How do you measure soil temperature?

[Ridgerunner]

In some places "as early as you can work the soil" means when it thaws. Here it means when you get a dry enough spell. Some years that is late February for me, some years early to mid-March.

My gardening calendar I got from the Arkansas extension service says late January to late March for green peas but I think that late January is talking about the southern part of the state.

 

[thistlebloom]

We've sort of had that discussion a while back with the dogmatic date for planting peas. Obviously that would never work nationwide. Bays planting date (for instance, I keep picking on her!) would be far earlier than anyone in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana etc.

 

[digitS']

Who is GGMinta?

I once offended our GardenGeisha by saying that you can't suggest a Utah date for sowing seed for the Yukon, or some such nonsense :/. Of course, she was suggesting no such thing.

Calendar dates make sense because it is a "solar calendar," after all. It has to do with where the sun is in the sky and how many hours it's up there. I'm so glad the ancients invented it!

Dates may not mean the same thing from one latitude and elevation to another. Where is that Australian Hal to tell us?

Steve

 

[digitS']

That link in my 8:06am post will take you to what the University of Minnesota says about soil temperatures . . .

They have it that pea seed will take 36 days (!!!) at 41°F to germinate. So what is gonna happen to my wonderful Wanda pea seeds out there in 38°F wet soil? They will probably rot .

Steve

 

[Lavender2]

Grampa said, plant your peas at 45 degrees,
but be ready to cover if a freeze should hover.

A thermometer would come in handy

 

[NwMtGardener]

Haha, i think last year it was mid-MAY when i planted!! I knew it was really late, it was unavoidable with my graduating from school, big test, etc. and that's okay with me. Some things are more important of course germination was terrible and i think i only got a few handfuls of peas. This year is going to be GREAT! I think i'll aim for St Patty's day, that will be a good trigger for me to remember. Columbus day has worked great for me to remember to plant my garlic, so now i've got another holiday to associate a planting date with. Cool.

 

[Smart Red]

Who is GGMinta?
Steve

DH's Great Grandma Minta. She always had a big garden (thanks to Grandpa Otto), lived to be 99 YO, still sharp as a tack and full of P&V. She was full of homespun bits of advice like that. German through and through, both of them. Perhaps her advice would be more appropriate to German gardens?

 

[HEChicken]

Haha, i think last year it was mid-MAY when i planted!!

The first year I decided to do a garden, it was the beginning of July before the thought occurred to me! So on July 3rd I went out and bought a few pepper, tomatillo and tomato seedlings along with a few herbs, and planted them in my front flower bed. A few days later we had a hail storm with golf ball sized hail and after the storm I looked at my seedlings in dismay. The leaves were gone and all that was left were stems sticking out of the ground. I thought for sure they were goners but they immediately regrew their leaves and we ended up getting a decent harvest from them. So mid-May actually doesn't sound too bad - especially considering your grow zone.

 

[baymule]

We've sort of had that discussion a while back with the dogmatic date for planting peas. Obviously that would never work nationwide. Bays planting date (for instance, I keep picking on her!) would be far earlier than anyone in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Montana etc.

Actually......I planted Maestro English peas on January 11--it was 70*, I was barefooted, it was a perfect beautiful day. Of course, since then we've had SNOW, ICE, ANOTHER ICE/SLEET STORM and did I mention RAIN? and more rain and 20* weather and more rain. DH and I covered the peas with leaves through the snow and ice, and they are doing fine. They are about 3-4" tall now. I guess you could say my planting dates are..........just pick one, just pick a day....any 'ol day will do!