From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Partlow,Va

I have never used them before and I could sure use any advice to help me out. Last year was cold and wet and it was really tough on my transplants. So I want to put heating cables in 1 site and have some questions.
Do you think that a 7'x7' area is sufficient for one plant?
What length of cables do you guys use?
Thanks

12/10/2013 12:53:20 PM

Piqua, Ohio

yes, I use 40 footers

12/10/2013 6:47:51 PM

Partlow,Va

Thanks Josh,
I laid out a 40' extension cord and it will cover a 6' X 6' area spaced around 7-8 inches apart. Does that sound about right? I live in central Va and on May 1st the average soil temperature at an 8 inch depth is 63.1 degrees f .
Do you think a 8 inch spacing will give me a 10 degree rise in temperature in a loamy sand soil?

12/15/2013 9:56:20 PM

Whitehall Montana

Hank,I bought my first set,a 48 ft set and will use next spring,my instructions say to have a 3" spred on them.As I never used them before,I dont know what I can get away with on them,but most folks seem to love them.

12/26/2013 6:35:50 PM

Sourthern Utah

i have used them in the past,, fer a cold weather grower,, they are a very good, investment and a jump ahead,,, the thing needed to remember is,, dont walk on soil after burying them,, hard as hell to get up,, use, boards after you bury to work around the seedling area,, much easier to remove,, just me,, believe it

12/26/2013 8:54:36 PM

Partlow,Va

Look in Cntryboy's Diary to see his layout.
layout.http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=196237
In order to cover a 65" X 65" square with a 40' cable you must cheat the spacing much farther apart. Slim, in your climate I think you will have to keep them closer together than I do to maintain the same temperature.

12/27/2013 9:32:29 AM

Piqua, Ohio

Hank, I use the same method as Cecil it works great for me. I usually don't need supplemental heat in hoop house when I use cables.

12/27/2013 10:38:46 AM