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Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

So I go out to check the progress om my long gourds and quite accidentally noticed the soil temp seemed pretty warm. I inserted a soil thermometer down to six inches or so and unplugged the cables when it got to 100F. Here is a pic before I planted. Ignore the overlapping at the top right, Donkin alerted me and the problem was fixed.

http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=127981

5/4/2010 5:09:53 PM

[email protected]

Check that spacing looks close...the warranty too.

5/4/2010 6:05:53 PM

Pemberton, BC

Yeah I agree they look a little close to me. The middle of the picture looks to be about the minimum I generally have mine, about 6-8 inches.

5/4/2010 7:24:42 PM

Clinton, Iowa

I am not saying this is your problem but the first year I used heating coils my over heated also....I had to plug in and unplug every day and night....only way to manage the temps reasonably close to what I was looking for....The problem was I have laid in the coil alot like what tyou did...the thermostat was at the end...the issue seemed to be the thermostat was not centered in the heating zone...SOooo it never got up to temp....I have used the same cable since and since I have centered the cable the thermostat I have not experienced it since....just my thoughts
DAN

5/4/2010 7:59:59 PM

Lloydminster/AB

Mine are overheating this year as well, came to the same conclusion as Dan. I have used cables for years and this is the first time for the problem. Must be all these winter storms keeping the thermostat too cool. Live and learn.

5/4/2010 9:17:21 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Thanks for the quick replies. This is the first time I have used a heat cable for long gourds, thus the close spacing. It is still unplugged so I have the option of uprooting the plants and removing the cable or leaving it unplugged for the season which seems a waste. Seems the logical route may be to plug it in only at night until early June and then leave it unplugged for the rest of the year. Live and learn indeed Don.

PS- I will have a LG pollinated late June or early July or die trying. Thanks again.

5/4/2010 9:30:28 PM

Massachusetts

make sure your thermostat on the cable is not level with or below the heating part of your cable. bring it up a few inches (the in -line thermostat) above the cable and maybe
over the cable not touching!. if it is level or below the cable it will sense the temp is not rising and stay on, learned this from tom p. my temp was at 112 deg, outch!!!!

5/5/2010 7:40:43 PM

Brooklyn Corner, Nova Scotia

Here's the thing, the thermostat is above the rest of the cable and none of the wires are touching. It's unplugged and I won't plug it in for fear of frying the roots on my long gourds. I'm a little pissed, I still have an early start but nature is now in control which defeats the whole purpose.

5/5/2010 9:41:21 PM

Taylorsville, California

Andy, had the same thing happen a couple years ago, killed a very good seedling,, The spacing was fine,,bad thermostat is best explanation i could find

5/5/2010 11:01:12 PM