hi figsters,
   for years i've heard that figs can't get enough lime.
in fact the men at bellclare told me with potted figs
to put a two or three inches of lime as a mulch in
my potted figs, i also mix it well in the soil
before i pot the figs. i've now heard that lime
is not good that it locks up nutrients in the soil.
i potted most of my figs in bumper crop a sort
of superior compost with ground oyster shells mixed in
i added plenty of bone meal and green sand.

what do you think?

marcantonio

Hydrated lime,can be bad for figs(burn them).
Limestone,Granulated or powder,especially the one that contain,magnesium and Calcium,is good for figs.From this one the tree will take what it needs,on a long period of time.
Of course Limestone is needed only if your potting soil is acidic,and not alkaline.
You need to test the soil,with a ,soil tester kit,found in most comercial garden center,for about $5
Best Regards

It has been a long time since I did any soil chemistry, but as I recall, limestone is pretty much inert in the soil unless and until it is attacked by acids.

In an acidic soil it decomposes--enough acid and it disappears.  If there is enough limestone it will decompose until the PH in the soil is neutral and from then on it decomposes as organic decay produces carbon dioxide, an acid when dissolved in water.

If you really need a basic soil, high PH, the easiest way to get it most times is to add wood ash, which is about 70% lime plus sodium hydroxide and trace elements, whatever happened to be in the wood burned.  We have a jujube tree in our back yard which had never fruited.  Wife was anxious for it to bear as she remebered the fruit from her childhood.  After some internet study I mulched the thing with about twenty gallons of wood ash (8 or 9 years ago) and it has born like mad ever since.  I'll take the meter and read the PH out there this afternoon if I don't forget.

I read the several references to mulching figs with limestone with interest.  It sounds to me as if the limestone is intended to prevent the soil in the pots from going "sour".  Nothing will happen unless the soil becomes acidic.
Ox

So what is a good target PH for figs?

-Steve

Neutral 7

wow ... with all of the talk I have heard of adding lime I expected they wanted to go more basic.

-Steve