Liming soil

[Vince G]

Some of my brassicas don't look too healthy this year - should I lime the soil where they will be going next year (currently beans and peas)?

Problem is, as I've pulled out the finished peas and beans I've mulched with horse muck to keep weeds down a bit, and I read somewhere that lime and muck don't mix.

Anyone got any advice on this please?

[Greenleaves]

Hi Vince, you only need to add lime is the soil is acidic. Have you tested the soil?

[Vince G]

No it's just alkaline side of neutral.

[marchogaeth]

Some of my brassicas don't look too healthy this year - should I lime the soil where they will be going next year (currently beans and peas)?

Problem is, as I've pulled out the finished peas and beans I've mulched with horse muck to keep weeds down a bit, and I read somewhere that lime and muck don't mix.

In what way don't they look healthy? I've got very acidic soil and I've been totally impressed by the things that can be wrong with brassicas - they'd give sheep a run for their money. Have you got any pictures or a clearer description?

[Ananke]

Any idea how soon garlic can be planted after liming the bed?

[arpoet]

I only add lime a few weeks before planting out cabbages.

[Ananke]

I was hoping to lime today and plant as soon as possible.

[bravo2zero]

You have 4 types of liming agent to use. Hydrated lime (powder) can be applied 4 weeks prior to planting or the quickest way is to disolve some in water and water in 1 week before planting. Ground Dolomitic limestone (my prefered stuff)anytime up to week prior to planting as its takes longer to break down. Calcified Seaweed of which i dont use or have knowledge of and finally sieved wood ash from my fire which i either apply at least 4 weeks prior to planting or is sprinkled every other layer on the compost bins. Its not just brassicas sensitive to acidity but alliums as well. DONT mix liming agents with manure as a chemical reaction may take place. Hope this helps.

[Snadger]

You have 4 types of liming agent to use. Hydrated lime (powder) can be applied 4 weeks prior to planting or the quickest way is to disolve some in water and water in 1 week before planting. Ground Dolomitic limestone (my prefered stuff)anytime up to week prior to planting as its takes longer to break down. Calcified Seaweed of which i dont use or have knowledge of and finally sieved wood ash from my fire which i either apply at least 4 weeks prior to planting or is sprinkled every other layer on the compost bins. Its not just brassicas sensitive to acidity but alliums as well. DONT mix liming agents with manure as a chemical reaction may take place. Hope this helps.

I also prefer magnesium limestone (dolomite) as it supposedly doesn't cause scab on tatties which happens when you use garden lime.
Strange how all the answers, and I tend to agree with them, advocate using lime relatively close to planting time. The old method of liming soil pre winter seems to have gone by the by?
I actually use a handful of dolomite limestone in the planting hole when planting out brassicas as I had extensive clubroot on my plot but now it seems to have abated after using this method of planting.

[Ananke]

Great info Bravo.

I think it may be garden lime I've got, unsure as the bag burst and I emptied it into a bucket. I dressed my garlic bed with it a few days ago (wish I'd seen your reply before I did) looks like I'll have to postpone planting my garlic for another few weeks now

[Penellype]

When I was making a raised bed for my beans early this year I found after I had addded the compost that I had used ericaceous instead of multipurpose

I planted the beans anyway and after a while they didn't look great, with yellowing foliage. I sprinkled cal-sea-feed (calcified seaweed substitute) around them and they recovered and were absolutely fine. I also used some of the same stuff around the cabbages when I filled in holes made by earlier cabbages under the brassica net. These are also growing well, but i have no control experiment to compare them with.