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  • From: Shawnee Flowerfarmer <farmingflowers AT hotmail.com>
  • To: <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] soil temps
  • Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:30:49 -0500

     "I have gotten pretty scientific with it and measure at 2", 4" and 10". Each helps me look at the different stages of growth. I have developed info I use on what works best for growing certain veges.
 It's almost impossible to find literature on this. What is available only addresses germination and then jumps into what is air/nutrients....totally ignoring the center."

what action do you take/not take based on your data?  What's the range of soil temperatures in your area and so on.  For example, I wait for spring planting until the soil temperatures are at certain levels for seedlings or direct sowing.  Ditto second season crops.  I monitor temperatures under mulches-light colored vs dark colored and the length of time of the temperature range.  I find that I get much better/quicker response by matching temperature range to the season and the crop.  Does get a bit fiddly though.  Since we know how complex soil ecosystems are and the symbiotic relationships of certain organisms in the soil to those growing above, it makes perfect sense to try to work out the best ranges between the two.  As someone said when I showed them a soil thermometer registering 98 degrees while the air temperature was at 62...."but my mammal blood wants a sweatshirt while I should put my feet down there with the roots."
I do think that it's hard to find specific literature on these ideas because the data changes so much in various locations and even within short lengths of the same row.  There are many variables to consider and we must become our own local experts.
Shawnee, soil geek, zone 5
 



Date: Sat, 11 Sep 2010 04:16:41 -0400
From: sustainableharvestsc AT gmail.com
To: market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] soil temps



On Fri, Sep 10, 2010 at 11:05 PM, Shawnee Flowerfarmer <farmingflowers AT hotmail.com> wrote:

 
I would be very interested in what you're learning about soil temperatures.
Shawnee, zone 5

Shawnee---
 
Soil temps to me are something that is the underlying constant. It seems to be the more reliable determiner of what is happening with the plant. When you realize you can destroy the top of a weed/plant and it comes back, then the basic life force of the plant is below ground more than above.
 
The soil temperature moves more slowly either up or down. It has the bigger influence on the plant and the one that can be worked with----------trying to control/draw conclusions/etc......using the more volatile air/sun is a foray into chaos.
 
I have gotten pretty scientific with it and measure at 2", 4" and 10". Each helps me look at the different stages of growth. I have developed info I use on what works best for growing certain veges.
 
It's almost impossible to find literature on this. What is available only addresses germination and then jumps into what is air/nutrients....totally ignoring the center.
 
Not sure what you want to know.
 
Pam.

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