From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Pete, thanks for posting that great photo of your soil cables attached to the plastic fencing...great idea Jody!! First time soil cable user here and I was worried about doing it right, this looks great!!

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=287702

Glenn

4/17/2018 2:24:25 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

As a follow up, how deep would you bury those?

4/17/2018 2:25:44 PM

Central NY

And what do use again to attach to fence?...lol...great idea

4/17/2018 3:55:53 PM

Cape Breton Nova Scotia

This is my first time using soil heating cables so it's a learning experience. I zip tied the cable to snow fence. I burried my first set yesterday. I dug down a foot. When I covered them up they were close to 18" under the soil because I added a large bag of perlite. I'll try and post some pics In my diary
Jody

4/17/2018 6:53:43 PM

Warwood

Depends on power of cables but bury them in general about 6-8 in. deep but there are many ways from trial and error to adjust your situation.

4/17/2018 7:22:14 PM

Cape Breton Nova Scotia

Oops sound like I went too deep.

4/17/2018 7:33:43 PM

Peosta, Iowa

All credit to Jody, nice and organized!

4/17/2018 7:36:42 PM

Cape Breton Nova Scotia

I stole the idea from the internet...lol

4/17/2018 7:46:33 PM

Cape Breton Nova Scotia

How deep do you bury your cables Pete?

4/17/2018 7:55:48 PM

Peosta, Iowa

To muddy yet, was thinking 8" range, stupid 2-4" of snow and ice for tomorrow hopefully by sunday

4/17/2018 8:21:44 PM

Cape Breton Nova Scotia

Lots of rain here today. I'm glad I got my hoop houses in place. Hopefully the soil will stay dry and I can set another set of cables burried tomorrow. I think I'll stay at the same depth. I'm using 2 gallon grow bags they are pretty deep so I'll have to dig a good size hole for them.

4/17/2018 8:36:14 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Thanks. How about other growers? How deep to put the soil cables? Also, has anyone ever burnt or damaged roots by having the cables too near the surface. I’m thinking 6” deep, but I know roots go deeper than that.

4/17/2018 10:16:24 PM

Connecticut

I put mine 6-8" deep.

What I see a lot of growers laying them out wrong by not having the in-line thermostat between two heating elements, look carefully at the pictures of my installation.

Also, be sure the have the thermostat level or slightly above the heating elements, putting it deeper only provides an inaccurate reading and can cause the potential for overheating.

Site prep
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=272163

Getting them to bend easy
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=272164

***Proper Installation
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=272165

Installed
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=272167

4/18/2018 12:39:47 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

Looking good! Only a few more short months and John MacKinnons PB of 1356.5 lbs will be the 4th largest ever grown on Cape Breton Island...lol

4/18/2018 6:18:54 AM

Cape Breton Nova Scotia

Going for the gold this year Carl 1812lbs:)
You've held the Millville Cape Breton record for 6 years that's long enough....lol

4/18/2018 6:36:56 AM

nOVA sCOTIA

lol.You have got to be kidding me. It can't be 6 years already. I best start trucking some organics soon or i will be too old to compete with you guys :) Good idea with the cables Jody but that pit is going to fill up with water....lol

4/18/2018 10:37:33 AM

Buffalo, MN (Billsbigpumpkins@hotmail.com)

I like the idea of putting them in that way, but getting them out maybe a bit of a problem in heavier soils.

4/18/2018 10:37:44 AM

Nova Scotia

LOL ... I am flattered that weight means so much to you Carl. Why don't YOU drop me a spot or two. With your expertise you could do that without even watering. I am sure everyone here is heard enough of your growing green "manure" for six long years!

4/19/2018 7:26:08 PM

Eganville, Ontario

They’ll be really hard to get out attached to the snow fence I think. I just put mine carefully on the soil and at least in the fall I can shovel down halfway and then pull and they come out quick.

Just be careful in the fall that you don’t dig too close to them and cut into them with the shovel if you are connected to the fence.

4/19/2018 8:43:58 PM

Eastern Pennsylvania

Just what I was thinking, after digging up and moving four sets of cables boy that will be a real chore digging those up when strapped to a snow fence. And I’d suggest not zip tying them so tight to the fence also so that you can cut em off without severing the cable with your pliers.

4/22/2018 2:41:39 PM

Jericho Vermont

I agree that the fence would be harder to dig up in the fall. But I can’t give advice as I have forgotten a couple in the ground over the years and I can attest they don’t hold up well when your tiller finds them in the fall!

4/22/2018 7:23:39 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Well, they were sure easy to install. Thanks for the tips fellas.

4/22/2018 11:56:10 PM