How To Apply Lime To Vegetable Garden

Usually, lime is mostly used in betel leaves and in house painting, but do you know that lime is also used in vegetable plants? Lime removes the deficiency of calcium and magnesium nutrients in vegetable plants. Apart from this, by using lime in the home garden, vegetable plants are able to absorb essential nutrients like nitrogen, zinc etc., insects like aphids, flea beetles stay away from the plants, and the yield of vegetables is also good. Lime is mostly used on vegetable plants like tomato, brinjal.

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Lime or lime water should be used in the soil when the soil is highly acidic. A soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 is considered suitable for most plants, and most places in nature have soils of this pH.

In some places where rainfall is more than required, such as West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand, East Bihar, the soil becomes acidic (pH below 5.5). This happens due to leaching of alkalinity or due to absorption deep inside the soil. This acidic soil looks healthy from above, but plants do not grow properly in it.

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Therefore, lime or its water is beneficial in the same soil, which is more acidic than necessary. Some plants like roses, grapes etc. naturally prefer acidic soil. Mixing lime in normal soil also affects their flood. That’s why lime should be used wisely and only in the right places.

Compost or other organic fertilizers (such as used tea leaves) can help alkalize the soil to some extent. Therefore, use lime only in special places. Do not complicate the irregularity of pH by its unnecessary use.

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When and how to apply lime to vegetable plants, how much lime should be added to a plant, what are the precautions to be taken while adding lime to vegetable plants? You will get all these information in this article.

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What happens when lime is added to vegetable plants?

1. Using this, the roots of vegetable plants can absorb essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc very well.
2. Using lime in the vegetable garden protects plants from insects like aphids, flea beetles.
3. It increases the pH of acidic soil. Increases the value, that is, makes it alkaline. Therefore, lime is beneficial for vegetables growing in slightly alkaline soil.
4. The use of lime provides calcium and magnesium nutrients to the vegetable plants. Fruits of vegetables in which more seeds are formed, they need more calcium. For this reason, lime is used in vegetables like tomato, brinjal, chili etc. to increase the amount of calcium.

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Which Lime Powder Used For Vegetable Garden

These two types of lime are mostly used in the vegetable garden:

1. Dolomite lime
2. Slaked lime (Hydrated lime)

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Dolomite lime

Dolomite lime is mostly used in gardening. In this, the amount of calcium 20% and magnesium 10% is found more. It depends on the pH of the soil. Increases value and supplies calcium and magnesium nutrients to vegetable plants. This lime does not dissolve in water. Because of which it is mixed in the soil in the form of powder.

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Slaked Lime / Hydrated Lime

The lime which is sold in the market in the form of solid stone is called quicklime. The lime obtained after drying this limestone by putting it in water for some time and then taking it out of the water is called slaked lime or hydrated lime.

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When To Apply Lime To Vegetable Garden

Let us know about the right time to use lime water or powder in vegetable plants:

1. Lime powder can be used while preparing the soil for planting. Lime powder should be mixed in the soil at least 3 weeks before planting, so that it can mix well in the soil.
2. After transplanting the vegetable plant into the soil, lime water can be used when the plant is well set.
3. Lime is used in vegetable plants when flowers start coming and when the fruits become a little bigger.

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How To Use Lime Powder In Vegetable Garden

Lime powder can be used in vegetable plants in 2 ways:

1. Mixing lime powder in the soil while preparing it about 2 to 3 weeks before planting vegetable plants.
2. Dissolve lime powder in water in pots or vegetable plants in the garden, pour that lime water in the soil or spray it on the leaves (Foliar Spray).

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Adding Lime To Soil For Planting Vegetables

While preparing the soil, lime powder is added to it at least 20-25 days before planting of vegetable plants. You can mix 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of dolomite or hydrated lime in about 5 to 6 kg of soil. Apart from this, you can also buy a soil pH meter and can easily find out the pH of the soil and mix lime accordingly. Add water after mixing lime powder in the soil, so that it can mix well in the soil. After a month, by filling this lime mixed soil in a pot, vegetable plants or seedlings can be transplanted in it.

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How To Apply Lime To Potted Vegetable Plants

As much as 5 grams of lime can be used for a vegetable plant planted in pots in the home garden. In which vegetable plants lime should be used and in which not, let us know

1. If you are using dolomite lime, you can mix one teaspoon of lime powder in the soil of the plants. After adding the powder, hoe the soil well and then sprinkle water in it.
2. If you are using Hydrated Lime in vegetable plants, first take a bucket or watering can.
3. After this, take water according to how many plants you want to use lime water. You can add about 1 teaspoon (5 grams) of slaked lime to 1 liter of water and as much as 1 tablespoon (15 grams) of slaked lime to 3 to 4 liters of water.
4. After the lime dissolves well in water, that lime water can be poured into the soil of vegetable plants.
5. Apart from this, lime water can also be sprayed on the leaves of the plants. This keeps insects like aphids and flea beetles away from vegetable plants.

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Precautions When Using Lime In Vegetable Garden

You must take the following precautions while using lime water or powder on vegetable plants:

1. Before using any type of lime in vegetable plants, gloves, goggles and mask must be worn, so that it cannot fly into the body through eyes or breath.
2. Lime should not be used near the roots or main stem of vegetable plants, rather lime should be spread evenly around the stem in the soil.
3. Lime should not be used in excess, otherwise the soil may become more alkaline. Even in highly alkaline soils, plants are unable to absorb essential nutrients well and their growth is stunted.

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