How do you measure soil temperature?

[AMKuska]

I found a great quote in my latest gardening library book that says, "If you can sit on the ground with your trousers down...go ahead and plant your seed." or some such similar thing.

But in all reality, most plants do best at certain soil temperatures. How do you test soil temperature? Obviously if it is hard as a rock it is freezing, and if your tootsies burn when you walk on it it's a lot warmer than freezing...but how does one go about precise measurements?

Or does it matter?

 

[digitS']

AMKuska, you are gonna get tired of hearing from me. Especially, if I mess up any more simple arithmetic problems . . .

I really do think soil temperature is important. Air temperature averages are a little easier for us to find. If you are near an ag weather station, that should help: WSU, AgWeatherNet (link).

There are a lot of stations in eastern WA run by various agencies. The one at Puyallup seems to be only measuring at 8". That provides some consistency to the numbers but we are often advised to measure at 4", high noon.

I just use a regular outdoor thermometer. Don't lose it in the dirt.

Steve

 

[AMKuska]

I'll get an outdoor thermometer just for that purpose digits! Puyallup is the closest one to me

 

[Lavender2]

... and Puyallup your trousers ... ...

I use DH's digital cooking thermometer ... shhhh

 

[thistlebloom]

I bought a soil thermometer for $12.
Sitting on cold ground gets old real fast,
not to mention embareassing when you have trouble getting back up....

 

[Smart Red]

I have a thermometer from science class. It was discarded because it was glass and mercury therefore too dangerous for the children? It is 18 inches long, pretty thick, and easy to read.

 

[dickiebird]

Under normal conditions, around here, when the spring rains slow down enough to allow a person to work the garden the soil will be warm.
I just do as AMK's first line says (not)!!!

THANX RICH

 

[seedcorn]

If I want to know, soil temps are published. I don't care. I watch weeds/grass, if they are starting, ground fit, it's GO TIME.

 

[Lavender2]

If I want to know, soil temps are published. I don't care. I watch weeds/grass, if they are starting, ground fit, it's GO TIME.

I have mostly measured soil temps for early spring bulbs. Some of them can be SO picky! But I don't think the publishers of temperature know about my property. I swear I have the last piece of earth in the county for snow melt!

 

[thistlebloom]

Lavender, I know that's the truth for my soil too! I can be working in town for two weeks on clear mostly thawed ground, while here I still have mounds of snow.

Since there is such a wide variation in optimum soil temps for seed germination, from onions, lettuce, peas to the really warm soil needs of peppers I like to use a thermometer.

Yeah, I know, who starts their peppers in the ground anyway, besides Bay I mean?