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Kutztown, PA

I viewed a Moby Mike Youtube showing the area Mike excavated to place heating cables. The area was approximately 6' x 10' which he indicated was the size of his mini covers. I have loamy soil and it's been suggested to me by some that I mound and not dig down. Those folks believe digging a hole just creates a hole where water will migrate and keep the soil to damp around the stump area. So, my question is if I did dig down, say a foot, to place my heating cables should I till in the hole too? How deep is to deep? I can say for sure my soil does hold moisture well. Also, how much area do cables really need to cover? What length cables do most folks use?

1/26/2022 8:34:17 AM

Western NY

I dig out about 4' x 4', and use 24' heating cables. I only go down about a foot. I backfill with a mix of potting soil and the dirt I dug out so that it's lighter and fluffier, making it easier to remove the cables back at the end of the season.

Ideally, your soil should be built up enough that it will drain just fine below that one foot excavation in any part of the patch. If you have a clay soil base, this may take years to adjust. Even with clay soil, you may be ok digging a hole like this if you also slightly mound that area so rainwater won't collect there once the greenhouse is off.

1/26/2022 9:17:44 AM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks Andy. I didn't use heating cables last year. I want to get a quick start this year. How deep would you say your soil is before you get down to compaction? Is a 6" till depth good enough?

1/26/2022 9:43:55 AM

Deer Park WA

We use 40' rain gutter cables with a seperate digital thermostat. We dig an area approximatly 6' x 6' down about 12" and place the cables in a kind of oblong spiral pattern. Works well for us.

1/26/2022 5:24:30 PM

South Dakota

Can I splice a heating cable I cut in half digging up last fall, or am I SOL?

1/26/2022 7:44:00 PM

On a cliff in the desert

sol

1/26/2022 7:56:32 PM

Massachusetts

You can splice but those wires are really tiny. I just did mine.

1/26/2022 7:57:14 PM

Massachusetts

I used this junction box to hold things together. I soldered the little tiny wires together. Works fine.

1/26/2022 8:04:54 PM

Massachusetts

https://www.amazon.com/FX-Junction-Waterproof-Connector-External/dp/B07FDKH4G3/ref=sr_1_5?crid=302W3QJGJKHZE&keywords=splice+box+wire&qid=1643245166&sprefix=splice+box+wire%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-5

1/26/2022 8:05:04 PM

Circleville

I attach mine to a section of cattle panel. Then burry with the panel on top for protection from the shovel and much easier to remove.

1/26/2022 9:38:03 PM

Wisconsin

I might not have been clear in the video, the hoops are bigger, but I do 50 feet of cable in 4'x4' typically. I did something different on the the 2520, I think I have footage that ill try and get up, but I used (2) 50 ft sections in a long X pattern.

1/27/2022 7:56:24 AM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks for the explanation Mike. I'm guessing the soil is a little colder in Wisconsin that time of the year than in PA. Did you mix anything like peat or coir in with soil when you put it back in over the cables? The hole I saw on Youtube seemed rectangular shaped, not really 4' x 4'. You're not one of those guys who made a 300 yard shot on a deer that was only 50 yards away are you??:)

1/27/2022 8:40:55 AM

Western NY

As far as tilling depth and cable depth placement - it depends on how big of a plant you're going to be burying. If you're just doing a small 4 inch pot and getting that seedling out just as soon as you can see the first true leaf, then depth isn't an issue. If you're looking at burying a two gallon root system, you'll want the full foot. Here's a good comparison:

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=269794

1/27/2022 8:51:52 AM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks Andy.

1/27/2022 10:04:14 AM

Kutztown, PA

Andy,

I checked that link out. I'm planning to go with 1 gallon pots this year. Last year I used 4" peat pots. What planting date do you typically shoot for?

1/27/2022 10:10:17 AM

Western NY

Last year - seeds started April 10, and went in the ground April 27th. That can be a bit of a risky timeline up here, we can get snow into May. But if you're comfortable with your early season protection, I think that's the timing that works best for me.

1/27/2022 10:42:56 AM

Kutztown, PA

Based on that schedule when were you able to pollinate?

1/27/2022 11:46:17 AM

Western NY

Pollinated June 22 with my big one. The year before my 2200 was June 26th.

1/27/2022 2:08:37 PM

Kutztown, PA

How much weight do you think yours put on in the 1st month?

1/27/2022 2:52:03 PM

Wisconsin

I mix fertilizer in soil but not peat or anything. Hole may have been rectangular, its not like im out there with a tape measure making sure its sqaure. I prefer to shoot my deer 10 yards or less. I havnt shoot a deer in 4 years with a rifle even though I can ring steel to 600 yards no problem.

1/27/2022 8:11:37 PM

Kutztown, PA

Mike, does that mean you missed a deer with your rifle 4 years in a row or that you only shoot deer you can spot at 600 yards? :) Can you do any harm adding kelp meal to your hole, if your lab results show you already have plenty of nutrients?

1/28/2022 10:46:34 AM

Kutztown, PA

Andy - How much weight do you think the 2200 and the 2365 put on the first month?

1/28/2022 3:59:37 PM

Western NY

2200 day 30 - 727#
2365 day 30 - 579#

There was a big difference in the weather d10- d30 for those two pumpkins.

1/28/2022 5:45:50 PM

Brooktondale, New York

Thanks Andy and Mike super helpful to a new guy in the game.
I only have three baby food fruits under my belt. I would like to come out and play with the big boys, so I have been sifting anything I can get my dirty little hands on. I honestly think you guys have the best chance at breaking 3000# and bring the WR back to the USA. Thank you for your help. I will continue to eat what you feed me. Best of luck and weather this year.

1/29/2022 11:53:53 PM

Kutztown, PA

So, what brand of cables do most people use?

1/30/2022 10:40:01 AM

British Columbia, Canada

What type of fertilizer do you mix into the soil Mike?

1/30/2022 2:44:09 PM

Wisconsin

Garwolf, Kelp is no problem if you have enough nutrients, consider it a bonus its not strong enough to push you over.

Jordan, I use whatever I figure for my ammendments for the patch, I just divide it out for the smaller area

2/2/2022 6:00:03 AM

Kutztown, PA

Thanks Mike. I bought a few bags a while back. Kelp meal is so expensive I hate not to use it.

2/2/2022 9:44:34 AM

British Columbia, Canada

Thanks mike

2/4/2022 4:40:58 PM