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Walhalla, ND.

This is my first year using soil heating cables. I placed my soil heating cables at a 1ft depth in 5’x5’ square. 6 inches down my temp was 36 degrees, 1ft depth it was 32 degrees. It’s been 5 days now and my temp at 6” is only 56 degrees so far. I’ve read some hit 70 after only a couple days. I’m using new cables 2 different brands with same results. Is my soil this far north just that cold, or is there a problem?
Thanks

5/5/2020 8:59:01 AM

stoughton WI

What is your spacing on the wires. Most call for 2 to 3 inches, do you have a tgermostat on the cables to control the temps

5/5/2020 11:01:32 AM

Colorado

My 48' cables are on a 4.5 x 4 ft backing and theyre spaced 4 inches on that grid. Soil is 66 degrees 9 inches down.

5/5/2020 12:14:55 PM

Walhalla, ND.

My cables are 48’ as well, spaced around 4”. I have a very high water table this spring, around 18” from the surface. I’m wondering if that isn’t what’s soaking up the heat?

5/5/2020 12:51:42 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Rick, my cables have the built in thermostat

5/5/2020 12:53:19 PM

Colorado

Kent , Im guessing youve got a dept of soil below your cable set up that gonna take a while for that neighboring mass/volume of dirt to slowly warm up after your tropical north dakota winters:) I'm think your temp will take a while to get up to a equilibrium.

5/5/2020 2:08:30 PM

Topsfield,ma.

If you have 66 degrees 9" down your cables are working. Heat rises, contain it. Even if you have your hoop house up cover the area with insulation of some sort. If you are using the single wire heavy heating cable your temps will be up in 2 days or less. If your using the 2 wire type they don't have the power to do much.

5/5/2020 3:13:11 PM

Bethlehem CT

Hobbit that seems really slow to me. I have three ideas
1. I would think your soil should be warmer. If you are using an extension cord, perhaps your using a cheap one with not enough "gauge" thickness in the wire. A thin cheap extension cord won't have the juice to put out the heat that your cables are capable of.
2. My other idea is that you put your cables down deep. I can't speak for others on here but mine are usually down about 6".
3. Lastly you might be onto something, if your soil is full of water the soil heat cables won't be able to heat the soil properly. Think about how much energy it costs to heat water in an electric hot water heater.

5/5/2020 7:16:05 PM

stoughton WI

Well they say roots stay in the top 6 inches of soil, you may want to put cables 8 inches down and 2 to 3 inch spacing you could be trying to heat alot of extra soil that you dont need to, just my opinion. You may have to take into consideration, the size of the wire.

5/5/2020 7:20:58 PM

South Dakota

I put my cables down 12 inches and my starting 6 inch soil temp on 4/17 was 44 degrees. On 4/22 the 6 inch soil temp was 60. I use heating cables meant for heating soil, don't know how long, but it runs in a big loop to/from an in-line thermostat. I space the cables 3 inches apart.
http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=312976
I have not taken a soil temp for quite awhile once I knew the cables were working, I just let it go and wait.

5/5/2020 7:47:56 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Mine are single strand with built in thermostat automatic shut off at 70;degrees. The water table is currently around 18 inches could that create a lot of heat sink?

5/5/2020 8:43:27 PM

South Dakota

No doubt the wetter the soil, the longer it will take to heat up. The higher density of the water in the pore spaces of the soil would take alot longer for the heat to transfer through the denser wet soil. Also should hold that heat longer once warmed up too.

5/5/2020 9:12:55 PM

Walhalla, ND.

Thank you everyone for your input. I guess I’m just anxious to get my plants out there. Then again, in years past I stuck the poor things in 30 some degree soil temps. Heck, last year I hit frozen ground and put my plants in anyway. Lol, then wonder why the sit dormant for a couple weeks. SMH

5/6/2020 6:36:30 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I use these. They will last a lifetime for you. I checked mine today and the soil was 80. When I first put them in, the next day I decided to check the soil Temp. It was 80 in 24 hours.....https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZqiOA9dusQ

5/6/2020 7:00:54 PM

Central NY

Plants in frozen ground- still grows MonsTerS....cheater

5/7/2020 9:24:15 AM