Is Adding Lime To Soil For Tomatoes A Good Idea?

Are you wondering whether adding lime to soil for tomatoes is a good idea, or you could be messing up your soil by doing so?

Lime is good for tomato plants, especially if your soil lacks calcium or is too acidic with a low pH. Lime can also help reduce nutrient deficiencies and improve water penetration in the soil.

However, too much lime raises the pH too much and can block a tomato plant’s uptake of magnesium. Do not add lime without first taking your soil for a test to determine the nutrient content.

The amount of lime you need depends on your soil‘s nutrient content as well as the pH level. This article will talk about the benefits of lime for tomato plants along with its questions.

Do Tomatoes Like Lime?

Tomatoes are often grown in lime-rich soil to prevent the disease blossom end rot. Lime for garden soil is also sometimes used as a fertilizer for tomatoes, though it’s not considered an essential element.

Lime for garden soil is typically applied as lime slurry or lime water. Lime slurry or lime water can also be sprayed on the leaves of tomato plants to combat aphids, whiteflies, and leafminers. Mix a teaspoonful of lime with a gallon of water until it dissolves. Fill a spray bottle with lime water and apply it thoroughly, including the undersides of leaves.

Lime for garden soil is also sometimes combined with neem oil or insecticidal soap to treat aphids and other pests on tomato plants.

Is Lime Suitable For Tomato Plants?

Lime, generally known as garden or agricultural lime, is suitable for tomato plants when moderated. In some cases adding lime to soil helps solve soil problems.  For example, if your soil is too acidic, adding lime will raise the pH level.

When lime or calcium carbonate is applied correctly according to the instructions on the package it works properly. The lime you use will vary depending on the current soil pH and the desired PH value.

No matter what supplement you decide to use in your garden, always do a soil test first. This will give you a clear content for the soil pH and nutrient levels helping you determine what is lacking in your soil.

A soil test provides information to help you make the right choices when amending your soil with nutrients. If you forgo a soil test,t you might solve a problem that you don’t even have.

Benefits Of Adding Lime To The Soil For  Tomatoes

Lime has many benefits for tomato plants when applied correctly; for example, it helps.

Provides Calcium

Lime in the garden adds calcium to your soil. Calcium is the most needed nutrient for plant growth especially tomatoes. Lack of calcium in tomatoes and peppers causes them to suffer from a condition known as blossom-end rot. Another cause of blossom end rot is uneven watering which occurs when dry soil does not get enough water.

Adding lime to your soil improves its water penetration, which solves the problem of dry soil. Lime also activates magnesium which is another essential nutrient for plant growth. Magnesium is the nutrient that provides the chlorophyll molecule. Chlorophyll is what makes plants green and it is an important part of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process where plants turn sunlight water and carbon dioxide into energy and oxygen.

You can add calcium to your soil without raising the pH by using gypsum calcium sulfate. This, too, adds calcium and sulphur to your soil while keeping the pH stable.

Raise The Soil pH

When you add lime to soil it raises the PH value which helps counter the effects of nitrogen in the soil. Too much nitrogen in the soil makes it more acidic over time.

The proper soil pH is essential as it helps tomatoes absorb enough nutrients for proper growth. Tomatoes thrive in a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5.  When the pH level drops below 6.0, magnesium and phosphorus become less available to plants.

Even if you have plenty of nutrients in the soil they will not be available for plants if your soil is too acidic. This is because the plant does not absorb the nutrients through its roots.

So before you add any extra nutrients to your soil, check the soil pH first and adjust it accordingly. Adding lime keeps the soil pH within the range of 6.0 to 6.5 and prevents nutrient deficiencies in your plants. This could solve all the soil problems you have.

Dolomite Lime – Pure Dolomitic / Calcitic Garden Lime

Improve Soil Permeability

Lime improves your soil permeability. This means instead of water staying on top of the soil it will work its way down deeper after irrigation or rainfall. The water is, therefore, less likely to evaporate back into the air.

When water permeates the soil well, the tomato plant is able to send its roots deeper to get this water. A deeper, more robust root system is a sign of a healthier plant. A healthy plant can resist diseases and fight pests in the garden, eventually leading to a more bountiful harvest at the end of the season.

Is It Possible To Add Too Much Lime To The Soil For Tomatoes?

It is true lime has many benefits to your soil; however, it is possible to put too much lime on your garden soil. This is likely to happen if you don’t follow instructions on the package or fail to carry out a soil test before adding.

When that’s done, you could end up with soil that has too much pH, too high for growing tomatoes or other plants.

When you notice you have added too much lime into your soil, you can try to reverse the effect by adding elemental sulfur.  It lowers the PH value of the soil. However, it is best to avoid this problem in the first place by using the right amount of line based on

• Soil consistency
• Current soil pH value
• Desired soil pH value

How Long Does Garden Lime Take To Work?

The amount of time it takes for lime to work in your soil depends on the type of lime used, the size of lime particles, the soil consistency, and the current soil pH.

Lime will continue to react in your soil 2 to 3 years after application. The benefits of lime will occur within the first few months after application.

Conclusion

Garden lime is good for the soil. However, it is dangerous if humans or pets consume it. It can also harm your tomato plants if you apply too much at once. Remember, lime is caustic and can burn your hands if you expose your bare skin. If you use too much, it will quickly burn your plants.

You can either use pelletized lime or garden lime.  Pelletized is more expensive than garden lime, however, it does not work faster than garden lime.