occurs.
Spring
If your soil is acidic, garden lime can help adjust its pH level to create an alkaline environment which will support more vegetables and flowers. A pH level of 7 is considered neutral and most vegetable plants thrive here; however, acid-loving crops and vegetables might not thrive well in a lime-rich soil environment, so it’s essential that you check its current ph level before beginning garden lime application in your vegetable garden.
Garden lime is a type of limestone mined from deposits created millions of years ago when shallow seas covered much of the planet. When crushed up, shells from prehistoric sea creatures accumulate within these deposits to form calcium which becomes part of garden lime. By adding garden lime to your soil, calcium and magnesium content increases dramatically – two essential elements essential for plant health and growth.
Garden lime comes in many varieties, from agricultural limestone and dolomite to pelletized or pulverized lime pellets. All garden lime must be mixed into topsoil before being used effectively as it will otherwise cause acidity levels in soil to drop causing dry conditions that will dry it out over time, necessitating further irrigation afterwards.
At best, applying garden lime in the fall allows it to take effect before planting season begins. However, spring can still be used effectively as long as a frost-free date has been identified for your vegetable garden – just follow any recommendations in your soil test as to how much garden lime your particular garden requires.
For large areas, using a garden spreader or fertilizer sprayer to evenly apply garden lime is the most efficient way of spreading it across the surface of soil. Be sure to wear protective clothing such as gloves and dust mask when performing this process, and always test soil pH before beginning application of garden lime to your vegetable garden – always adhere to recommended amounts!
Garden lime should be applied to vegetables or flowers that require higher ph levels, such as peas, beans and rhubarb, as well as leafy vegetables like kale, broccoli and cauliflower that thrive with higher pH soil conditions like those produced by apple trees and fruit trees. Shrubs like azaleas and rhododendrons must also be treated with garden lime; be sure to steer clear from using it too close to their drip lines to prevent damage! Blueberries and ornamental holly plants do not thrive in acidic soil environments so keep garden lime away from those that don’t like its acidic soil conditions like blueberries and ornamental holly plants!
Summer
Some plants require extra lime, while others thrive with naturally acidic soil. Testing your garden soil will help determine whether its pH level is appropriate for your plants and can often give recommendations as to how much lime and amendments it requires – state Cooperative Extension offices often offer such tests at reduced cost; you could also purchase a DIY soil test kit.
pH measures the natural acidity or alkalinity of soil, with 7 and 7-1/2 being considered neutral without additional lime to balance acidity levels. As its name suggests, higher numbers indicate more acidic soil.
Vegetables typically thrive when grown in slightly alkaline soil, which can be achieved with garden lime. Lime makes water easier to penetrate the soil and keeps roots nourished rather than dehydrated and starved of nutrients.
Based on your garden type and soil composition, certain times of year may be optimal for applying garden lime. Most people tend to apply it either during fall or spring planting season for maximum benefit; pre-applying garden lime to ensure your new plants can access necessary nutrients is also highly recommended.
Lime can be purchased in both powdered form and pellet form for application to soil with either a lawn spreader or by hand. When handling powdered lime it is advised that protective or old clothing be worn; powdered lime tends to blow about and could easily get inhaled or swallowed if handled incorrectly.
Once garden lime has been evenly applied to the soil, it is crucial that it is worked into it up to where plant roots usually emerge from the ground. Furthermore, watering the area treated is vital as this allows chemical reactions to take place and an increase in soil pH levels to occur.
Some gardeners don’t use lime for some vegetables, including sweet potatoes and regular potato crops, which prefer acidic soil conditions. Furthermore, certain berry types such as strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries thrive in acidic soil conditions; adding lime could hinder their growth by taking away vital elements they require for healthy development. On the other hand, parsnips do best when grown in slightly alkaline conditions that garden lime can help provide.