🌱 Grower Today

Category: Soil Amendments & Fertilizers

Reusing Soil With Roots
Some gardeners often wonder if reusing soil with roots is ideal. Plants may die off at the end of their growing season or they may die from inadequate care.
Discarding off an old soil with its root may be the ideal thing to do. But is there any chance that the old soil to still be viable for reuse?
Well, the answer will majorly depend on the type of garden you’re using. These types of gardens may be open gardens, raised bed gardens, or potted plants.
In this post, we will be discussing if it is proper for you to dispose of the soil any dead plant must have used, or if reusing the soil with roots is possible. So, let’s begin.
Is Reusing Your Old Soil With Roots Ideal?
It is certainly possible reusing your old soil that still has roots in them for your new plants. However, this will depend on some things. Like we mentioned, reusing your old soil with roots will mainly depend on if you’re using an open garden, a raised bed garden, or a potted pot.
- Reusing Raised Bed and Open Garden Soil – When it comes to reusing old soil with roots in them, you can still leave the old roots in the soil. However, make sure the old plant did not die from diseases. But to be on good standing, try to look for spots that have vacant space in your open garden or raised bed. This is so the old roots will not be an issue for the new root system when they begin to emerge.
- Potting Soil – Regarding reusing old soil with roots in potting soil, this is usually not an ideal thing to do. The best thing to do is to remove the old roots from the potting soil in your plant pot. This is done so the old roots don’t hinder the growth of the new plants. We don’t want to have issues with limited space so the new plant can have adequate space to grow its roots.
Can I Reuse Soil From A Dead Plant?
Questions such as can you reuse soil from a dead plant may come to different gardener’s minds. Or can you use old soil for new plants? The answer is pretty simple. It is very possible for you to reuse your old potting soil rather than toss it at the end of the season.
Plants dying or coming to an end is always a sad thing to experience as a gardener. When you must have carefully nurtured the plant, sometimes for a long time, then they just die all of a sudden. There are so many reasons why a plant may die off. But what tangible thing can you do with it especially if you do not wish to discard everything?
When it comes to the potting soil mix, it is possible to salvage the dead plant potting soil rather than you buying new potting soil. However, this old soil from the dead plant may contain some bacteria, fungi spores, and unwanted insects. Now we don’t want all these infecting our new plant. The good thing is that you can sterilize the soil in an oven to destroy these bacteria and fungi spores. Then you can have your soil almost as good as new.
Amazon’s Choice
FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil
$33.99

FoxFarm Ocean Forest Potting Soil is a nutrient-rich blend of aged forest products, bat guano, and earthworm castings, perfect for indoor and outdoor plants. Its pH-balanced formula promotes healthy growth, making it ideal for seedlings, transplants, and mature plants.

Check Amazon Price
We earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.
01/20/2026 11:01 pm GMT
You can as well make use of the old potting mix that way after salvaging it. All you need do is to mix it with new potting soil or compost to restore its organic content and this creates a better growing medium.
However, make sure you avoid reusing old soil from plants that died from diseases. Even if you sterilize the soil that died from diseases, viral organisms may still survive and infect the new plant you plan on growing the soil with.
Check Out How To Peel A Buttercup Squash
Soil Sterilization
We have established that it is ideal and advisable you sterilize your old soil especially when they are from dead plants. Generally, soil can harbor pests, diseases, and weed seeds. Hence, sterilizing your soil before planting is a good thing.
So far you didn’t notice any pests or diseases in your former plant, you can go ahead to reuse the soil. Just ensure you sterilize the soil so bacteria, fungi spores, insects, and weed seeds don’t come showing up after reusing the soil.
So, below are ways you can sterilize your old soil so you can safely use them for your new soil.
How To Sterilize Soil
1. Oven Sterilization
Put the soil to be sterilized in an oven-safe container covered with foil. Then bake at 180 to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let it cool down and leave the foil in place until you’re ready to use the soil.
1. Microwave Sterilization
Put 2 pounds of damp soil in a polypropylene bag. Then put it inside your microwave and leave the top open for ventilation. The soil should be heated for 2 to 2 and half minutes on full power. Then close the bag and let it cool before you remove it.
1. Steam Sterilization
You can steam your old soil for at least 30 minutes until the temperature is 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read more about Plum Tomatoes vs Roma Tomatoes
Learn How To Store Used Potting Soil Over Winter
Once temperature drops and your plant begins to fade, that’s a sign to empty your potted container and put them away for the winter.
You may then wish to store and reuse your old potted plants. It may be even more tempting going for this option especially when you have lots of potted plants and purchasing new soil may be quite pricey.
It’s possible to store your potting soil at the end of the season and ensure they maintain their quality over winter and be safe to reuse.
So, to store your used soil over winter, do the following:
- We recommend you sterilize your used soil first before storing it.
- Then get a plastic storage tub and soak in water and bleach. This is to sterilize it to prevent bad organisms from harboring and infesting the soil. Wipe the container and allow it to dry.
- The soil should then be poured directly into the storage tub and seal it tightly with its lid.
- Then store the tub in a very dry spot.
FAQ’s
What can I do with old soil roots?
If you have a nice, healthy soil, you should be able to use the roots to build compost or mulch. If you don’t have a nice, healthy soil, it will take a lot of work to get it back on track, and you will need to purchase organic soil if you want to keep your plants growing well.
You can add it to the garden. The most important thing is that you don’t get it on your plants. I would recommend not using them at all. They are likely to be full of bacteria and other organisms that can make you sick.
If you want to use the soil for bricks, you can leave the roots in the soil.
How do you get compacted soil out of roots?
There are several methods for removing roots from the soil. The first one is to cut them off using a sharp knife.
If you do this, be careful not to injure the plant because it will send out new roots to replace the lost one. Another method is to use a small shovel or trowel and scrape away the roots with the tool. Another way to get rid of the roots is to cover the soil with sand and then water the plants until the sand becomes soft. After that, just lift the plant out of the sand and pull off the roots. If you have a large root mass, you can try to break it up by placing the root mass in a tub filled with water and rocks. This will help loosen the soil so you can remove it. When removing a root mass, be sure to leave at least two inches of healthy top growth. If you are removing a root mass from a tree, be careful not to injure the tree or it will die.
Shoul you sterilize soil?
We have been told that sterilizing soil is the key to growing healthy plants. Some people even go so far as to say that we should never add manure to our gardens because it will contaminate the soil and cause disease. My experience is that this is not true at all. In fact, I am not sure that it is possible to sterilize soil, and if you do try, you may end up doing more harm than good.
Can you use the soil from dead plants?
I don’t know about compost, but I can tell you that the answer is yes for growing plants. Plants need nutrients, and if you kill them and bury them in the ground they will take up the nutrients in the soil. You can take that soil and put it in your garden, though you might have to amend it a bit. I would suggest adding some compost to the soil when you’re ready to plant.
Conclusion On Reusing Soil With Roots
So, we have seen that it is possible to reuse old soil with roots in them. Just ensure the old plant did not harbor any pests and diseases.
January 14, 2022
Adding Nitrogen Supplements For Plants
Adding nitrogen supplements for plants is a sure way to enhance the essential macronutrients that your plants need to thrive.
Nitrogen is one of the essential macronutrients that your plant needs to grow. Without it, your plans will stop growing and lose their beauty.
Without a vital nitrogen source, you have plants suffer from slow growth, lack of color, and low yields. Eventually, poor nitrogen levels make your plans weak enough to succumb to diseases or pest infestations.
Let’s figure out how to add nitrogen supplements for plants so you can get a bumper harvest from your favorite vegetables.
Why Do Plants Need Nitrogen?
Nitrogen is the primary fuel that plants need to grow. Its main purpose is to help plants grow big and maintain green foliage and stems. It is used in many processes in a plant, for example, to send the size proteins chlorophyll amino acids and enzymes.
An excellent nitrogen source helps your plants grow big and strong, allowing them to set fruit easily.
Signs That Show Deficiency Of Nitrogen
Stunted growth. This is the number one sign that your plants do not have enough nitrogen. Sometimes it can be hard to pick up this sign if you are a new gardener or you don’t have healthier plans to compare to.
Yellowing of the leaf color. The easiest way to spot nitrogen deficiency is by looking at the leaves and supporting any lightening or yellowing of the leaf color. This is called chlorosis. Nitrogen-deficient plants have leaves that take on a yellow-green or go full yellow if the levels are too low.
How To Add Nitrogen Supplements For Plants
Regular editions of nitrogen to your soil are essential for the health of your plants. Are some of the options you can try
Add composted manure
Animal waste is high in nitrogen. However, you cannot add it directly to your soil as it will burn your plants. The type of manure you vary in its hotness. You will need to compost it before adding it to your garden for at least 6 months. You can toss in food or garden waste when making your compost manure as long as they’re free from pests and diseases.
Chicken, goat, or rabbit manure can be used in composting. Chicken manure is considered the hottest, so you must compost it first. Cow, goat, and rabbit manure is not as hot, and it would add them to your soil with the reduced chance of burning your crops. However, it is safer to compost it before adding it directly to your garden.
It takes time for the manual to decompose and work its way well into the soil, so if you want the nutrients immediately, this is not your solution. However, it works best in the long term.
Use green manure crop
Using cover crops to fix your nitrogen deficiency is one of the ways to add nitrogen to your soil. The main difference between growing a green manure cover crop and planting legumes or beans is that a cover crop is not grown for harvest. You plant your green manure crop at the start of the season or in the off-season and leave it to grow.
The disadvantage of using green covers is that removing them from the garden takes a long time and effort.
Grow nitrogen-fixing plants
Nitrogen-fixing plants mean they will add nitrogen to your soil as they grow. The two common ones are beans and legumes. Instead of absorbing nitrogen from the soil, these plants fix the nutrients by adding them. Consider growing beans and legumes where your soil has shown signs of nitrogen deficiency. This is one reason that crop rotation helps in making your soil better.
It is vital to understand that you should not fertilize the soil where you want to grow beans. This protects your soil from too much nitrogen.
Mix coffee grounds with the soil
Ground coffee can help you make your soil better. They are an excellent nitrogen source, and you can either add them to your compost pile or mix it directly into your soil. It takes time to break down and release the nutrients into the soil, so it cannot offer short-term help. However, it provides your long-term soil benefits and keeps iterated, improving the drainage.
Use fish emulsion
Fish emulsion is a nitrogen-rich fertilizer with a ratio of 5-1-1. This means that it provides nitrogen to your plants in the right quantity, avoiding burning them. One of the benefits of using fish emulsion is that it contains other macronutrients that benefit your plants, like sulfur, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and chlorine.
You can buy fish emulsion as a concentrated form from most garden centers and mix it with water before application. The average ratio is 2 to 3 tablespoons of fish emulsion for every gallon of water. Pour it into the soil or spray the leaves of your plants.
If you have a fish tank, don’t dump out the water. This water is a free lite version of the fish emulsion as the fish poops in the water, and these droppings contain plenty of nitrogen. Use this water to water your plants, making the nutrients available immediately for the plants to use.
Organic Wild Fish Fertilizer and Plant Supplement
Check Price on Amazon
Use mulch
Mulching is an ideal way to add nitrogen into your soil is a long-term goal. Using grass clippings, lay them on your soil and leave them to decompose. Once they do, they will reach nitrogen back into the soil.
Buy an actual plant fertilizer
Chemical fertilizers contain a good amount of nitrogen as well as organic ones. You can choose to add a plant fertilizer that has an NPK ratio of 10-10-10 or 20-20-20. The first number in this ratio indicates the amount of nitrogen in that fertilizer, so using one with a larger first number gives you a significant boost to your soil.
However, chemical fertilizers fade away faster and can also burn your plans if you provide too much nitrogen at once. The organic ones are the best because they usually have lower numbers and take longer to be absorbed.
FAQs
Why is nitrogen important for plants?
Nitrogen is the most important element for healthy plant growth. Plants need it to grow and thrive. A general rule of thumb is that if your soil is nutrient deficient, adding 10-15% nitrogen will bring it back to a healthy level. Most plants do better with high levels of nitrogen, but too much can cause leaf burn.
How do I add nitrogen to my plants?
If you have a small space, you may be able to add nitrogen directly to your plants without having to go through soil.
Some commercial fertilizers contain nitrogen as well. If you have a large area or want to use soil, nitrogen can be added through the soil as well. You can buy nitrogen in liquid form at the garden center, but it is expensive and not very effective. It also takes a long time to break down in the soil. You can also add ammonium nitrate or urea, which are the two most common nitrogen sources. Urea is usually sold in powder form at the store, but you can also buy bags of liquid urea fertilizer. This is the quickest way to add nitrogen to the soil. Ammonium nitrate is more expensive than urea, but it breaks down faster and is safer to handle. There are many other types of nitrogen that you can use as well. You can even add a nitrogen source to your water.
What are the most popular nitrogen fertilizers?
There are many different types of nitrogen fertilizer available. The main two types are urea (N46. and ammonium nitrate (AN). They differ in how quickly they are released into the soil, and how fast the plant will use them. Ammonium Nitrate Ammonium nitrate is a slow-release fertilizer that increases the amount of N in the soil, making it available to the plants for a longer period of time. Ammonium nitrate is also called AN or ammonium nitrate fertilizer. It contains nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The N content is usually from 10% to 50% and is sometimes called “nitrogen-rich” fertilizer. It is used for lawns and greenhouses. Ammonium nitrate can be applied at rates of 25 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Ammonium nitrate can be spread on the surface or incorporated into the soil by mixing with other fertilizers, compost, or soil amendments. Ammonium nitrate can be applied in liquid form, a dry granular form, or as an organic fertilizer. Fertilizing with ammonium nitrate will make more nitrogen available in the soil than if you just apply fertilizer without it. The amount of fertilizer you need depends on your climate, soil type, and crop type. It is also important to add phosphorus and potassium to the soil to balance the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil. Urea is a fast-release fertilizer that increases the amount of N in the soil for a short period of time. It has a higher N content than ammonium nitrate and is usually applied at rates of 12 to 20 pounds per 1,000 square feet. Urea is usually applied when the plants are actively growing.
Conclusion
Unlike other nutrients adding too many nitrogen supplements for plants at once can be problematic. You need to add a little at a time, ensuring that your soil has the right amount of nitrogen throughout. Using organic methods to add nitrogen levels to your ground is the best.
January 8, 2022
Is Nitrogen Organic Or Inorganic – A Deeper Look
Is nitrogen organic or inorganic, and in what form is it available? Does compost or commercial inorganic fertilizers matter?
Nitrogen is one of the most difficult nutrients to manage in crop production. Compost is known to contribute substantial nitrogen for crops. However, it is challenging to synchronize its release from these materials as the plant demands.
Careful management of organic nitrogen fertilizer is required to meet most crop requirements and avoid undesirable losses to the environment. We will therefore look at these two types of compounds and their uses.
Is Nitrogen Organic Cause Inorganic – What Is Organic Nitrogen?
Organic nitrogen can be described as nitrogen atoms that occur in organic compounds. Organic nitrogen is common in soils in the form of organic matter. This includes residues of decomposing anemometer plants and humus.
These organic compounds contain nitrogen that incorporates into the organic matter during soil development. The organic matter in the soil depends on the temperature trends and long-term moisture contents.
For example, cultivation decreases organic matter content in the soil due to the oxidation of these organic compounds. This leads to reducing the organic nitrogen for crop intake.
Organic nitrogen plays an integral part in crop production and soil nitrogen cycling.
What Is Inorganic Nitrogen?
Inorganic nitrogen is the nitrogen atoms that occur in the inorganic compounds. Inorganic compounds do not contain hydrogen and carbon as essential components like organic compounds. Many other chemical elements make up the inorganic compounds.
For example, nitrates and ammonium dominate the inorganic fraction of the soil. These are the primary form that plants can take for their needs. The other forms of inorganic nitrogen in the soil are nitrites and nitrogen gas.
The Differences Between Organic And Inorganic Nitrogen
The significant difference between organic and inorganic nitrogen is that the inorganic forms of nitrogen occur in inorganic compounds, and organic nitrogen occurs in organic compounds.
Organic nitrogen includes proteins, amino acids, nucleotides, and nitrogen bonds to residues animal matter and decomposing plant material.
Inorganic nitrogen contains inorganic compounds nitrates, nitrites, ammonium, and nitrogen gas.
Organic Sources
Animal manure
Waste from grass-eating animals is an excellent nitrogen source once it is well composted. Raw manure can burn your plants because the nitrogen is more volatile. Composting at a high temperature for an extended period could generate enough heat that kills weeds seeds available in the manure.
Compost
Compost manure contains all of the nutrients food for healthy plants. Although the exact required dosage depends on the material composted, this includes nitrogen. Compost manure is one of the best to improve and enrich the soil.
Green manure
Cover crops like peas, clovers, alfalfa, and other legumes are best in absorbing nitrogen from the air and releasing it into the soil. When you grow these cover crops in your garden, they improve your soil by the fact they are growing in it. Green cover crops at the end of the growing season provide you with a double dose of nutrients and natural compost. When the plant is in crop rotation in your vegetable garden, be sure to include the green manure over to the crop rotation.
Soybean meal
This is similar to cottonseed meal and is a slow-release source of nitrogen that comes from ground soybeans.
Blood meal
Blood meal comes from the waste of slaughterhouses. It is an essential source of nitrogen that burns your plant if over-applied. Do not apply blood meal to young seedlings, burning them to death. However, as it is water-soluble you can mix it with water or apply it through the irrigation system.
Cottonseed meal
The best organic nitrogen source is slightly acidic but provides nitrogen in a slow-release form.
Feather meal
Chicken feather meal is specifically dried and formed into pellets that make it easy to use as granular fertilizer. Feather meal has an average release rate that helps the small break down proteins to make nitrogen available for the plant’s roots.
Inorganic Sources
Ammonium sulfate
Ammonium sulfate is a soluble, readily available source of nitrogen and sulfur. It contains 21% nitrogen and 24% sulfur in its dry form. This fertilizer is suitable as a top dresser because it has a lower nitrogen volatilization risk than the surface-applied urea.
Ammonium nitrate
Ammonium nitrate is an odorless compound with 33 to 34% of nitrogen. This fertilizer can be applied on the surface or mixed into the soil. It contains ammonium that lowers the pH of the soil in case it’s too acidic. The ammonium and nitrate result in a reduced risk of volatilization compared to urea. The nitrate provides a direct source of nitrogen since it contains ammonium.
Urea
Urea is a highly soluble dry matter that you can use as a starter top-dress or broadcast. You can also use fertilizer mixes, either dry or liquid. This fertilizer has high levels of nitrogen to at least 45 to 46%. If you apply urea on the surface, you must mix it into the soil by tillage, watering, or rainfall.
Check Price on Amazon
Urea ammonium nitrate
Urea ammonium nitrate is a soluble readily available nitrogen source with about 20 to 32% of nitrogen. It can be applied as a starter or broadcasted into already growing plants. When used, the UNA should be incorporated into the soil to avoid the volatilization of the area available in this fertilizer.
Anhydrous ammonia
This compound has the highest percentage of nitrogen of all the fertilizers. It contains 82% nitrogen and tends to be the cheapest nitrogen source ever. The best fertilizer is a high-pressure liquid that you can apply before or after seeding as long as you will not allow direct seed contact. Store Anhydrous ammonia under high pressure in specifically well-maintained equipment or facility well protected for safety reasons.
Potassium nitrate
It is also known as nitric acid and is considered a specialty fertilizer. It is either a white powder or colorless transparent crystal containing 40% nitrogen and 46% potassium. This fertilizer does not lower the pH of your soil.
Diammonium phosphate
DAP is a dry fertilizer that contains at least 18% nitrogen and 46% phosphates. After mixing into the soil, it releases free ammonia that may cause seed injury. To prevent such damage to your seed, limit band applications.
Monoammonium phosphate
This fertilizer contains readily available nitrogen sources at 11%, phosphate at 52%, and sulfur at 1.5%. It is a dry, granular material applied alone or blended with other compounds such as potash. You can either broadcast, band use, or place it in the seed furrow. MAP is an excellent starter fertilizer that lowers the soil pH.
Chilean nitrate
Chilean nitrate is useful in organic and conventional farming estimated by the USDA/NOP in 2003. It has 16% nitrate and sodium.
FAQs
What is the difference between organic and inorganic nitrogen?
There is a big difference between organic and inorganic nitrogen. Inorganic nitrogen is found in soil. Organic nitrogen is found in living organisms and their waste products. Plants take inorganic nitrogen from soil, then use it to produce amino acids that make up proteins and nucleic acids. Organic nitrogen also comes from dead plant and animal matter that decomposes in the soil.
In some areas of the country, you will find a great deal of organic matter. The organic matter makes a great environment for the microorganisms that decompose the organic material into nitrates and other nutrients that can be taken up by plants. In other areas of the country, there is not much organic matter. This is why fertilizer companies add synthetic nitrogen fertilizers to the soil. They are inexpensive and easy to apply. A good rule of thumb is that if you want your plants to grow fast, you should use more synthetic nitrogen fertilizers than organic nitrogen fertilizers. However, if you want your plants to have more leaves, then you should use more organic nitrogen fertilizers.
Can you use either on a lawn?
If you have a lawn, you can fertilize it with both organic and inorganic fertilizer. You can fertilize your lawn with inorganic nitrogen by adding manure or commercial fertilizer to the soil. You can fertilize your lawn with organic nitrogen by adding composted manure, food scraps, or other organic material to the soil. How do you know if your lawn needs more nitrogen? There are several ways to check the health of your lawn. The first thing to look for is healthy green grass. If your lawn has a lot of brown grass, your lawn may be low on nitrogen. To test the pH of your lawn, use a pH meter.
What is nitrogen good for in plants?
Nitrogen is an essential component of proteins, DNA, and chlorophyll, and is therefore necessary for plant growth. Most soils contain varying amounts of nitrogen, but many areas of the country lack sufficient levels of nitrogen to support plant growth. Nitrogen is an important nutrient for crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, and alfalfa, as well as turf grasses, trees, and shrubs. Plants take up nitrogen from the air and from the soil in which they grow. Inorganic nitrogen is the chemical form of nitrogen that plants can use. Nitrogen applied to soil can be in the form of nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+).
How is nitrogen prepared?
Nitrogen can be found in the atmosphere as nitrogen gas (N2. and nitrogen in aqueous solution as nitrate ions (NO3−) or nitrite ions (NO2−). Nitrogen that is present in the atmosphere is present in its elemental form. It is converted to an aqueous solution of nitrate or nitrite ions by bacteria, algae, fungi, and plants.
Conclusion
So is nitrogen organic or inorganic? Nitrogen is available in both organic and inorganic matter. Depending on your kind of gardening – organic or conventional, it is your choice to go for the nitrogen you want. It is also essential to know the amount of nitrogen your plants are getting from a particular fertilizer.
Read more about Adding Nitrogen Supplements For Plants.
January 8, 2022
How To Add Phosphorus To Soil Naturally
Phosphorus will help boost your garden soil fertility. So, if you’re looking for ways on how to add phosphorus to your garden soil naturally, then this is it.
The three major macronutrients that are essential for plants growth are nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Then each of these macronutrients has a very essential role to play in the development of a plant. Phosphorus is one primary nutrient that plants always tend to search for to stay healthy and flourishing.
For the purpose of this article, we will be focusing on phosphorus and how you can add this macro-nutrient to your soil naturally. So, continue reading to gain adequate knowledge on this.
The Need For Phosphorus In Plant Soil
The need or importance of phosphorous in the soil cannot be understated. For a plant to grow healthily phosphorus is one of the main ingredients to achieve this.
The role of plant reproduction is engineered by the element phosphorus. This is because phosphorus is a crucial component in the nucleic acid of a plant’s DNA. Therefore, phosphorus can help boost the yield, quality, and rate at which your crop develops.
The main essential nutrients of plant soil are NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium). Even though the overall phosphorus content of most soil surfaces is low (about 0.6%) compared to the average soil content of other essential macronutrients of 0.14% of nitrogen and 0.83% of potassium.
However, the content of phosphorous in the soil can vary. It can range from less than 0.04% in the sandy soil of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains to more than 0.3% in the soil of the northwestern US.
Also, different factors can influence the content of phosphorus in your garden soil. Some includes:
- - The climate conditions.
  - The rate or degree of erosion and weathering.
  - Fertilization as well as the removal of crops.
Phosphorus Rich Fertilizer
Gardeners are familiar with the general NPK fertilizer. This NPK fertilizer comes in different ratios that are suitable for plants’ growth. The NPK fertilizer will supply the essential nutrient needed by the plant and these nutrients include nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium.
There are also other natural phosphorus fertilizers that are rich in phosphorous. We will be listing them below in this article.
Learn more about What Is An Action Spectrum
Natural Sources Of Phosphorus For Plants
Natural phosphorus for plants is a good way of organically or naturally supplying phosphorus to your plant for proper growth. There are many ways on how you can add phosphorus to your soil naturally.
Nature has supplied us with different sources or ways of adding phosphorus to our garden soil. The natural sources of phosphorus that we can make use of in our garden soil can be found in: bone meal, shrimp and crab waste, hair and mushroom compost, burned cucumber skins, rock phosphate, organic compost, manure, guano, and so on.
Michigan Peat 5240 Garden Magic Compost and Manure, 40-Pound
Check Price on Amazon
Check Out How Much To Water Pepper Plants?
How To Add Phosphorus To Soil Naturally
So, let’s look into some of these natural sources of phosphorus.
1. Bone Meal: the addition of bone meal to your garden soil is a great way of adding phosphorus to your soil naturally. Bone meal is derived from grinding the bones of animals and this is very rich in phosphorous.
2. Organic Compost: another natural way of supplying phosphorus to your garden soil is by the application of organic compost.
3. Manure: just like organic compost, manure addition can also help enhance phosphorus content in your garden soil.
4. Rock Phosphate: rock phosphate can also help increase phosphorus in soil naturally. However, it is slow releasing and the soil will require converting the rock phosphate into phosphorous that is usable to plant.
5. Clay Soil: when you incorporate or introduce clay particles into the soil, it can help fix and retain phosphorus deficiencies.
Read more about A Guide On Soaking Green Beans Before Planting
Importance Of Phosphorus In Soil
Here is some importance of phosphorous in plant soil:
- Component of DNA and RNA: it is a very important component of genetic DNA and RNA. The phosphorus bond is what links the structure of both DNA and RNA.
- Root Growth: the growth of your plant’s roots will be strengthened with the application of phosphorous. The strength of the plant stalk will also be enhanced.
- Component of ATP: the energy unit of the plant comprises phosphorous. Formed during photosynthesis is phosphorus in the ATP.
- General Health: phosphorus is important when it comes to the general health and vigor of all plants. Phosphorous will offer good support throughout the entire life cycle of your plant. it also early crop maturity.
- Reproduction: phosphorus plays a vital role in the reproduction of plants because it is an essential component in the nucleic acid of a plant’s DNA. Therefore, you have an increase in crop yield, the quality of the crop is enhanced, and the rate of crop maturation is improved with phosphorous.
- Flower and Seed Formation: with the appropriate phosphorus supply, your plant’s flower formation and seed production is enhanced.
Click here to Get Info about How To Cook Pole Beans From The Garden
Result Of Phosphorus Deficiency In Plant
There are some things to look out for when it comes to deficiencies of phosphorous in plant soil. However, it isn’t that easy to detect phosphorus deficiency, unlike potassium and nitrogen.
Your crop may not even show any major signs of deficiency in phosphorus. However, one general sign you may notice is stunted plant growth in early growth.
Crops such as corn can exhibit an abnormal coloration when there is a deficiency in phosphorus. The plants usually turn or show dark bluish-green coloration and the leaves and stem turn purple. Genetic makeup influences the degree of purple and some hybrids can exhibit greater discoloration than others.
FAQ’s
What is the best natural source of phosphorus for plants?
I think that the best source of phosphorus is manure. It is well known that bat guano is the best source, and if you can get it you can really treat your plants. I would not recommend adding it to compost because phosphorus is released as a result of decomposition, and the composting process itself will release phosphorous into the air. I would also not recommend adding it directly to the soil, as it will make the soil acidic, which is probably not what you want.
How do you make natural phosphorus fertilizer?
Phosphorus comes from rocks such as rock phosphate, phosphoric acid, and phosphoric anhydride. Phosphorus is released by rocks when they are exposed to water and sunlight.
Making natural phosphorus fertilizer is a two-step process. The first step is to add organic matter to the soil, and the second step is to add phosphorus in a form that can be absorbed by the soil. Keep Learning Adding organic matter to the soil is important because it provides a substrate for microbes to grow on and break down the phosphorus in the soil. Adding phosphorus to the soil is important because plants require phosphorus to grow.
You can also mix ground-up red worms with manure or compost. The red worms absorb the phosphorus in the manure or compost, and then they excrete a phosphorus-rich liquid that can be used as a fertilizer. Red worm composting is not common in the United States, but it has been used in China for over 2,000 years.
What are common things that you can add to soil to increase phosphorus?
Phosphorus is not an issue of having too much or too little in your soil. You have the correct amount of phosphorus already. The problem is that it is tied up with calcium and aluminum, both of which are in low concentrations. You can add phosphorus to the soil by adding rock phosphate, limestone, or dolomite. These can be purchased at any farm supply store, or a fertilizer company will sell them.
The best way to apply these materials is to add them to your irrigation water before it goes to the plants. A slow-release fertilizer like Calcium Nitrate. is also a good way to add phosphorus to your garden. It is sold by most fertilizer companies in bags or as a liquid. If you are using a bag, make sure that it does not contain fertilizer that has been mixed with ammonium nitrate, which is explosive. If you would like to try adding phosphorus to your soil, you may want to do this when your garden is not growing vegetables. You can apply a small amount of phosphate rock to each bed, but it is better to spread the rock over a wider area than just the beds. When you apply phosphate rock to your soil, it will become a part of the soil and will be available to your plants. It will not be washed away by rain or leached out by irrigation water.
Conclusion On How To Add Phosphorus To Soil Naturally
Phosphorus plays a vital role in the development of plants and overall plant growth. It will also assist in boosting your soil fertility.
From the above, we have seen how we can carefully add phosphorus to our garden soil naturally. There are so many benefits phosphorus can offer our plants. Then we have discussed how important phosphorus is to the growth of plants.
January 8, 2022
A Study On Lowering Soil pH With Vinegar
How does lowering soil pH with vinegar work, especially after your soil tests a high level of acidity that could harm your crops?
If you have been a serious gardener, you are sure to have come across the words pH levels, especially when testing your soil.
The soil pH means the acidity or alkalinity levels in the soil. A soil test checks for potash, nitrogen, phosphorus, and pH. Understanding your soil pH levels is essential in your gardening journey.
If your soil has high pH levels, it is known as alkaline, and it is not a hospitable environment for most plants. To balance this out, you will need to increase your soil‘s acidity.
Some plants need a lower level of pH than others to grow successfully. Fortunately, adding a little bit of vinegar to your soil can increase the acidity while correcting the pH levels to suit your plant’s needs.
The Soil pH Basics
Different types of plants require different levels of soil pH to thrive. PH level 1 to 6 is acidic, level 7 is neutral, and 8 to 14 is alkaline.
The soil pH varies from one region to the other and one garden to the next. Most plants require a PH value of 6.5 and 7, while others require acidic conditions that can be created with the help of vinegar.
To determine your soil‘s pH level be sure to test your soil before amending it with vinegar. Once you amend, check the pH regularly to ensure vinegar is not making the soil too acidic for your plants.
How Does Vinegar Work To Help The Soil Besides Lowering The pH
Besides lowering the soil pH, vinegar acts as a herbicide for plants, preventing pest infestation. It also hinders the growth of weeds in the soil causing your plants to grow weed-free. The ascetic acid in vinegar also dissolves insoluble calcium salts that flow away with rainwater.
However, if your soil is very alkaline or highly rich in line, the base will neutralize the acidity of the vinegar. Therefore the vinegar might not affect the pH of your soil.
Vinegar is a safe, cost-friendly method to lower your soil pH, but it does not provide long-standing solutions for large-scale use.
Read more about Is Adding Lime To Soil For Tomatoes A Good Idea?
Why Do You Need Vinegar When Lowering Your Soil pH
The soil pH level affects the ability of the plants to uptake certain nutrients. Generally, plants enjoy a neutral ph level of around 7, although certain plants have been known to thrive in more extreme soils. So basically, you have two reasons why you would want to lower the pH in your soil. They include:
You will need to lower the pH of your soil because it is too alkaline, and it is negatively affecting your plant’s growth. When your soil has a high pH level, certain minerals like manganese and iron are not available to the plant. You will need to lower the pH of your soil to bring it towards a neutral pH so that your plants can thrive.
You will need to lower the pH in your soil to grow specific plants that require slightly acidic soils. If you want to make a special garden to grow some plants like roses and raspberries, you will need to lower your soil pH to make it slightly acidic.
Click here to learn How To Clean An Air Stone
How To Lower Your Soil pH Using Vinegar
Soil and the environment play a huge role in the growth and development of plants. Only through the soil can the plants get all the nutrients.
Highly acidic soils lack essential nutrients like boron, manganese, phosphorus, etc. Plants that thrive in acidic soils include blueberry roses, but many plants have limited problematic growth in alkaline soils.
So to change the nature of your soil to suit your plants, you can use vinegar to do so following these steps.
- - First, take a soil test to determine your soil pH level. Note that the values vary across different areas and depths of your garden. However, a test can give you a rough idea of what you need to do.
  - Based on how low you want your soil pH, add vinegar plain or distilled to your soil. Household vinegar, both plain or distilled, has about 5% acetic acid, safe and harmless. The horticultural vinegar has higher concentrations of about 20% of acetic acid. Therefore, you should exercise caution if you use horticultural vinegar for a quick fix.
  - Test your water for its pH level using a ph tester to determine its hardness. Water has a pH level that varies across different regions. Most tap water is alkaline; therefore, it is vital to test your water before use.
  - Add vinegar to your tested water and not the other way around. You can add 2 to 9 tablespoons of vinegar to 1 gallon of water. After adding the vinegar, test your water using the PH tester. If you have the desired value, do not add any more vinegar. Remember to note down how much vinegar you have added.
  - Put this diluted mixture into the soil using a watering can or hose. Inject into the irrigation system or water manually based on the size of your garden and the amount of solution you require to change the soil pH.
Luster Leaf 1601 Rapitest Test Kit for Soil pH, Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash
Check Price on Amazon
Do not add vinegar to the water in your reservoir because if the vinegar is unpasteurized or contains sugar residue or alcohol, it can react to form the mother of vinegar. The reservoir might become laden with scum-like vinegar which is not healthy for your soil.
Continue watering your soil with vinegar at regular intervals while testing your soil pH frequently. Please note that bacterial actions can degrade the strength of ascetic acid used over time. Therefore, you will need to fix this problem before using vinegar to lower the pH.
Check Out This Aeroponics Nutrient Solution Recipe
Can Vinegar Harm Your Plants?
Vinegar is still an acid despite its availability and usefulness, and it can be harmful to your plans if mismanaged.
Do not use vinegar straight on plants or on the soil to try and quicken the acidifying process. Vinegar may not permanently kill your plants, but it can kill off blooms and produce more acidic soil than you wanted.
Household vinegar is already a diluted acid with over 90% water. When you mix it with more water to use in your soil, the mixture becomes relatively mild and suitable for your soil. I’m attempting to change your son’s chemical makeup composition; it is best to slow down and often test over some time. Don’t look for shortcuts by increasing vinegar use without testing your soil.
Other Garden Uses For Vinegar
Vinegar has other uses in gardening that include
- - Killing unwanted grass and weeds along walkways and driveways
  - It helps raise your hands after handling lime to avoid irritation
  - It is an organic-friendly alternative for killing pests
  - Adding vinegar to compost gives it minerals making it more acidic.
Is Vinegar and Salt Bad for Soil?
Vinegar and salt are bad for soil. While small amounts may not cause any harm, excessive use will. Vinegar egar is acetic and can have a pH of approximately 2.5. This could significantly lower your soil pH and harm your crops if used incorrectly. Likewise, salt can cause harm. If your soil contains too much salt, the ground can erode and kill anything you planted.
If you must use vinegar or salt in your soil, do so sparingly. You should properly dilute them and only add the necessary amount.
Does Vinegar Kill Beneficial Bacteria in Soil?
Vinegar could possibly kill the beneficial bacteria in your soil. Since vinegar is so acidic, high concentrations can harm many types of bacteria living in the ground. It’s difficult to know how much vinegar will kill the good bacteria in your soil and which types will be affected. Avoiding vinegar use is best.
Does Vinegar Kill Ground Elder?
Vinegar can kill ground elders, also known as Bishop’s weed or AegEldersum podagraria. To use vinegar to kill ground elder, mix a solution of vinegar and water and apply it directly to the ground elder plants. Be sure to use a concentration of vinegar that is strong enough to kill the plants but not so strong that it will harm the surrounding soil or other plants. It is also essential to carefully monitor the area and reapply the vinegar as needed to prevent the ground elder from regrowing.
Can Vinegar Be Used To Lower pH In Hydroponics?
You can use vinegar to lower the pH level in your hydroponic system. The pH of a hydroponics system is an important factor that can affect the health and growth of plants.
Generally, most plants prefer a pH range of around 5.5 to 6.5. If the hydroponic system’s pH is too high, the plants may not be able to absorb the nutrients they need. This can lead to poor growth and other problems.
To lower the pH of a hydroponics system, you can add small amounts of vinegar to the nutrient solution. Start with a few drops and test the pH, then continue adding vinegar and testing the pH until you reach the desired level. It is essential to be careful not to add too much vinegar, which can also harm the plants.
Does Cal Mag Raise Soil pH?
Calcium and magnesium are part of the most important nutrients plants need to thrive. A cal-mag fertilizer can help raise the pH of soil, however not directly. The pH of soil is a measure of its acidity or alkalbutThis is determined by the levels of different ions and compounds in the soil. Cal-mag can change the compound level in soil, raising the overall amount.
What Grows In Low pH Soil?
Many plants can grow in soil with a low pH, including some vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Some examples of plants that grow well in low-pH soil include:
- Blueberries
- Carrots
- Cranberries
- Daffodils
- Hyacinths
- Lettuce
- Marigolds
- Potatoes
- Radishes
- Raspberries
- Spinach
- Tulips
If you are unsure what plants will grow well in your soil, it is a good idea to have your soil tested to determine its pH level. This will help you choose plants that are well-suited to your soil. Additionally, you can adjust the pH of your soil using fertilizers or other products to make it more suitable for the plants you want to grow.
What Does Low pH in Soil Mean?
The pH of the soil is a measure of its acidity or alkalinity. Soil with a pH below 7.0 is known as acidic soil. Soil pH is important because it affects the availability of nutrients to plants and the soil‘s overall health. Plants generally prefer slightly acidic soil with a pH of around 6.0 to 7.0. Soil with a pH below 5.5 is considered very acidic, and soil with a pH above 7.5 is considered alkaline. Low-pH soil can be challenging for some plants to grow in. Yet, many plants can thrive in acidic soil, including blueberries, raspberries, and hydrangeas.
Conclusion
Lowering soil pH with vinegar is one of the easiest and organic ways in helping your soil copper with high acidity levels. Therefore, using vinegar to lower soil pH gradually using multiple amendments that will give you the expected results.
Remember to work patiently with vinegar because, as we have learnt, it also contains an acid that could burn or destroy your crops learned if poorly used.
FAQs
Can I use vinegar to lower my soil pH?
Vinegar is acidic and will lower your soil pH. The best way to get a good compost going is to apply it to the top of the soil, not on the surface. You could also try an acidifying fertilizer. That is, something that contains phosphoric acid.
What is the fastest way to lower pH in soil?
If you have enough organic matter, then adding sulfur can help to lower the pH. Otherwise, you might want to try something like an acidifying fertilizer. Your soil pH should stay within the range of 2.0 for optimum plant growth. You need a pH of 3.0 to allow nutrients to be readily available to plants. Plants also need to have a pH of 4.0 to absorb calcium. If you have too high or too low a pH, you can experience problems such as root damage, nutrient deficiencies and plant death. You can also see the soil change color when it becomes too acidic or alkaline. A pH below 5.0 is called acid soil and above 6.0 is alkaline soil.
How do you use vinegar on plants?
Vinegar is used to help plants that are overgrown or in need of a boost. It is an organic pesticide that can be sprayed on the leaves of plants, and will help to reduce the growth of bacteria and fungi. The vinegar itself has no direct effects on plants, but it is a good way to kill off some of the unwanted bacteria. Vinegar has been used for centuries to treat plants. It’s a natural fungicide.
When spraying, it is recommended to spray at night when the plants are asleep and not moving, so you can avoid harming the plant.
Can vinegar be used as a fertilizer?
Yes, vinegar can be used as a fertilizer. Vinegar is made from grapes, so it is already rich in nutrients. It is also an organic product, and can be used in the same way as any other organic fertiliser.
You need at least one cup of vinegar to get any benefits from it. Also, make sure you use a very dilute solution. I use about 10 drops of vinegar in a gallon of water. This is diluted enough that when I pour the solution on the soil, the amount of vinegar is so low that the water evaporates quickly and the vinegar does not stay in the soil long enough to be beneficial.
Will vinegar damage plants?
Vinegar is a product made by fermenting fruit or vegetable juices, such as apple cider. It is a very common household item, and is usually sold in the grocery store. The best-selling brand of vinegar in the United States is white distilled vinegar. Vinegar has many uses, including cleaning, making salad dressings, pickling food, and for cooking. Generally, it is not recommended to apply vinegar directly to certain plants, as this can burn or harm them.
January 5, 2022
How Deep Do Cucumber Roots Grow?
For many different reasons, people do wonder how deep do cucumber roots really grow into the soil. The dept of a plant’s root in the soil goes a long way to affect the manner of soil bed preparation, the fertilizer application style, etc.
You may want to know the depth of the cucumber root to determine the best plant variety to buy. Or you may need to know where and how to plant your cucumbers.
This is a guide on how to grow cucumbers, bearing in mind how deep the root gets into the soil. This guide will help answer the question of how deep do the cucumber roots really grow when they are planted.
All you need to know about a full-grown cucumber plant, the depth of the cucumber roots, how to nurture and grow the plant, the nutritional benefits of the plant among others will be treated in this guide. Now, let’s delve into it.
The Full Grown Cucumber Plant
How does the full-grown cucumber plant really look like? While the cucumber is greatly cherished by people from different parts of the world for its taste and nutritional value, very few people know its root depth.
The cucumber is one of the most widely cultivated creeping vine plants that bear fruit usually used as vegetables. A matured cucumber is a long thin vegetable with hardy green skin and a supple-wet transparent inner flesh.
The cucumber plant usually has about 4 to 5 stems. The leaves of the cucumber plant are usually arranged alternately on the vines, having about 3-7 pointed hairy lobes.
The cucumber plant usually has green leaves and yellow flowers which are about 1.6 inches in diameter. While the fruit usually varies in shape, it is mostly curved cylinder-shaped, rounded at both ends reaching about 60cm in length and 10cm in diameter.
What You Should Know About The Cucumber Root Depth
You may be wondering how deep are cucumber roots tend to grow. Cucumber plants usually have a single taproot that grows as deep as 3 to 4 feet into the soil.
The other roots however only extend about 2 feet into the soil. Their root is deep so they can have access to sufficient water and soil nutrients deep in the soil.
As a result of how deep the root of the cucumber plant goes, it is best to plant in a loose sandy loam soil or any well-drained soil. It is also for the depth of the root that deep watering is advised for this plant.
Growing The Cucumber Plant
Growing a cucumber plant is not difficult at all. The basic requirements you should note before cultivating this plant are as follows:
Weather Condition
The plant usually requires warm weather conditions during the day and even at night where possible. The best temperature is therefore around 30 degrees Celsius. Cucumbers are very sensitive to cold and as such, must be planted in full sun.
Learn more about Over Watering Cucumbers
Fertilization
For the best possible result to be attained, the plant must be planted on highly nutritious soil, and fertilizers applied from time to time. Your yield will be greatly improved if grown in fertile soil, rich in organic matters and with a pH level between 6.5-7.5.
Plant Food
Check Price on Amazon

Select The Best-suited Variety
When selecting the seeds to be planted, care must be taken to ensure that the best-suited is picked. One of the most important factors to be considered when choosing a variety of this plant is whether or not it requires pollinating.
The new varieties of cucumbers are now gyneocious, which means that they do not require the male plants to produce fruit. They also do not require the presence of birds and insects to take care of the cross-pollination, and as such, can be planted indoors.
Sowing Method
When sowing a cucumber seed, the direct method of sowing is the most suitable. Cucumbers usually do not do very well with a transplant. Also, when sowing, the seeds should be placed about 1.3-2.5 cm deep, with a spacing of no less than 30cm to allow for the spreading of leaves.
Germination Period
The seeds after planting usually take about 4-13 days to germinate depending on the soil temperature. The closer the soil temperature is to the specified temperature, the faster the germination of the seeds.
Water Supply
To ensure the plant blossoms very well, it must be watered sufficiently. The plant usually requires deep watering at least once a week. Where the plant is continuously watered poorly or less frequently, the yield becomes greatly affected.
Harvesting
The timing here is very essential. For the best possible result, the plant should be harvested when it is still immature and green in color.
It is best for full maturity to be attained after harvesting. The matured fruit is usually yellowish with tougher seeds. The fruit is usually harvested by being hand-picked.
Size Of Fruit
The size of the fruit to be obtained after harvesting usually depends on the variety planted. The length may vary from 6 -15 inches depending on the variety.
Can The Cucumber Plant Grow In A Plant Pot
Considering how deep we have learned the cucumber roots can grow, you may be wondering if they can still be grown in a pot plant. The answer is in the affirmative.
However, for this to work, the post must be relatively big and with the ability to take in a lot of soil. A container that holds no less than 2 gallons of soil is recommended.
Also, the right kind of soil must be used with water retaining ability. Again, when selecting the variety of seeds to plant, you must look out for the compact variety that can thrive in small spaces.
Read more about Can I Grow Cucumbers In A Pot? – Step-By-Step Guide

FAQ’s
How deep does the soil need to be for cucumbers?
When you are growing cucumbers, you should plant them about 1-2 inches deep. This will ensure that the roots have enough room to grow and spread out. You should also use a fertilizer that contains a lot of nitrogen. This will help give your cucumbers a good start.
Cucumbers are great for container gardening, but they can also be grown in the ground. The most popular method is to sow seeds directly into a trench about two feet deep and three feet wide. After the seeds sprout, they’re thinned to leave only the strongest plants. This method is great for a small garden, but it’s not ideal for a large garden.
There are other ways to grow cucumbers, such as starting seeds indoors and transplanting them once they’ve matured. If you do plan on planting cucumbers in the ground, make sure that your soil is well drained and fertile.
Can you grow cucumbers in pots?
Growing cucumbers in pots is a great way to save space, but it’s important that you get the right mix of potting soil and compost for your plants. You can buy some at garden centres or even make your own using materials you already have around the house. Potting soil is usually made from peat moss and compost. Peat moss is made from decomposed plant material such as leaves and stems and has a low nutrient content.
There are several advantages to growing your own cucumbers in pots. First of all, you will be able to control how much sunlight they get. Cucumbers like full sun. If you grow them outdoors, you will not have any problems with them getting too much sunlight. However, when you grow them indoors, you will have more control over their light exposure. You can also control the temperature of your plants. When you grow them outdoors, you won’t have a chance to control the temperature. If it gets too cold, you will need to bring the plants inside. Cucumbers are very sensitive to cold weather.
How much space do cucumbers need?
The short answer is: they need room to grow.
If you live in a small apartment or condo, it may be difficult to grow cucumbers successfully. But if you have a large garden with plenty of space, then you can easily grow your own cucumbers. If you are growing cucumbers indoors, you should keep in mind that they will need a lot of light. This means that you need to plant your cucumbers in pots with enough room for them to grow and expand. You will also want to make sure that your cucumbers have enough space to spread out and grow.
Cucumbers like a lot of sunshine and need a long growing season, so don’t plant them in the winter months or in areas with a short growing season. Cucumbers also require a lot of water. A good rule of thumb is to water them for 10 minutes per gallon of water applied
How Deep Do Cucumber Roots Grow: Conclusion
From the above, you must have discovered that the cucumber plant root can grow really deep into the soil. It has a vine root that grows up to four feet into the soil.
For this reason, special care must be taken in growing and nurturing the plant. Also, the plant can be grown in a plant pot or container, with great attention being given to the plant.
January 4, 2022
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
Check Price on Amazon
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.
November 30, 2021