I often lime lightly in beds where I will plant azaleas, for example. I have very acid, sandy soil under pines. Growth is much better even for the azaleas with light liming. The lime must be allowed to interact with soil for at least a month before planting azaleas and rhododendrons, however. In the vegetable garden, liming promotes health, vigor, thicker fruit walls, and more disease-resistant plants.
Lime helps curb blossom-end rot in tomatoes.
It helps plants take in fertilizer. It helps build stronger cell walls so that plants resist disease, drought, wind and insect pests more successfully. But lime is not the whole answer. Plants need humus, too. Humus is essential to help soil bacteria survive.