How do you measure soil temperature?

[lesa]

You all are so scientific! I must admit I just put my hands in the dirt and make a judgement accordingly. It is amazing how the sun warms up the soil, long before the air really gets warm.

 

[Smart Red]

Scientific? I still watch for forsythia blossoms, mouse-ear sized oak leaves and such. Now THAT is scientific!

 

[baymule]

In the South, the saying is....when the pecan trees bud, the frost is over.

 

[Smart Red]

In the South, the saying is....when the pecan trees bud, the frost is over.

Gee, does that mean I could grow a couple of pecan trees and insure an early spring? I've heard there is a variety that would be (borderline) hardy here.

 

[digitS']

On TEG (link), I once reported that my warmest ground was only in the mid-30's on March 18th.

Shallow sown seed might be okay, for what? Maybe spinach and lettuce. . .

No, that watching the plants that are out there - that's smart. Funny how the weed seed knows when to grow. I watch the Oregon Grape (Mahonia). First flowers, 1st sowing of the peas!

Steve

 

[NwMtGardener]

Steve - what do you think about sowing the peas in my greenhouse in relation to the Oregon Grape blooms?? I have started to realize i'm getting my peas in too late. I was thinking about trying some this year about mid-March. Seem too early?

 

[AMKuska]

*dashes out into the garden to look for weed seed!*

...

 

[digitS']

Steve - what do you think about sowing the peas in my greenhouse in relation to the Oregon Grape blooms?? I have started to realize i'm getting my peas in too late. I was thinking about trying some this year about mid-March. Seem too early?

You have Oregon Grape in your greenhouse, Heather?

Ya know, you might cut a branch and put it in there . . . It is fairly conservative outdoors but I got kinda tired of seeing a pound or 2 of pea seed all but fail to come up after I jumped the gun . . .

Anyway, it sounds about right, Heather. I just haven't done any transplanting with peas.

Steve

 

[thistlebloom]

I just like playing with my soil thermometer.....

Not to be a wet blanket here, but ya know, some times those trees are just wrong.
Sometimes they break out in happy blooms and get whacked by a freeze!

 

[Smart Red]

Steve - what do you think about sowing the peas in my greenhouse in relation to the Oregon Grape blooms?? I have started to realize i'm getting my peas in too late. I was thinking about trying some this year about mid-March. Seem too early?

Not Steve, but according to GGMinta, peas are supposed to be planted on St. Patrick's Day for a successful crop. That would be about mid-March. The general information on pea packets suggests that peas can be planted "as early as you can work the soil". My "Gardening in Wisconsin" book lists April 15 as the first day we should plant peas.