According to Rural Living Today, several plant species react poorly to lime, such as sweet and regular potatoes, peppers, and tomatoes. Certain types of berries, like strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, prefer acidic soil, so lime would only take away the elements they need to thrive.
If you need to put out lime, applying it in the fall and winter gives it enough time to break down in the soil and raise the pH before the spring growing season.
Nonetheless, lime treatment has a number of inherent disadvantages, such as carbonation, sulfate attack and environment impact. Magnesium oxide/hydroxide are thus proposed as a suitable alternative stabilizer to overcome at least some of the disadvantages of using lime in soil stabilization.
A. Tomatoes like lime as it provides a good source of calcium. Lime also improves soil structure, encouraging decomposition of organic matter and earthworm activity, so it is fine to add to the soil where tomatoes are planted.
At the Fifth Annual Virginia Sustainable Agriculture conference, several noted producers and writers told how hydrated lime applied to the foliage of vegetable crops repelled a wide variety of insects including aphids, flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, squash bugs and cucumber beetles.
Too much lime will raise the pH of your soil so much that many plants won't grow well and will start to show signs of nutrient deficiencies. Too much lime will also lead to high levels of calcium in your soil, which will prevent plants from absorbing magnesium (an essential part of chlorophyll).
Lime Application
Often as much as six months may be needed before pH changes significantly. Neutralization will be quicker if particle size is small (less than 60 mesh) and the lime is well mixed with the soil. Typically, it will take two to three years to observe the full effect of ag-lime application on soil pH.
For most acid soils, the most practical management option is to add lime to maintain the current soil pH status or increase surface soil pH. For a better chance at successfully growing acid-sensitive species, consider liming once the pH drops below pHCa 5.0.
The only way to determine whether or not liming is needed, and how much lime to apply, is through the results of a soil test conducted at a state or commercial soil testing laboratory. A soil test kit or pH probe can be obtained at a local garden center to test soil pH and determine the need for liming.
Limestone for plants in a fruit or vegetable garden is great for: Raising soil pH, which is necessary in many parts of the agricultural world to grow crops in acidic soils near human habitation. Adjusting the soil pH to grow a wide range of crops that people may not have been able to grow in that area before.
The addition of lime to garden soil can increase the alkalinity of acidic soil and add plant nutrients and minerals, creating a healthy lawn and a healthier base for plants to grow. Agricultural lime and dolomitic lime are two types of lime commonly used in lawns and gardens.
Peppers grow best in a slightly acidic soil with a pH of 6 to 6.8. A pH of 7 is neutral. Native soils in Greater Columbus tend to more alkaline than acidic, so only add lime to adjust the pH of your soil if a soil test confirms the need to do so.
Cucumbers are sensitive to acid soil conditions. The soil should be tested each year and limed to a pH of 6.0 to 6.5.
It is ideal to move lime into the soil profile, if possible. You might consider applying on cornstalks ahead of soybeans. If you do, and since you're planning a tillage pass anyway, there is also a benefit to vertical till in the fall.
Don't apply lime when your lawn is frost-covered or wilted. And always water the lawn after applying the lime to wash the lime off the grass blades and allow it to make contact with the soil.
Excess liming can cause nutrient imbalances and deficiencies. It's best to lime based on soil test recommendations.
There are several types of calcitic lime products available, including agricultural ground limestone, pulverized limestone, and pelletized limestone. While both pulverized and pelletized limestone will change the pH of the soil relatively quickly, pelletized limestone is the easiest to apply.
The flesh of a lime is considered nontoxic to dogs. However, the citric acid can be irritating to their intestinal tract, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea. And in large amounts, the flesh can potentially result in neurologic symptoms including depression and loss of coordination.
When Is the Best Time to Add Lime? If possible, add lime in the fall. It takes time to change the pH of soil so applying lime in fall takes advantage of the winter months prior to the next growing season. In addition, the freeze/thaw cycle helps mix lime into the soil.
Lime will react completely with the soil in two to three years after it has been applied; although, benefits from lime may occur within the first few months after application.
Calcium (lime) is required in constant, adequate amounts as tomato fruits develop to prevent blossom end rot. If in prior years such rot occurred, your soil may contain only marginal supplies of lime. The soil microorganisms may have consumed some. The lime may have been used by the soil to satisfy its own needs.
Experts generally agree that while lime can help deter mosquitoes, it's not a comprehensive solution. According to the University of Kentucky's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, lime has some mosquito-deterring properties, but its effectiveness is limited and short-lived.
Plants such as heaths, heathers, azaleas, rhododendrons, and others which prefer acidic soils are likely to be most affected. Plants native to the understory of coniferous forests where the soil tends to be more acidic may also be more susceptible.