6 replies to this topic

[Jastin]

What is your soil temperature?
I came across a few articles on the effects of root development and plant/root growth. I have dense soil which takes a while to heat up and thus root development is slow( especially in the winter), which means my plants grow slower. Having a lighter soil mix allows the sun to heat the soil faster which speed up the process of root/plant development.

This morning the air temp was 41 degrees at my house and my soil temp was 49 degrees. I checked my garden area with lots of new compost at the same time and it was 70 degrees. I've heard that root development stops at around 55-60 degrees (soil temp)

Root system
http://www.mendeley....nd-root-growth/

Soil temps and root growth
http://www.publish.c...r/SR9700031.htm

Interesting, I never thought about this...The color of pots effect your plant height
http://www.canr.org/02008.pdf

Edited by Jastin, 08 March 2012 - 08:35 AM.

[Jastin]

I forgot to add that my soil temp of 49 degrees was not mulched. I also checked my mulched planters and they were at 62 degrees!

[Stevetoad]

what are you using to take its temp??? can use my wifes meet thermometer?

[Jastin]

That's what I used Steve. I put it all the way in so I could get the deepest temp. I figured it was pretty accurate because it always has the the same temp reading as my thermostat in the house.

[Stevetoad]

That's what I used Steve. I put it all the way in so I could get the deepest temp. I figured it was pretty accurate because it always has the the same temp reading as my thermostat in the house.

i just realized i put meet instead of meat

[MattyB]

Your wife's meet thermometer. Classic.

[tropicbreeze]

Haven't measured the soil temps but I've dug holes in the middle of winter and early morning you can feel the heat coming out. I have measured the water temp of my bore in the middle of winter and it's a fairly constant 28C. Which is good really, for the plants with the irrigation on cool mornings.