Transplant when Warm or Semi Cold

zipcode · March 28, 2018

If the soil is cold it's useless. I'd rather plant later. That's more important then the occasional cold snap (as long as it doesn't freeze of course).

seaeagle · March 28, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by zipcode

If the soil is cold it's useless. I'd rather plant later. That's more important then the occasional cold snap (as long as it doesn't freeze of course).

BINGO!!!

Seriously, every serious gardener should have a soil thermometer.

Cole_Robbie · March 28, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaeagle

BINGO!!!

Seriously, every serious gardener should have a soil thermometer.

Or black plastic mulch over raised beds. On a sunny spring day, it is 20-30 degrees warmer under the plastic. It feels odd when the soil is warmer than the air.

bower · March 30, 2018

Soil temp is where pots have the advantage over in-ground. The soil in containers warms really quickly compared to the ground. This is why I can plant my toms much earlier than my friend at the farm. Even when the surface seems warm enough, I have found it plenty cold still at the bottom of that planting hole!

Another trick for cold soil is to warm it up with hot water before planting. The heat from the water will dissipate into the surrounding soil and raise the soil temperature overall.

I want to try warming the ground at my mom's with black plastic this year, at least before planting (she's a bit fussy about the look of things). That is an impressive temperature difference!

March 28, 2018	#1
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	If the soil is cold it's useless. I'd rather plant later. That's more important then the occasional cold snap (as long as it doesn't freeze of course).

March 30, 2018	#4
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	Soil temp is where pots have the advantage over in-ground. The soil in containers warms really quickly compared to the ground. This is why I can plant my toms much earlier than my friend at the farm. Even when the surface seems warm enough, I have found it plenty cold still at the bottom of that planting hole! Another trick for cold soil is to warm it up with hot water before planting. The heat from the water will dissipate into the surrounding soil and raise the soil temperature overall. I want to try warming the ground at my mom's with black plastic this year, at least before planting (she's a bit fussy about the look of things). That is an impressive temperature difference!