From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Norfolk, UK

Hi!

plot last year was still getting ready in late May (UK) so first chance at starting at 'the right' time this year.

I've rigged up a 6 Ft x 11 Ft mini cloche in anticipation, and am looking at soil warming cables to cope with cold nights and seaweed foliar feed during season.

Any advice on length of cable people use (20ft or 40ft), and what volume of sprayer needed - 7 litres sprayer too big/little? Aiming to get the ready ahead of time...

Thanks!
Douglas

4/24/2016 4:27:08 PM

Bloomington, IN USA

Hi Douglas.
I am using soil heating cables for the first time this year so I'm not the voice of experience.
I have 24 ft cables buried in my 5 X 8 ft hoophouses.
I checked the soil temperature around 3 days after plugging them in & found the soil temp was around 8-9 degrees F higher in the houses.
I haven't checked them since then but assume that the temps are better yet.
As far as sprayers, last year I used a 4 gallon sprayer but I found that 2 gallons sufficed to adequately spray my plant late in season when it covered 560 sq ft.
If your plant is larger you may want to be able to spray a little higher volume.
Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.

4/24/2016 10:17:06 PM

Norfolk, UK

Hi Materdoc, that's really useful. If anyone else has any thoughts do chip in. Finger's hovering over that buy button. ;)

4/25/2016 5:06:19 PM

Central Illinois

Seems 40ft are more popular if you have one plant a one gallon sprayer would be fine

4/26/2016 7:37:26 AM

Winston Salem, NC

a 7 liter or bigger aint gonna hurt you either. It can be a pain to go back and keep measuring out for that 1 gal tank three different times. a 1 gal or 4L is good as a separate tank for pesticides and fungicides though.

4/26/2016 11:06:21 AM

Norfolk, UK

Many thanks for the advice all. Will go for the 40ft (only a few $ more) and see what's available on tanks

4/28/2016 9:17:27 AM