It is getting close to time to plant but here are a couple of articles to let us know when it is ready soil temperature and how to take the temperature of the soil.
Planting Soil Temperatures for Seeds
There's an old saying that Iowa farmers know that the soil has warmed up enough to plant corn when they drop their drawers and can sit on the ground comfortably. Me, I like to be a little more scientific (not to mention modest) about it. A soil thermometer can be a cold-climate gardener's best friend.
By Veronica Lorson Fowler The Iowa Gardener
Most seeds—especially peas—are picky about the temperature of their soil, and especially during weird weather years, it can be hard to tell if the soil is warm enough. A soil thermometer ($7 or $8 at a garden center or on-line) tells you in just a minute or two.
Listed below are the soil temperatures at which various vegetables should be planted.* The temperatures are based on temperatures taken at 8 a.m. at 4 inches deep. (For beans, take the temperatures at 6 inches.)
Cool-Season Crops
Vegetable
Germination Temperature °F
minimum/optimum/maximum
Beets 40°/80°/90°
+Broccoli 40°/80°/90°
+Cabbage 40°/80°/90°
Carrots 40°/80°/90°
Cauliflower 40°/80°/90°
Leeks 40°/80°/90°
Lettuce 35°/70°/70°
Onions, green 35°/80°/90°
Onions, dry sets 35°/80°/90°
Parsnips 35°/70°/90°
Peas 40°/70°/80°
Potatoes 45° and up
Radishes 40°/80°/90°
Spinach 40°/70°/70°
Swiss chard 40°/85°/95°
Turnips 40°/80°/100°
Warm-Season Crops
Vegetable
Germination Temperature °F
minimum/optimum/maximum
Beans 55°/80°/90°
Cantaloupe 60°/90°/100°
Corn 50°/80°/100°
Cucumbers 60°/90°/100°
+Eggplant 60°/80°/90°
+Peppers 60°/80°/90°
+Tomato 50°/80°/100°
Squash 60°/90°/100°
Watermelons 60°/90°/110°
* Source: Colorado State University Horticulture Extension
+ Usually planted as established seedlings, not as seed.
Soil Temperature Gauges – Tips For Determining Current Soil Temperatures
By Bonnie L. Grant
Soil temperature is the factor that drives germination, blooming, composting, and a variety of other processes. Learning how to check soil temperature will help the home gardener know when to start sowing seeds. Knowledge of what is soil temperature also helps define when to transplant and how to begin a compost bin. Determining current soil temperatures is easy and will help you grow a more bountiful and beautiful garden.
What is Soil Temperature? So what is soil temperature? Soil temperature is simply the measurement of the warmth in the soil. Ideal soil temperatures for planting most plants are 65 to 75 F. (18 to 24 C.). Nighttime and daytime soil temperatures are both important.
When are soil temperatures taken? Soil temperatures are measured once soils are workable. The exact time will depend upon your USDA plant hardiness zone. In zones with higher numbers, the soil temperature will warm up quickly and earlier in the season. In zones that are lower, the soil temperature may take months to warm up as winter chill wears off.
How to Check Soil Temperature Most people don’t know how to check soil temperature or what tools are used for taking accurate readings. Soil temperature gauges or thermometers are the common way to take the reading. There are special soil temperature gauges used by farmers and soil sample companies, but you can just use a soil thermometer.
In a perfect world, you would check nighttime temperatures to ensure they are not so cold your plant’s health will be impacted. Instead, check in the early morning for a good average. The night’s coolness is still mostly in the soil at this time.
Soil readings for seeds are done in 1 to 2 inches of soil. Sample at least 4 to 6 inches deep for transplants. Insert the thermometer to the hilt, or maximum depth, and hold it for a minute. Do this for three consecutive days. Determining soil temperatures for a compost bin is also done in the morning. The bin should maintain at least 60 F. (16 C.) bacteria and organisms to do their work.
Ideal Soil Temperatures for Planting The perfect temperature for planting varies dependent upon the variety of vegetable or fruit. Planting before it is time can reduce fruit set, stunt plant growth and prevent or reduce seed germination.
Plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers and snap peas benefit from soils at least 60 F (16 C.).
Sweet corn, lima beans and some greens need 65 degrees F. (18 C.)
Warmer temperatures into the 70s (20s C.) are required for watermelon, peppers, squash, and at the higher end, okra, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes. If you are in doubt, check your seed packet for ideal soil temperatures for planting. Most will list the month for your USDA zone.
Realistic Soil Temperatures Somewhere between the minimum soil temperature for plant growth and the optimum temperature is the realistic soil temperature. For instance, plants with higher temperature needs, such as okra, have an optimum temperature of 90 F. (32 C.). However, healthy growth can be achieved when they are transplanted into soils of 75 F. (24 C).
This happy medium is suitable for beginning plant growth with the assumption that optimum temperatures will occur as the season progresses. Plants set out in cool zones will benefit from late transplanting and raised beds, where soil temperatures warm up more quickly than ground level planting.
Taken from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/determining-soil-temperature.htm
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
Planting Soil Temperatures for Seeds
There's an old saying that Iowa farmers know that the soil has warmed up enough to plant corn when they drop their drawers and can sit on the ground comfortably. Me, I like to be a little more scientific (not to mention modest) about it. A soil thermometer can be a cold-climate gardener's best friend.
By Veronica Lorson Fowler The Iowa Gardener
Most seeds—especially peas—are picky about the temperature of their soil, and especially during weird weather years, it can be hard to tell if the soil is warm enough. A soil thermometer ($7 or $8 at a garden center or on-line) tells you in just a minute or two.
Listed below are the soil temperatures at which various vegetables should be planted.* The temperatures are based on temperatures taken at 8 a.m. at 4 inches deep. (For beans, take the temperatures at 6 inches.)
Cool-Season Crops
Vegetable
Germination Temperature °F
minimum/optimum/maximum
Beets 40°/80°/90°
+Broccoli 40°/80°/90°
+Cabbage 40°/80°/90°
Carrots 40°/80°/90°
Cauliflower 40°/80°/90°
Leeks 40°/80°/90°
Lettuce 35°/70°/70°
Onions, green 35°/80°/90°
Onions, dry sets 35°/80°/90°
Parsnips 35°/70°/90°
Peas 40°/70°/80°
Potatoes 45° and up
Radishes 40°/80°/90°
Spinach 40°/70°/70°
Swiss chard 40°/85°/95°
Turnips 40°/80°/100°
Warm-Season Crops
Vegetable
Germination Temperature °F
minimum/optimum/maximum
Beans 55°/80°/90°
Cantaloupe 60°/90°/100°
Corn 50°/80°/100°
Cucumbers 60°/90°/100°
+Eggplant 60°/80°/90°
+Peppers 60°/80°/90°
+Tomato 50°/80°/100°
Squash 60°/90°/100°
Watermelons 60°/90°/110°
* Source: Colorado State University Horticulture Extension
+ Usually planted as established seedlings, not as seed.
Soil Temperature Gauges – Tips For Determining Current Soil Temperatures
By Bonnie L. Grant
Soil temperature is the factor that drives germination, blooming, composting, and a variety of other processes. Learning how to check soil temperature will help the home gardener know when to start sowing seeds. Knowledge of what is soil temperature also helps define when to transplant and how to begin a compost bin. Determining current soil temperatures is easy and will help you grow a more bountiful and beautiful garden.
What is Soil Temperature? So what is soil temperature? Soil temperature is simply the measurement of the warmth in the soil. Ideal soil temperatures for planting most plants are 65 to 75 F. (18 to 24 C.). Nighttime and daytime soil temperatures are both important.
When are soil temperatures taken? Soil temperatures are measured once soils are workable. The exact time will depend upon your USDA plant hardiness zone. In zones with higher numbers, the soil temperature will warm up quickly and earlier in the season. In zones that are lower, the soil temperature may take months to warm up as winter chill wears off.
How to Check Soil Temperature Most people don’t know how to check soil temperature or what tools are used for taking accurate readings. Soil temperature gauges or thermometers are the common way to take the reading. There are special soil temperature gauges used by farmers and soil sample companies, but you can just use a soil thermometer.
In a perfect world, you would check nighttime temperatures to ensure they are not so cold your plant’s health will be impacted. Instead, check in the early morning for a good average. The night’s coolness is still mostly in the soil at this time.
Soil readings for seeds are done in 1 to 2 inches of soil. Sample at least 4 to 6 inches deep for transplants. Insert the thermometer to the hilt, or maximum depth, and hold it for a minute. Do this for three consecutive days. Determining soil temperatures for a compost bin is also done in the morning. The bin should maintain at least 60 F. (16 C.) bacteria and organisms to do their work.
Ideal Soil Temperatures for Planting The perfect temperature for planting varies dependent upon the variety of vegetable or fruit. Planting before it is time can reduce fruit set, stunt plant growth and prevent or reduce seed germination.
Plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers and snap peas benefit from soils at least 60 F (16 C.).
Sweet corn, lima beans and some greens need 65 degrees F. (18 C.)
Warmer temperatures into the 70s (20s C.) are required for watermelon, peppers, squash, and at the higher end, okra, cantaloupe and sweet potatoes. If you are in doubt, check your seed packet for ideal soil temperatures for planting. Most will list the month for your USDA zone.
Realistic Soil Temperatures Somewhere between the minimum soil temperature for plant growth and the optimum temperature is the realistic soil temperature. For instance, plants with higher temperature needs, such as okra, have an optimum temperature of 90 F. (32 C.). However, healthy growth can be achieved when they are transplanted into soils of 75 F. (24 C).
This happy medium is suitable for beginning plant growth with the assumption that optimum temperatures will occur as the season progresses. Plants set out in cool zones will benefit from late transplanting and raised beds, where soil temperatures warm up more quickly than ground level planting.
Taken from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/determining-soil-temperature.htm
Till next time, this is Becky Litterer from Becky's Greenhouse, Dougherty, Iowa
