Watermelons benefit from lime only when the soil pH is too low.
Here's a breakdown:
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Optimal Soil pH: Watermelons thrive best when the soil pH is between 6.0 and 6.8.
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Lime's Role: Lime is used to increase soil pH.
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When to Apply Lime: According to the reference, "Apply lime if soil pH is below 5.5." Watermelons are fairly tolerant of slightly acidic soil (pH as low as 5.5), but they won't reach their full potential if the soil is too acidic.
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In Summary: Watermelons don't inherently "like" lime in the way they like water or sunlight. Lime is a soil amendment used to correct overly acidic soil conditions. If the soil already has a suitable pH (6.0-6.8), adding lime could actually be detrimental.