Chalky soil can be found on the south coasts of Britain. This area is famous for its White Cliffs, which get their colour from the chalk that they are composed from, and from the Jurassic Coast, which boast miles of coast line and the impressive Chesil Beach.
Chalky soil is also often described as alkaline soil or lime rich soil and is typically very dry. It also gives farmers or gardeners a perpetual headache because it is low in nutrients and tends to be full of rocks and stones, which makes the ground very hard to work with. There are also high levels of magnesium and iron in the soil, which make it difficult for any pants to be able to absorb any nutrients that are there.
It is usually easy to identify chalky soils simply by its appearance but if you are in any doubt, there is an easy way that you can make sure. Chalk is made up from calcium carbonate so if you to put some of the soil into some vinegar it will react and start to froth and sizzle if it contains chalk. You may want to go one step further and check out the soil’s pH level. A simple soil test will determine this; a pH level of 7 and higher is thought to be alkaline.
There are some plants that will do well in chalky soil. Some herbs are particularly suited to it, such as lavender, chamomile, fennel, bay, thyme, sage, marjoram and rosemary.
Poppies appreciate soil that is rich in lime, as do violas, geraniums, peonies and asters. If you fancy some fruit trees or vegetables, then it will be better to concentrate on pear trees and cabbages, cauliflowers and other brassicas. Corn and spinach should also do well. The general rule of thumb for growing vegetables in chalky soil is to away away from those that need moist, rich soils.
Chalky soil is also often described as alkaline soil or lime rich soil and is typically very dry. It also gives farmers or gardeners a perpetual headache because it is low in nutrients and tends to be full of rocks and stones, which makes the ground very hard to work with. There are also high levels of magnesium and iron in the soil, which make it difficult for any pants to be able to absorb any nutrients that are there.
It is usually easy to identify chalky soils simply by its appearance but if you are in any doubt, there is an easy way that you can make sure. Chalk is made up from calcium carbonate so if you to put some of the soil into some vinegar it will react and start to froth and sizzle if it contains chalk. You may want to go one step further and check out the soil’s pH level. A simple soil test will determine this; a pH level of 7 and higher is thought to be alkaline.
There are some plants that will do well in chalky soil. Some herbs are particularly suited to it, such as lavender, chamomile, fennel, bay, thyme, sage, marjoram and rosemary.
Poppies appreciate soil that is rich in lime, as do violas, geraniums, peonies and asters. If you fancy some fruit trees or vegetables, then it will be better to concentrate on pear trees and cabbages, cauliflowers and other brassicas. Corn and spinach should also do well. The general rule of thumb for growing vegetables in chalky soil is to away away from those that need moist, rich soils.
