From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Vermont

I check my frost reguarlly to see how deep it is. If it is over a foot i place black traps over my patch. This allows me to plant earlier. What your opinion.

1/31/2002 7:36:20 PM

Puyallup, WA

What's a "black trap"?

1/31/2002 8:28:58 PM

Utah

stan stan stan... black tarps.....
sounds like a good idea to me... but i woundn't
consider it necessary till later - say a month
before planting.
just my opinion

1/31/2002 10:26:17 PM

CT

1/2 inch of ice on top of soil and about 3 inches of frost here in CT

1/31/2002 10:46:07 PM

Rexburg, Idaho ([email protected] )

You guys obviously don't live where its real cold. Our frost line is supposed to be about 3 feet down. But, I havn't broke out the jack hammer to try to get to the bottom of the frost. It was -18 F. yesterday and never got above frezing. The black tarp would be covered with snow so it wouldn't do any good anyway. Now putting in on in the spring as the snow is melting might make sense.

1/31/2002 11:04:37 PM

Puyallup, WA

I knew that....just pullin' your leg Gordo!

2/1/2002 1:31:29 AM

Yukon, Canada

I got frost in places 365 days of the year. Slice of life north of 60!

2/1/2002 2:18:38 AM

Rush, NY

It has been warmer than normal in western New York and in the Rochester area got our first major winter storm of snow, sleet, ice and rain yesterday. The ground in my yard is not frozen. Yesterday I easily pushed in some driveway markers.

2/1/2002 7:34:00 AM

Cooks Creek, Manitoba, Canada

I have to echo Brain C. I'm not sure how deep the frost is but I know from experience, I'd rather chip through cement than try and dig through the soil at this time of the year. I did an experiment with corn one year and covered the area with clear plastic in the spring before planting. After two weeks the ground was considerably warmer and was also much earier to work than the rest of the garden. Good corn crop - I will be trying this on one plant this year.

2/1/2002 9:30:25 AM

canal winchester ohio

After digging my pit & backfilling it in I spread some grubex around & spread black plastic in a 4'x4' area . I place a soaker hose under the plastic so when I plant it will be easier to water. Then I cover all edges of plastic with soil & let'er set. Then when it's time to plant all I have to do is cut a hole in the plastic & place my germinated seed in.I will leave the plastic in place until the plant has about 5 true leaves. By placing the grubex under the plastic you will kill the grubs & bugs that always seem to find their way to the warm spot......Paul

2/1/2002 12:23:59 PM

GULFPORT,MISSISSIPPI

All of this talk about "frost lines" is very bizarre to someone living on the Mississippi gulfcoast! We very rarely even get below freezing down here.Have i told you about our gigantic mosquitos lately?

2/2/2002 12:45:29 AM

Myrtle Creek, Oregon

We had to dig up the frost to put in a sidewalk we finaly broke through at a little over 3 feet, dont think we will be plantin anything for awhile around here.
It hasnt been above 25 for a month.
H-K-J <;-(

2/2/2002 9:53:15 AM

Long Island,New York

I have had frost on the windshield of my truck in the morning only four times this winter....ground frost to the point of frozen ground?.....NONE ! ......very very odd....G

2/2/2002 10:54:14 AM