Is it Too Late to Add Lime to My Vegetable Garden?

It's never too late to add lime to soil to raise its pH, which will make it less acidic. However, most vegetables prefer slightly acidic soil, so if your soil is above 6.0, that might not be a bad thing.

Conduct a Simple Soil Test

• Before you plant your annual vegetables, even several months before, test your soil using a simple kit available at nurseries. If the test results show your soil's pH below about 5.0, it is very acidic. Adding hydrated lime can help to raise it, but it takes time.

It Takes Time to Raise Soil pH

• Plan to spend one year or longer to raise the pH of your soil. It might be too late to benefit this summer's garden, but in time the addition of lime will slowly adjust your soil's pH. The good news is that it is easier to raise pH than it is to lower it. In addition to lime, you can also add ash, bonemeal or crushed oyster shells.

How Much Lime to Add

• To raise pH by one point, add 4 oz. of lime for every square yard of garden area if you have sandy soil. If your soil is clay, add 12 oz. of lime. Loamy soils are generally good for vegetables, but if you need to raise the pH, add 8 oz. of lime. Retest your soil periodically and add more lime as needed until you see the pH reading you want.