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KENTUCKY

Have you goten your results for the test you are doing on warming up soil?

Thanks,
Mike

2/29/2004 10:15:22 AM

[email protected]

The dog & son accidentally knocked the clear cover off & the soil there refroze. So far all the covers have kept the soil from freezing at night. Even with the 3 out of 7 cloudy days. Current temps are:

All temps taken with True-Tell soil thermometer at 2" deep unless frozen solid.

Unheated greenhouse 6 mil plastic 2 layers.......45*F
Open ground...(frozen solid so probed 1").......<30*F
Disturbed clear raised 12"..(thawed in 7 days)...34*F
Black pond liner flat on ground..(still solid)...32*F
Clear plastic flat on ground.....(still solid)...32*F
Woven Poly tarp (brown) dog & child victim.......32*F

Several notes to mention.

1.) Night time low last night was 27*F. The flat covers are losing heat rapidly at night in the absence of an air insulator. All were thawed yesterday but refoze over night. The larger the air insulator, the less thermal energy is being lost.

2.) The reenhouse heating & ventilation system is now running for my son's plant sale seedling which are now mostly all up & running. :o) So further comparison there would be senseless.

3.) Cloches are going to be recovered today since the Home Cheapo 6 mil plastic has failed. They will yield results next week & there after.

2/29/2004 10:54:21 AM

[email protected]

I just noticed the beginning of my last post made no sense. I *had* noted that all the coveres were keeping the soil thawed. But I started composing the post & *then* walked out to the patch for the temps.

So here in the first week it looks like any tarp, plastic sheeting, or rubber cover is only moderately effective when laying directly on the soil.

It also looks like any cover that includes an insulating layer of air will be an improvement.

So the new changes for this next week include all new 6 mil plastic which will still be left flat. But will now include both small cloches & a supportive network to keep a modest 6-10" air layer.

2/29/2004 8:40:08 PM