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nanaimo,B.C,Canada

What would be more advantageous to the pumpkin seedling. Using soil heating cables or going with a ceramic heater in the cloches?

Thanks Dave

1/30/2007 7:28:24 PM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

both

1/30/2007 8:05:05 PM

[email protected]

Dave
I would without a doubt say the heating cables are top for importance. then air temp, But then again I'm considering my location and we have a much colder climate
Eddy

1/30/2007 8:22:57 PM

Lloydminster/AB

both!

1/30/2007 8:24:29 PM

Nikiski, Alaska 99635

Ditto, both. Just make sure you have enough room in the cloche so you don't end up cooking your plant. I like to place a 5 gal bucket of water about six inches in front of ceramic heater. The water will soon turn very warm and counter the drying effects of the heater by adding some humidity. In addition it helps hold in some extra heat. Always aim heater away from plant.

1/30/2007 10:24:08 PM

[email protected]

J.D. says it then it's so. He would know. I like the water bucket idea.

1/30/2007 11:34:38 PM

Mill Bay, British Columbia

Dave, in our climate with warmer than average spring temps (that's right....Canada actually has warm areas!!) I'd be worried about too much heat from the soil cables. Maybe use the soil cables at night when the temps dip down past what we want to maintain, but using them during the day when your cloche heats up to maximum temperature could cook everything pretty good.

I've never tried the soil heating cables so can't give an informed opinion but would be interested in knowing what Jake, Joel, Steve, Stan and all the other PNW growers do.....

1/31/2007 1:19:37 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

Soil Cables usually have an internal thermostat that keeps the soil a certian temp and only turns on if the soil temp drops below that.

1/31/2007 5:14:36 AM

Bethlehem CT

I can't specifically speak for giant pumpkins, but I do know that warm roots with cool tops will generally produce a nice root system with more compact tops. The higher temps tend to make plants stretch more between leaf nodes. This is experience from the nursery industry where temperatures can and are used almost like a growth requlator. So my preference (without experience on A.G's) leans toward heating cables, it should produce a more compact and sturdy plant with a better root system.

2/1/2007 8:24:23 AM

Here's the way I approach this idea,,plant grow reaches maximum when soil temps are at 75-80F,,with the cables you are letting the main/stump roots from the seedling grow and extend fast. Something that is very desireable early on.

The heaters if equipped with fans also get the air circulating in the hoop, something that is critical IMO for preventing any early disease when the leaves are to tender for applications of foliar apps of fungicide.

I use both, combined they saved me when I had 4 nights of frost in early June last year.

2/1/2007 8:52:56 AM