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Brookfield, Wisconsin

Wondering if I can get some feed back on what is the best depth to bury the soil heating cables. Also, what is a good temp to set the thermostat on one? Thanks!

5/1/2014 2:38:40 AM

Kakabeka Falls,On. Canada.

I usually put mine down 6-8 inches

5/1/2014 6:59:18 AM

Western PA

Same hear, 6-8 inches. My soil has been between 60 - 70 degrees the past 3 weeks.

5/1/2014 8:08:32 AM

Wi

It's not all that important. Anything is better than nothing. If you can get them in 4" great. If you can get them down 6 fine. The heat will definitely travel up and down. No question about that.

The 2 key items are to do the best you can to evenly space the cable (just eyeball it) and also put the thermostat in a spot where it will be in the heat.

I've been running cables since 2008 and anything is better than nothing.

5/1/2014 9:22:54 AM

Central Minnesota

No less than 8 inches for me. They tend to heat up more versus down. I prefer the thermostat to be in the middle closest to the plant and then work out and around from there.

5/1/2014 9:46:53 AM

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Sounds good, thanks. How about setting the thermostat. Would mid seventies be right?

5/1/2014 11:12:28 AM

Kakabeka Falls,On. Canada.

Mine are pre-set at 74 degrees so they say!, last year my thermostate quit working and I had soil temps as hi as 95 degrees. Had to plug it into a timer which was set to come on for 30 min and off for 30min.So it's a good idea to test the soil with a thermometer.

5/1/2014 1:20:22 PM

Central Minnesota

74 is fine. I use a 10 inch soil thermometer on each plant to make sure the cables are working and monitor the soil temp until the first week of June.

5/1/2014 1:23:49 PM

Muddy Waters

I like mine 8 -10 inches deep

5/1/2014 9:00:46 PM

Joliet, IL

8 to 10 inches here. After digging out soil and throwing the spoils on surrounding plywood i deepspade the subsoil and fracture it good and toss on some goodies. Then lay cable and shovel spoils laying on plywood back in easily. Then mark your cable corners giving 6" play on all sides. Last thing you want to do is maybe do a rye or weed till knock down and get too cute and catch a cable in the tines....rips out the plant from what i heard talkin horror stories over beers

5/1/2014 9:34:23 PM

Muddy Waters

Great advice Shazzy. I mark my corners & stay back a foot.I think a lot of growers are chopping there kin roots off with tiller,plus tilling kills mycorrs & beneficial's & such.If you stay on the walk boards no need to till up with in 8 feet of plant.just weed the surface with a loop hoe.

5/2/2014 8:00:49 AM

How far apart do you space them ?

5/2/2014 2:07:12 PM

Brookfield, Wisconsin

got my second set placed yesterday between rains. I was wondering how many you could run off one 20 amp breaker. Got a long run of extension cords to patch. Plan to run some electric underground this year.

5/3/2014 12:36:24 AM