tibbar wrote:
'songbird[_2_ Wrote:
;954136']tibbar wrote:
....-
My question is can I use limestone chippings for the ballas it
appears to be the cheapest aggregate unless you members know better,
I'd appreciate any information.-

chipped limestone will have very high pH.


songbird

Thanks Songbird for your reply, does having a high pH make them
unsatistactory for growing tomatoes?

High pH in soil will reduce the absorbtion of some minerals which become
less soluble. Most veges (this is a generalisation) like it about 6-6.5
that is slightly acid and IIRC tomatoes are in that group. The question
that I cannot answer with certainty is will limestone chips in the aggregate
layer have the effect of raising pH too high. I am guessing there will not
be very much effect in the time that tomatoes grow as limestone chips will
not dissolve readily.

I take it that there is water in the aggregate layer. If so test its pH and
you will know and nobody needs to guess. A dye indicator pH test kit is
cheap and accurate enough for the purpose and will always be useful if you
are going to grow veges.

David