From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Bay City Michigan

Has anyone warmed soil with a fire in the bottom of a 55 gallon drum or would this have a bad effect on the soil? Might be good idea for areas where the frost is just coming out of the ground.

4/29/2013 11:05:02 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

Bad Idea. High heat with kill everything living in the soil

4/29/2013 11:06:25 PM

Central NY

...I say you try it first..... But definitely let me know....

4/30/2013 12:03:24 AM

Muddy Waters

The ground will be warm by the weekend.we will hit 82 on Wednesday.Nite lows are good no cold.

4/30/2013 7:06:57 AM

Webster, NY

We're supposed to be 70's here all week. My hoop house this morning at 3AM was 72 degrees, with my heater and thermostat in there.

4/30/2013 9:55:34 AM

South Hero, VT

You could dig out your dirt, spread it on a tarp with clear plastic over it, and let the sun warm it up--if you like working like a mule...

4/30/2013 10:44:33 AM

BC, Canada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soil_solarization

Not exactly the same but this is a technique that I have used many times. For my early potatoes I put black poly over the trench for a few days to heat up the soil. It really seems to get the vines started. If it is really sunny you do have to watch that you don't fry all the microbes worms etc. It's kind of like a lazy mans hoop house but wiht out the hoops.
In my area you can get the "lumber wrap" from the lumber yards for free. It is a black on one side covering that covers the lifts of lumber.

4/30/2013 8:25:13 PM

Zurich, Ontario Canada

I agree - the fire thing is creative but likely too hot. I've never done anything to warm up the soil but maybe warm water might work (like 80 degrees or so). Just a thought!!!!

4/30/2013 9:20:44 PM

Deerfield, Michigan

The warm weather is coming. I don't plan on doing anything right now. Today my hoops were 75 and soil was 65. Give it a day or so.

5/1/2013 3:28:03 AM