Lime, or gardening lime, is a powder that is made from crushed limestone. It is used as a soil additive, usually to lower the acid level of soil to improve plant growth. You should test the PH of your garden to determine if the soil is too acidic for optimum vegetable and plant growth. The acidity of your soil will determine exactly how much lime you will add. Lime is usually less than a dollar per pound, and is readily available at garden supply stores, nurseries and hardware stores.
Instructions
1. Test the PH of your garden soil. You should plan on testing and liming your garden soil in the fall, after you harvested your vegetable plants. Test several different areas of your garden to get an average PH for the entire area.
2. Add lime to your soil if the PH is below 6.5. Most vegetables thrive in soil that is between 6.0 and 7.0. Follow the guidelines on the lime packaging to avoid adding too much lime. If you raise the PH too much, you will simply have to wait longer to plant your crops, and for the PH to lower. Test your soil frequently to ensure this does not happen.
3. Spread the lime at a rate of 3 lbs. per 100 square feet of garden space as a general guideline. You can toss the lime on the soil with your hands, just make sure you wear work gloves. You may need to add more lime if your soil is extremely acidic, 5.0 or below, but never add more than 5 lbs. of lime per 100 square feet. Most bags of lime will have a chart on how much to add, depending on the soil PH.
4. Rake the lime into the soil. Make sure the lime mixes well with the first 2 inches of soil. Do not overdo it, the lime will seep into the soil on its own over time, and with the help of rainwater.
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