[Kajazy]

Hello,

I got my new allotment in February, and I've just finished clearing the weeds and preparing the ground/digging - but having tested the soil, it's very acid (5.5, I think!) - is it way way too late to apply lime? I know you can't mix lime and manure/compost at the same time, but is there a safe gap in which I can apply lime and then follow on with manure - I'm hoping to grow brassicas and I know they like both! Or can I apply lime locally in the planting hole? (I'm growing seedlings in preparation...!).

Any advice much appreciated, as I'm new to all this! 

[simonwatson]

You really want to manure and then lime, with a good 4 to 6 weeks in between. The manure will lower the pH and then the lime will raise it. If you lime first you'll just end up lowering the pH again when you manure.

You also need to leave the lime for a couple of weeks before planting.

You might be best off this year liming now and forgetting about the manure, as there doesn't really seem to be enough time before you want to get everything planted. You could add some extra fertilizer such as blood fish and bone just before planting and maybe feed them a bit more during the year.

Take a look here for some general brassica advice.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/brassicas/index.php

[Aidy]

I have never tested ph on my plots, when planting my brassicas I just muck in the bed, then dig a hole big enough to fill it with two 5 inch pots of my home made compost, mixed with a little fishblood n bone, I then line the hole with lime, fill with compost, compress down and plant the brassica in that, they have always grown for me with out problem (apart from sprouts on my current plot but thats another story)
Think about, how many people check the ph of the potting compost, yet the plants grow happily in that!

[TerryB]

I believe lime does not effect compost only manure.
Some people add lime to there compost heaps.
I'd lime the beds that need it  and add BFB when planting.
As they grow, compost can be put on the soil as a mulch.

[Kajazy]

Oh, well that's a relief - I've got plenty of compost (the council had a big 'give-away'), so that should make it easier. Excuse my ignorance, but what is BFB?

[AndyRVTR]

Think about, how many people check the ph of the potting compost, yet the plants grow happily in that!

EXCELLENT point Aidy... 

[Lupin lurcher]

Hi Terry, it is blood fish and bone.

[Lupin lurcher]

sorry I meant Kajazy.