Heating cables

xyzzy · 01-27-2009, 04:46 AM

Too late for this year, but if we are going to get colder winters again, I was thinking of protecting my M Itinerans with heating cables next year. I have lost all the leaves this year, though the stems are fine - in fact better than my basjoo, but the itinerans are sheltered in the orchard and the basjoo exposed in full wind.

Has anyone tried using heating cables?

jmoore · 01-27-2009, 10:46 AM

I've used heating cables in a propagator, but not in the ground. I'm assuming that's where you are going to put them. They are a good cheap alternative for a heated propagator.

xyzzy · 01-27-2009, 10:50 AM

We can buy heating cables which you can twine around outdoor plants with a thermostst which turns them on at 5 degrees C.

51st state · 01-27-2009, 10:10 PM

it really would cost a fortune to do trace heating undersoil like that, the heat losses are just too great. you could wrap the plant in insulation and then trace heat around the stem. I heat my bubblewrapped poly tunnel (see photos in my gallery somewhere) with a 3kW fan heater controlled by a frost statand I'm going to have to hide the electric bill from the Mrs...

got to address a new htg. system for that this year, either solar or heat pump, feeding undersoil water pipes

xyzzy · 01-28-2009, 05:03 AM

I don't have any real problem with soil temperature as a good mulch is sufficient in coastal Devon, but I was thinking of next year protecting p-stems with heating cables so they don't lose height each year from frost/wind chill damage.

See
Frost Guard Cables

The cables are 100 watts-ish and only switch on when the temperature is below 5 degrees, so compared with your greenhouse, the heating bill would be quite small.

01-27-2009, 04:46 AM	#1 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 25,072 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Heating cables Too late for this year, but if we are going to get colder winters again, I was thinking of protecting my M Itinerans with heating cables next year. I have lost all the leaves this year, though the stems are fine - in fact better than my basjoo, but the itinerans are sheltered in the orchard and the basjoo exposed in full wind. Has anyone tried using heating cables? __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

01-27-2009, 10:46 AM	#2 (permalink)
jmoore jmoore 's Photo Gallery Location: Lowestoft, UK Zone: 8a Name: James Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 766 BananaBucks : 121,201 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 192 Times Was Thanked 799 Times in 373 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 71 Times	Re: Heating cables I've used heating cables in a propagator, but not in the ground. I'm assuming that's where you are going to put them. They are a good cheap alternative for a heated propagator.

01-27-2009, 10:50 AM	#3 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 25,072 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Heating cables We can buy heating cables which you can twine around outdoor plants with a thermostst which turns them on at 5 degrees C. __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

01-27-2009, 10:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
51st state many 'naners, little time 51st state's Photo Gallery Location: salisbury, UK Find me on the map! Zone: 8b ish Name: Kev Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 465 BananaBucks : 313,225 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 202 Times Was Thanked 259 Times in 126 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Heating cables it really would cost a fortune to do trace heating undersoil like that, the heat losses are just too great. you could wrap the plant in insulation and then trace heat around the stem. I heat my bubblewrapped poly tunnel (see photos in my gallery somewhere) with a 3kW fan heater controlled by a frost statand I'm going to have to hide the electric bill from the Mrs... got to address a new htg. system for that this year, either solar or heat pump, feeding undersoil water pipes __________________ a>

01-28-2009, 05:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 25,072 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Heating cables I don't have any real problem with soil temperature as a good mulch is sufficient in coastal Devon, but I was thinking of next year protecting p-stems with heating cables so they don't lose height each year from frost/wind chill damage. See Frost Guard Cables The cables are 100 watts-ish and only switch on when the temperature is below 5 degrees, so compared with your greenhouse, the heating bill would be quite small. __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

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