How to Add Lime to Grow Beets

Beets are a cool season vegetable that prefer to grow in a temperature range between 60 to 65 F. It is important for gardeners to prepare their planting location after the ground thaws in the early spring. Part of preparing their planting location is testing the soil's pH. These vegetables must grow in a pH range between 6.2 to 6.8 to produce healthy growth and absorb the soil's nutrients. Gardeners that have a pH range under 6.2 apply lime to the planting area to raise their pH for beet growing.

Shovel
Testing kit
Drop spreader
Tiller
Garden hose

Instructions

- 1
  Dig a 2- to 3-inch hole in the planting area. Collect 1/2 a cup of soil for testing. Spread the soil on plastic to dry out. Follow the directions on the pH testing kit. Finding out the existing soil pH is important when figuring out how much lime to apply.
- 2
  Measure the amount of lime you intend on using. The amount of lime you need to use depends on the existing soil pH. For example, soil that has a pH range of 5.6 must have 5 lbs. of granule limestone applied per 100 square feet.
- 3
  Pour the granule limestone in a drop spreader. Push the drop spreader over the planting area. Examine the area to ensure an even spread.
- 4
  Work the limestone into the first 3 inches of soil with a tiller. Use the back of the rake to smooth out the surface of the soil.
- 5
  Water the area to ensure that the limestone sinks into the soil to alter the pH. Retest the soil in three to six months when the limestone has altered the range.

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