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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: mormor on March 28, 2015, 16:23:00

Title: Earth temperatures for sowing
Post by: mormor on March 28, 2015, 16:23:00
Help required!
I have just bought a soil thermometer but now wonder about the correct temperatures for sowing.  Is about 8C right for everything? Or are f.ex. carrots, peas, potatoes different from each other?
Title: Re: Earth temperatures for sowing
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on March 28, 2015, 20:34:18
Traditionally, you're supposed to plant when you can sit on the ground with your bare bum. I'm not sure what that is in centigrade. Some seeds are tougher than others; for instance, you can plant broad beans or round seeded peas long before you can plant wrinkled peas.
Title: Re: Earth temperatures for sowing
Post by: alkanet on March 28, 2015, 21:15:29
Some seeds are tougher than others

and so are some bums
Title: Re: Earth temperatures for sowing
Post by: Ian Pearson on March 29, 2015, 11:28:19
There's a useful chart here http://www.organicgarden.org.uk/gardening/vegetables/germination-temperatures/ (http://www.organicgarden.org.uk/gardening/vegetables/germination-temperatures/)
Title: Re: Earth temperatures for sowing
Post by: mormor on March 30, 2015, 12:44:43
Thanks, that’s really helpful.  I’ll print it out and keep it in the shed!
Title: Re: Earth temperatures for sowing
Post by: laurieuk on March 30, 2015, 21:22:08
Surely you know wen the soil is warm enough for seeds to germinate when WEED seeds start to grow. If we follow nature rather than books we should do well.
Title: Re: Earth temperatures for sowing
Post by: Digeroo on March 31, 2015, 13:14:09
I suppose you need to know which weeds germinate when.  I got some weeds already and my spinach has put in an appearance but the first carrots and lettuce are up.  I also have a few weed brassicas so presume I can get started with those as well.

I do think perhaps the thermometer takes the guess work out of it.  Never seen anyone trying the bum method!!   

It is interesting about the daily fluctuations for celery.  Some of the optimums seem surprisingly  high.  I suppose on a sunny day the temperatures suddenly shoot up.

The listing does rather reinforce my sowing practice, spinach outside, squashes on the radiator, beans on the windowsill etc.
Title: Re: Earth temperatures for sowing
Post by: ancellsfarmer on March 31, 2015, 19:28:40


I do think perhaps the thermometer takes the guess work out of it.  Never seen anyone trying the bum method!!   

Brings a whole new reality to Bio-Dynamic planting. So is that why Rupert Steiner disciples want to plant at 03.00am?
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