Peat moss or sand on top of heating cables?the garden

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My question is I have read in using soil heating cables you can cover them with either sand or peat moss. What have you used and did it work, and why did you choose either peat or sand? I personally think sand might be better but with my back I know I could handle the peat better. Also the heating cables I am thinking of using is an electric blanket. I have used one on the bottom of a cold frame before with the seed and plant flats right on top of the plastic I covered the blanket with and it worked. But think with either peat or sand would have a more even heat. Please let me know what you think. gail

-- gail missouri ozarks (gef123@hotmail.com), October 30, 2000

Answers

I'm not sure what mag I read it in, but in one of them there was an idea of sticking a bucket of warm ashes in a cold frame with your plants. I thought this was a great way to get triple duty out of your wood. First for heat, then for warming your plants and then for fertilizing the garden.

Little Bit Farm

-- Little bit Farm (littlebit@calinet.com), October 31, 2000.


Gail,

Can you expand on the heating blanket idea? I can't quite picture it. I use a heating pad to provide bottom heat for germinating seedlings, have gotten great success starting seeds since. I am very intrigued by the blanket idea... hmmm. Amy

-- Amy Richards (tiggerwife@aol.com), October 31, 2000.


An old waterbed heater should work you think? I have one of those and never thought of it till now. Cool. John

-- John in S. IN (jsmengel@hotmail.com), October 31, 2000.

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