Why do you have to lime in the vegetable garden?
Lime fulfills not just one, but several important functions in the garden. First, that would be the sufficient supply of the plants with calcium, because this is the main component of lime. Of the minerals is important for the water balance and for various metabolic processes in plants. Furthermore, the liming improves the soil structure (it becomes finer), supports the beneficial bacteria and Microorganisms in the soil and thus humus production and, last but not least, have a direct influence on the pH value of the soil.
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This is how you determine the right amount of lime
Logically, you shouldn't just go on with liming, possibly following the motto "a lot helps a lot". In this case, you could do a lot of damage, because an excess of lime prevents the plants from absorbing other, no less important nutrients. Deficiency diseases and thus a poor harvest would be the result. Instead, the required amount of lime depends on the given soil conditions, for which you need one first
Soil analysis should have carried out. How to find out if you have a- Clay soil
- sandy loam soil
- loamy sandy soil
- or pure sandy soil
to have. With the help of a simple pH test, you can determine in the spring whether lime is necessary and how much lime you actually need for it. The guideline is that the heavier the soil, the higher the pH. A Clay soil optimally has a pH value of 7, a sandy loam soil should be 6.5, a loamy sandy soil at six and a sandy soil at 5.5. If this value is stable, add 150 grams of calcium carbonate per square meter every three years Garden soil the end. If the value is higher, however, it must be 250 grams of carbonate of lime.
Not all lime is alike - the right type for your garden
On normal garden soils, you should Algae lime or use carbonate of lime, whereas Quicklime only suitable for very heavy clay soils. Light soils often only come along Rock flour(€ 12.33 at Amazon *) from which, in addition to lime, also contains potassium, magnesium and various trace elements.
Tips
Lime must be worked deep into the earth, but it must be dry. Usually liming is done in spring. But if it is rainy and wet, it is better to postpone the measure to autumn.
