From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Sparta, NC

Last fall I added 100lbs. of lime to my patch when the ph was 5.2. I just recieved my soil sample this spring and it has just risen to a 5.4. My patch was flooded in November could that have any thing to do with it. What can I do help this problem so close to planting time. I added lime again and got it tilled in but I know it will take a while for it to work.

4/11/2004 9:35:06 AM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Be patient. Lime takes a while to work. Inexpensive agriculture grades are coarse milled & gritty. These take years to work. The best grades are milled very fine. Like talc, these are darn near impossible to spread since they pack so badly. Plus they blow all over. So the very best are pelletized to facilitate easier application.

Worst case scenairo & this isn't to be considered an endorsement. Hydrated or slaked lime works faster than anything. But it is caustic & must be handled very catrefully.

Your flood might have washed some of your lime away too. That depends on the lay of the land & how long after the application the flood was.

Steve

4/11/2004 12:45:13 PM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

The flooding surely lowers pH because it limits oxygen supply. It might help a little with aeration if you make a pile where you start the pumpkin. This should help especially in the spring when the soil is still too wet. Good luck! Jernej

4/11/2004 12:54:47 PM

Sparta, NC

The lime that I applied was a fine powder that I got from my landlord. He buys it by the tractor & trailer load. Do you think it might work quicker.

4/11/2004 1:58:31 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It depends *how* fine. All lime seems fine until we have several different grades to compare right in front of us.

Get some high quality pelletized lime & apply it now. This is going to have some effect in the 3-6 month range. So there will be a positive impact during this growing season at least.

Steve

4/11/2004 3:10:37 PM

Sparta, NC

Thanks for your help.

4/12/2004 6:01:01 AM