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  • From: Michael Brabo <mdbrabo AT att.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Heating seedling trays
  • Date: Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:41:39 -0600

We've use 1" of sand over the mat to balance hot spots.
Regards,
Mike
Vesterbrook Farm
573-560-0871

On Dec 20, 2011, at 9:33 AM, Allan Balliett <allan.balliett AT gmail.com> wrote:

> Here's a question:
>
> I'm using one of those 'plastic film' heating mats, probably 2x4 ft.
>
> I'm having trouble with 'hot spots' in it. I have a good thermostat,
> which I set of 70degrees. I have umpteen small soil thermometers stuck
> in the trays but, of course, the thermostat sensor can only be in one
> spot, so, until it reads 70 there, it keeps the juice on throughout
> the mat. (I've read up to 100degrees in the soil at one point. Weird,
> 100 degrees BAKES seeds, which doesn't seem right) Anyway, I've
> decided to sandwich the heat mat between a 1inch thick sheet of rigid
> insulation (which I've had there all along) and a half inch thick
> sheet of sheathing rigid (foam) insulation in the hopes that the
> temperature will even out across the board and the thermostat sensor
> will pick up more accurately. My question is: have you ever tried a
> heat mat sandwiched between insulation boards? Is there a danger of
> over heating the heat pad while trying to get 70degrees through the
> top insulation? Other than buy a new heat mat, how would you approach
> this problem. (Yes, mostly working with wheatgrass, peas and
> sunflowers)
>
> Thanks
>
> -Allan in WV
>
>
>
> On Mon, Dec 19, 2011 at 8:35 AM, MAsteveINE <MAsteveINE AT 207me.com> wrote:
>>
>> The system you discribe is available from suppliers under several names but
>> commonly referred to as spaghetti tube, another alternative puts fin pipe
>> (as is inside hot water baseboard) suspended under the bench. For a
>> DIY system on the cheap use common black 1/2 inch plastic pipe in runs a
>> few
>> inches apart; running warm water,
>> with a Taco 007 pump, from some type of water heater. ( longer pump runs of
>> warm water is better than hot water which can overheat your crop, get your
>> system together early and make a check run for a few days to see what is
>> what; I like having the probe of an indoor/outdoor recording thermometer
>> burried in the soil)
>> My small system ran a Katz engine heater which is available at auto parts
>> store; that was at the house (residence) where heat requirement was minimal
>>
>> For late season we needed something for lots of vine crops direct seeded
>> in
>> 804 cell packs so we
>> put a 4' x 16' bench at about waist height, covered and skirted with 6 mil
>> poly, a 1500 watt electric heater
>> under there on a bulb type line voltage thermostat Worked very well, and
>> even better when we had
>> the time and remembered to water with warm water!
>>
>> MAsteveINE
>>
>> 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
>>
>> I’m looking for people’s experience heating seedling trays. I’ve used heat
>> pads in the past but I saw a system recently on a farm near Olympia,
>> Washington. This system consisted of a hot water tank used to heat water
>> which was circulated through small diameter tubes under seedling trays.
>> The
>> farmer indicated that it was a less expensive system to run than resistance
>> heat pads. I’m wondering what the experience is of people on this site and
>> what their recommendations would be for efficiently heating seedling trays.
>> Any and all thoughts would be much appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Roy
>>
>> ________________________________
>>
>>
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