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Rochester, Minnesota

I am contemplating joining the heat coil crowd. Which ones should I use, and where should I buy them. How long a coil do you normally use?

1/10/2011 5:40:26 PM

Muddy Waters

ground warming cables are 35 to 40$.I havent used them in 10 years or more,never was serious with them,Im sure 1 per plant would be enough to get early start in the north with our cold springs we sometimes get.I saw them on extreme pumpkins,also any greenhouse catalog will have them. I belive theres 40 feet in 1 set you bury them like 4 to 6 inchs deep.they cant cross each other(will get to hot)Then if you have cold sept you can use them again to keep her going till oct.I will bury mine about may 1st.try Charlies greenhouse in washington state.

1/10/2011 9:55:35 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Make sure you get the heavy duty ones. I've got mine from charley's and Joel Holland. Extreme pumpkin supplies carry the same type. They take a while to stabilize temp so allow a week at least. For watermelon I was considering the type that use an independent thermostat so I could crank the temp up a bit more as I have a hunch that soil temps need to be a little higher. Those ones are available in longer lengths too.

1/10/2011 11:37:54 PM

Rochester, MN

I would get the heavy duty cables from either Holland or ExtremePumpkinStore.com..they run about 45 bucks.
I have used them for awhile now.

1/11/2011 1:10:51 AM

Rochester, Minnesota

Can you reuse them or are they a one shot deal? I just say that because I am inherently cheap.

1/11/2011 9:48:39 AM

Muddy Waters

good for years with gentle use.

1/11/2011 12:35:13 PM

Lexington,IN

Don't hit em with a hoe or tiller though...Ha Ha!

1/11/2011 1:20:45 PM

Rochester, MN

James, every spring I re-test them in the cold air and some don't make it...so I get 1 spare and then order more if needed..or run some watermelon without. I also store them inside my house in the winter...to keep them nice and warm.

1/11/2011 5:29:07 PM

Sevierville,tn

ok Hubby explain what coils are...What came to my mind was
how tight you need them to make good shine:)

1/11/2011 10:56:09 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

You are about correct, but instead of cooling alcohol steam, you are warming soil with electricity. This gives you some protection for when you mis-guessed when last frost was going to occur. It also might extend the season in to September, but honest, most of the active plant is so far away from the stump, that heat coils in September are probably less effective.

I brought up the concept of buying coils with my gardening buddy last night and she was cocked her head to one side and gave me that "You are going to spend as much as Dave Bhaskaran on your garden" look.

1/12/2011 11:23:18 AM

Rochester, MN

Ha! James, Wait till watermelon seeds cost as much as pumpkins seeds...wait...it's getting closer!! LOL

1/12/2011 11:22:51 PM

Rochester, Minnesota

Other than the obligatory 183# Gurney seed that I bought when I started, I have not purchased or sold any seeds. I have had people seed me small amounts of money for postage, but it wasn't for seed themselves.

Of course maybe I am just not as serious as most people. I don't know. I will just keep plugging away and see what it get's me.

1/13/2011 5:37:49 PM