Lime

Hi Geoff, thanks for the reply. You say that ground limestone is fairly easy to find ? The only sources I've come across are on an industrial scale.
Cheers...freddy.

 

Have you got an Allotment association near you?

 

Hi Kristen. Yes I have. But as I remember, they only had the regular(hydrated) stuff. Mind you, that was over 20 years ago ! It might be worth checking them out again. My guess is that they'll only have what one can buy at any garden centre, but cheaper.
Cheers...freddy.

 

Thanks very much. As of this Monday I will be officially retired so will have to do more gardening to get me out of bed of a morning.
Ground limestone or chalk. Can you not find somebody who sells stuff like sand or potting grit. The sort of place where keen gardeners go to get the stuff for making their own potting composts. If you know anyone who shows vegetables or flowers they would know where to go. i never buy potting compost from a garden centre - they always charge too much.
See if this place has any.
Harris Horticultural Supplies
Tel: 01761 453005
Farrington Gurney, Bristol, BS39 6UT

 

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Congrats,
Have a long, healthy and happy retirement and not too much gardening!!!!!!!!!



Cheers!

 

Hi chums.

Well, I've just found out something very interesting! My soil isn't acidic at all. It has a PH of at least 7.5, according to a test kit I bought recently. The problem I've had with test kits in the past, is that they gave VERY unclear readings. This one is very clear indeed, 'Bosmere'. All this time I've thought my soil was acidic, and I've treated it accordingly, adding LimeIt's all starting to make sense now. Year upon year, the veg hasn't been as good as I would like. Things like 'salads' are very slow growing, and not very tender. My first year of carrots were fab, but this year haven't flourished at all. I could look at any number of plants and see the signs, now
According to the literature that came with the kit, I now need to get hold of some Sulphate Of Ammonia. Hopefully, things are now sorted

Cheers...Freddy

 

Hi again chums.

I've been asking around a bit, and it seems that Aluminium Sulphate would be more effective. Apparently, Sulphate Of Ammonia will only lower the PH by .1 to .2, whereas, the Aluminium Sulphate might reduce it by up a whole unit. Does anyone have any thoughts/input?

Cheers...Freddy

 

No-one?

 

Hiya John, thanks for that.

I know I shouldn't, but I've been thinking If my garden soil has a PH of higher than 7.5, how would I know? Thing is, the test only goes up to 7.5

 

I wouldn't try to correct it. It will revert to its normal (non-limed) state in a couple of years

As a double check:

Are there azaleas, rhododendrons, camellias etc planted in gardens near you? That's the best indicator of pH in my opinion. As you say, the little test tube kits are very hard to "read" the colour from - its a muddy sample after all!

 

Hiya Kristen.

Some of my garden is still in a non-limed state, and still has a high PH. I also have a Camellia which is quite poorly. As I said before, the kit I'm now using is VERY clear, and easy to read.

Hiya John.

Not quite sure how I would adapt/use a meter designed to measure the PH of water? As a Koi keeper, I already have a test kit for most things, including PH.

Cheers...Freddy