transplanting -- soil temperature?

dirtdigging101 · February 25, 2007

is there a guideline how warm the top say 6 to 8" of soil should be when transplanting into the garden.??

bcday · February 25, 2007

Most of the guidelines I've seen say a minimum of 50-55°F at a depth of 4", so I don't know about 6" or 8". A couple of places say 60°F and one says to take the temperature at 8 a.m. to avoid artificially high readings caused by warm afternoon sun.

Soil temperature doesn't change as fast as air temperature, but it still can drop by 5 or 10° from one day to the next if the weather cools, so don't run out and plant the day after you see the first 50° reading. Wait until the temps stay above the minimum for a few days.

I wouldn't depend on soil temperature alone even then, especially if you are using clear or black plastic to warm the soil. We usually have several nights of frost warnings even after the soil temps get to 50 or 55°, so you need to be prepared to protect from frost if you want to rely on soil temperature. :wink:

dirtdigging101 · February 26, 2007

was just wondering will likely just check it and record it to see. i have stopped growing out of doors and grow in a unheated greenhouse and this is my first year in a new greenhouse

thanks

Mantis · February 26, 2007

If you are growing in a greenhouse , why worry about soil temps?

February 25, 2007	#1
dirtdigging101 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 67	transplanting -- soil temperature? is there a guideline how warm the top say 6 to 8" of soil should be when transplanting into the garden.??

February 25, 2007	#2
bcday Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY z5 Posts: 1,205	Most of the guidelines I've seen say a minimum of 50-55°F at a depth of 4", so I don't know about 6" or 8". A couple of places say 60°F and one says to take the temperature at 8 a.m. to avoid artificially high readings caused by warm afternoon sun. Soil temperature doesn't change as fast as air temperature, but it still can drop by 5 or 10° from one day to the next if the weather cools, so don't run out and plant the day after you see the first 50° reading. Wait until the temps stay above the minimum for a few days. I wouldn't depend on soil temperature alone even then, especially if you are using clear or black plastic to warm the soil. We usually have several nights of frost warnings even after the soil temps get to 50 or 55°, so you need to be prepared to protect from frost if you want to rely on soil temperature. :wink:

February 26, 2007	#3
dirtdigging101 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: north carolina Posts: 67	was just wondering will likely just check it and record it to see. i have stopped growing out of doors and grow in a unheated greenhouse and this is my first year in a new greenhouse thanks

February 26, 2007	#4
Mantis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Oz Posts: 1,241	If you are growing in a greenhouse , why worry about soil temps?