THE USE OF LIME

Te Ao Hou, May 1957, Page 58

THE USE OF LIME Home gardeners realize that most soils in New Zealand require applications of lime from time to time, but it must be understood that while lime does have an influence on soil and crops owing to its calcium content and while calcium is essential for plants, lime is not regarded as a fertilizer. For instance, when lime is applied to very heavy clay land the effect is to neutralize the acidity and therefore, make the land more friable and easier to work. Another feature of liming the garden occasionally, is the fact that often phosphorus and potassium, although they are in the soil, are not available as plant food. An application of lime will often liberate these elements. The best time of the year to apply lime is in the late Autumn, an always apply on the surface after digging so as to allow normal winter rains to take the lime into the soil. Lime is not required for potatoes and tomatoes, and only to a small degree where pumpkins, squash, watermelons and kumaras are to be grown. On the other hand where peas, bean cabbage, lettuce and spinach are grown, ample quantities of lime may be applied.