How to Add Lime to Your Vegetable Garden
Lime, used to raise the pH of garden soil to desired levels, is a significant source of calcium and magnesium. Maintaining the best soil pH for your plants allows them to use the nutrients in the soil and decreases the incidence of blossom end rot and diseases such as Fusarium wilt. Too much lime, however, raises the pH to extreme alkaline levels, causing problems with nutrient absorption. Dolomite lime takes three to four months to break down, but hydrated lime acts more quickly. Both types of lime are available at your local home improvement store or nursery supply. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Collect samples of the top 4 to 6 inches of garden soil with a small spade or trowel from eight to 10 locations around the garden. Mix the samples in a clean plastic bucket, then take (or mail) a sample of the mixed soil to your local county extension office for pH testing.
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Dig or till the soil in the fall for planting in the spring. Spread lime over the surface of dry soil and mix into the top 6 inches with a shovel, rake, trowel or rototiller. Apply the amounts recommended by your pH test--approximately 4 to 6 lbs. per 100 square feet of garden bed every other year. While sandy soils need less, heavy clay soils may need up to 8 lbs. per 100 square feet every third year, according to the Washington State University Extension.
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Repeat the soil test yearly, adding more lime whenever recommended. It is usually necessary to add lime every two to five years, reports the University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension.
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Tips & Warnings
For most crops a pH between 6.0 and 6.5 is best, although some vegetables prefer a pH as high as 7.5.
References
- Photo Credit Dougal Waters/Digital Vision/Getty Images
