Acidic soil...

[gavinjconway]

I casually tested soils at my lottie yesterday with a pH tester I inherited from my FIL..

Eeeeeeeeeeeks... most of the plot is 4-5 on the acid scale.. I guess I need to add some lime!! I've got another tester in the loft somewhere so i'll find it and double check with both meters just in case... although I tested at home today and its all around neutral 7.. so it looks like I do have an acidic plot! I believe the plots were once a peat bog so that may be the cause. (although its a wet bog these days)

Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[fredhogg]

Its good soil for growing spuds............

[ZoshJosh]

Yeah. Lime did the trick for me with my firt house garden. You have to test again a few weeks after lime is added to make sure its nearer to neutral (I think most crops prefer slightly on the acid side). I found over the years it tends to stay more neutral if you add well rotted garden compost to the soil and the odd handful of lime scattrred over, especially for getting the plot ready for brassicas.

[fredhogg]

You will find that most plants require an ALKALINE soil.......

Yeah. Lime did the trick for me with my firt house garden. You have to test again a few weeks after lime is added to make sure its nearer to neutral (I think most crops prefer slightly on the acid side). I found over the years it tends to stay more neutral if you add well rotted garden compost to the soil and the odd handful of lime scattrred over, especially for getting the plot ready for brassicas.

[gavinjconway]

Yep - most do like alkaline but some a bit acid is good.. but not down in the 4-5 range.. !! I have found a supplier fairly local with good prices for bags of lime so will pop in and get some spread asap..

[gavinjconway]

I tested with 2 separate meters today and got much the same results.... not as bad as I thought. Generally my soil is just acidic 6 to about 5 ish in places.. the 4 I got the other day is where someone had a chicken cage before I took over the plot so the acidity comes from them chooks..

So overall not as bad as I first thought.. I'll still get liming this month and dig some in..

[fredhogg]

Let it lie on the surface overwinter, and let the weather take it in.

[gavinjconway]

You dont reckon I should dig it in??

[naturewoman]

I must say I have never ever used lime on any of my garden plots. My soil's have always been neutral, and I dont grow many brassicas.

[fredhogg]

No don't dig it in, if you spread it evenly over the surface and allow the weather to take it in all the ground will be treated, surface........................................... .................................................. ............................................down.