Lime

[russweth]

Hello
I've noticed some of my fellow allotment holders are putting lime on their plots, firstly can anybody Advise me of the benefits of doing this, and also are there any veg that don't like this preparation, I was planning to in Spring put Fish/Bone And Blood Down As A feed. if I scatter some lime now will this Still be o.k?

[russweth]

[supersprout]

they are probably preparing their brassica beds, brassica like a slightly more alkaline soil and it's a traditional thing to do
if you get a soil pH testing kit you'll be able to find out if you need to lime
I never have! ::)

[cornykev]

 :) As sprout says its for the brassicas it helps prevent clubroot. :D :D :D :D

[tim]

Surely no point if the pH is OK now??

[saddad]

Most of it will leach out if it is a wet winter.... do mine much later, in early spring about 3-6 weeks before I want to transplant into it...
???

[kt.]

I have limed my soil as it is too acidic. Also when planting cabbages earlier - I have 3 left from15 due to possible clubroot. You cant add manure at the same tie as lime. In Autumn you do one or the other. As I've limed 4wks ago, it needs to be left for acoupe of months, so over winter will be fine and ready to plant spuds next  yr.

[manicscousers]

we add it to the planting hole, just to keep the dreade clubroot at bay, also our beds do need it for brassicas, also sprinkle some around the outside, keeps the slugs at bay, just til it washes away. :)

[Rhys]

I thought potatoes hate lime?

I'm going to put lime down this year as the soil is too acidic but was going to skip where I'm going to plant the potatoes next spring.

Is it best to avoid lime and potatoes or will it be long enough over the winter to not be a problem?

[Columbus]

Hi Russweth, Hi all,  :)

I watered my pumpkins through a sunken drain pipe filled with lime after their leaves yellowed and they looked sickly when planted on to my old compost heap. They quickly recovered so I keep a box handy for that purpose.

Col

[kenkew]

Lime should really go down only on soil requiring it, although some gardeners lime regardless and religiously! If your pH requires it, it should be applied ideally in autumn, especially if you intend to plant spuds there the following year. The following spring is the time to to add manure/compost ahead of spuds.
Rule of thumb is, don't lime after autumn where you plan to grow your spuds and only lime when you need to. Spuds follow brassica's which follow peas, beans / onions.
If you follow this rotation you need only manure the ground once in three years. Manure goes on where you plan to put your spuds and need not go on that section until it's spud time again there. You then need only lime once in three years per section ( ahead of brassica's and only where pH demands it.)
I have a chart some place with lime quantity per soil type. If you want it let me know and I'll dive under the bookcase for a search.

[rdm51]

hi All
saving Kenkew diving under bookcases.heres a table for lime.
                 hydrated lime required in lb per square yard
ph of soil           light sandy soil               peaty/clay soil            loamy soil
4.0                  1.75kg [3 1/2 lb]             2.25kg [5lb]                2kg [4 1/2lb]
4.5                  1.6kg [3lb]                      1.9kg [4 1/2lb]            1.7kg [3 1/2lb]
5.0                  1kg {2 1/4lb]                  1.65kg [3 1/4lb]          1.2kg [2 1/4lb]
5.5                  675g [1 1/2lb]                1kg [2 1/4lb]                900g [2lb]
6.0                  340g [1/4lb]                    675g [1 1/2lb]             450g [1lb]
this will bring the Ph up to 6.5, the rain during the winter will wash the lime in.
Hope this helps
bob

[Robert_Brenchley]

Get yourself a testing kit and check what it is before you add any at all. Make sure you get a proper kit, as meters are grossly inaccurate. I have one which gives a pH of around 6.5 on my plot, which is at least plausible. I did a soil analysis practical the other day with some of my students (or tried to; the college turned out to lack some basic equipment), and a meter they had was reading up to pH 8, which is ridiculous.

[cornykev]

 :D :D I'm with you scousers a sprinkle of lime in the planting hole, it worked for me.   ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[supersprout]

I thought potatoes hate lime?

They do, it makes em SCAB :o :o