Quote:
Originally Posted by RebelRidin
Hi Masbustelo,
How is it going? I wanted to ask about your manure setup. What type did you use, how fresh, when did you put it in and how many inches deep?
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Hi RebelRidin The whole thing is really working well so far. I just planted my tomato seeds yesterday, but I have been weeding lots of volunteer tomatoes. On some sunny days I have hit temps close to 90, but that might be the sun on the thermometer. The soil temp 4 inches down holds at a steady 62 degrees. I would recommend that anyone make one three feet wide. I used horse manure with sawdust shavings for bedding. I suspect that it packs to tight and without air it doesn't heat up. I suspect that the bedding needs to be straw or hay to heat up properly. It's really no big deal because I put a little electric heater in to run at night, and it stays about 80 degrees. I have between 12 an 18 inches of manure. It seems to be nicely saturated and the soil seems to be wicking up the sub moisture nicely. I water it in the morning and so far it hasn't dried out too much by evening. I put it in the bed in January and let it set, it was fresh at the time.Then at the end of February I fluffed it up, wetted it, packed it and put the soil on top. I cover it with foam panels and insulated blanket at night, and this takes two or three minutes. Im trying to keep it a little extra warm until the peppers sprout. Que mas?