Heating the "exotic" plant beds

BGreen · 05-25-2007, 04:50 PM

I am pretty new to gardening, so if some knows a link to where this info is covered please post it. I live in zone 5-6, and dig up 3/4 of my yard every spring and fall. I wintered musa basjoo in the ground last year and thinking about trying it with Musella lasiocarpa this year, if I get some soon and with some size. Has anyone ran heat cable through their plant beds with any success? If I could keep the ground at 0°F to 10°F I could leave a lot more in the ground with a tarp and some mulch. I know their are other methods using ground heat, but I am not sure I want to spend that kind of money for this yard.

Any ideas?

Sodak · 06-05-2007, 06:04 PM

Very, very intriguing idea that I have considered before also. I just don't know where to go with this. This should be interesting topic if you can get any replies.

I'm also in zone denial.

Cheers.

BGreen · 06-05-2007, 10:00 PM

Well I have been talking to some local people and trying to figure something out. We have talked about using the same type of system some local concrete people use to heat a driveway to clear the snow and ice, but I need to look into it more when I have a little extra time. I did find heat cable that is used to heat the soil for green houses that may work. I may just need to dig two or three testing beds and see what type of systems I can get ready for the next winter.

bencelest · 06-06-2007, 09:10 AM

If paying the electric bill is no problem then that will be OK I think. The higher the rating (wattage) the more it will consume electricity.
I bought an electric heating cable that rates 1800 watts (this is considered small) for my citrus trees and my electric bill went up considerably. So I let nature takes its course. Just covered my citrus with clear plastics.
It is just like having your toaster on 24 hours a day or electric iron .

05-25-2007, 04:50 PM	#1 (permalink)
BGreen Digger Extraordinaire BGreen's Photo Gallery Location: Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 5b/6a Name: Ben Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 296 BananaBucks : 117,584 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 45 Times in 29 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Heating the "exotic" plant beds I am pretty new to gardening, so if some knows a link to where this info is covered please post it. I live in zone 5-6, and dig up 3/4 of my yard every spring and fall. I wintered musa basjoo in the ground last year and thinking about trying it with Musella lasiocarpa this year, if I get some soon and with some size. Has anyone ran heat cable through their plant beds with any success? If I could keep the ground at 0°F to 10°F I could leave a lot more in the ground with a tarp and some mulch. I know their are other methods using ground heat, but I am not sure I want to spend that kind of money for this yard. Any ideas? __________________ Take care, BGreen

06-05-2007, 06:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
Sodak Northern Grower Location: Black Hills, Dakota Territory Zone: 5A Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 115 BananaBucks : 35,497 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 16 Times Was Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Heating the "exotic" plant beds Very, very intriguing idea that I have considered before also. I just don't know where to go with this. This should be interesting topic if you can get any replies. I'm also in zone denial. Cheers.

06-05-2007, 10:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
BGreen Digger Extraordinaire BGreen's Photo Gallery Location: Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 5b/6a Name: Ben Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 296 BananaBucks : 117,584 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 19 Times Was Thanked 45 Times in 29 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Heating the "exotic" plant beds Well I have been talking to some local people and trying to figure something out. We have talked about using the same type of system some local concrete people use to heat a driveway to clear the snow and ice, but I need to look into it more when I have a little extra time. I did find heat cable that is used to heat the soil for green houses that may work. I may just need to dig two or three testing beds and see what type of systems I can get ready for the next winter. __________________ Take care, BGreen

06-06-2007, 09:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,783 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Heating the "exotic" plant beds If paying the electric bill is no problem then that will be OK I think. The higher the rating (wattage) the more it will consume electricity. I bought an electric heating cable that rates 1800 watts (this is considered small) for my citrus trees and my electric bill went up considerably. So I let nature takes its course. Just covered my citrus with clear plastics. It is just like having your toaster on 24 hours a day or electric iron . __________________ Banana Nut

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