I've just been reading about tomatoes and soil temperature. Got me to wondering how that might relate to our bales. My first impression was that they would be warmer, sooner, but now I'm not so sure.
Any thoughts?
"Soil" temperature?
That is a good question.
I never took any temps after the initial "cooking", but with the amount of surface area exposed to the air, I would tend to believe that the bales would be cooler than the ground temps.
By how much, if any, is the $64 question.
That's 1 reason I think Doug's comparison test with bales framed and unframed showed that his framed bales did better.
1. Insulated the bales more.
2. Slower evaporation/drying out of the bales.
That's my 2 cents at this point.
Kent... my bales are just sitting out. They have pretty much gone through their heat (four of them that I put out a week later are still going through heating up)... We have been having a lot of rain, so keeping them moist has not been an issue, but your comments have gotten me wondering. I have some extra 6 ml plastic and those pine stakes that folks use (you buy a bundle of them at Lowes)...Do you think it would be worth the effort to wrap it around them to retain moisture. I have my bales out in 4 different groups around my garden because of space and some erosion issues... The larges number of them (7) are up against a fence, but the other 7 are in 3 different groups because of space and erosion.... Tomato plants are just waiting for the weather to settle down (we had a hard freeze this past weekend!) so that I can plant them in the bales. Have started hardening them off and just keep hoping that things will warm enough to be able to plant them around April 15th. Otherwise they are going to take over they are getting so big this year..
Just thought you'd like to see the tomatoes... First year I have used grow lights... what a difference
Wow nini!! My poor little-two leaved 'maters are feeling quite inadequate:). Those are wonerful, and I'll be waiting to hear how they ultimately do for you...
Kent, makes sense, but I'm still not sure. I'm also not sure it matters:). I do think I may try "wrapping" my strawberry/asparagus bales, mainly because they're off by themselves, and won't get the benefit of drip hoses.
I'll see if a can find a cheap thermometer to "research" more. My hand says the dirt is colder, but my hand is notoriously inaccurate.....
This message was edited Mar 30, 2010 7:55 AM
nini: a wrap prob won't hurt. I've never done it and always had a good crop of veggies.
But the wood was available so I decided to frame my bales up.
It's pretty much personal preference on how we customize our gardens.
Good looking 'maters!
I'm seeding some for the first time in many years. Plus, I'll still be buying most of them already in flats.
KR
nini, I wrapped two rows of bales in shrink wrap plastic last year and really did not see much of a difference, plus it was a pain in the behind to do the wrapping.
Note to all: We are going to be on the local garden tour this year in June and my bale garden is one of the reasons they chose our house to participate! Well, that plus the fact that I've moved about 3-4 tons of sandstone (mucho manual labor) from the area to make retaining walls, ledges and beds for my woodland garden.
Doug
Doug: good deal on the tour. You'll have fun with that.
All that work'll keep you out of trouble!! :-)
Kent, I can always find ways to get into trouble. Moving all those rocks demanded a LOT of beer to keep from getting dehydrated!!!
Doug
and to treat the follow-up pain, i imagine.....