Soil temps and no sweet corn in yet - Spring photos

JDemaris

Well-known Member
I'd like to hear other's soil temperatures.

Early SU type sweet corn will usuall rot if planted in soil temps below 50 degrees F.

Sweeter/later SE and SH types can rot even at 60 F degrees.

Also got looking at some early corn specs. At soil temps of 50F to 60F, it can take 15 days to germinate if they don't rot first. At soil temps of 60F to 70F - can germinate in 4 days, and if 70F and up, in 2 days. Seems obvious there isn't much to be gained by planting early in cold soil.

We had near 80F temps for several afternoons for two weeks, off and on. Also down to 30F last night. Checked my warmest field this morning and the dirt is only 48 degrees F. So, even though I'm itching to plant, I know it's a waste of time. And, soil is perfect otherwise.

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Here's what our rhubarb looks like this morning:

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And our wild leeks (over three full acres of them):

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And some deep woods purple cohosh (I think):
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And some other deep woods flowers . .
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And frog eggs all over our pond . . .

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And, a girl and boy newts - let's say "wrestling" . . .

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Still in the cold northern desert here. Been real warm but no rain or snow for a couple months again, they are predicting rain here soon but I am not going to hold my breath. Wish I could be even thinking about planting, but I don't dare till til we get a little moisture. No thoughts about corn till the end of May anyway or it will get frosted out.
 
With the liquid in your thermometer separated like that (I see a bit up there by the 70 degree mark) your temp is probably a little warmer than than you think it is.
 
I checked with three different thermometers and all read pretty much the same. Soil actually feels much colder. We just had snow two days ago and warmest day since has been 50F.

That reading was 2" down. It's 45 degrees F when I go down to 4".
 
Ive had early planted corn passed in growth by corn planted 2 weeks later.A local seedman says that plants that are stressed by cold never fully recover.
 
Here in S.E. Ohio & West Virginia we call those leaks RAMPS, they even have ramp festivals--You can smell the festival long before you get there. A little bit of them is pretty good with eggs & potatoes, but some eat them by themselves--then you can smell them long before you get close to them. Are the Leaks like that? Keith
 
Leeks, ramps, wild onions, etc. - all the same thing with differing regional names.

My wife makes eggs with leeks, and also some great leek pie.

Some old folk pick leeks and wrap them around their necks when hiking to keep away mosquitos and black flies. Can't say if it really works or not.
 
Last week my area actually lost a degree of soil temp after a cold night with 7 hours at or below freezing and down to 28º. Frost on buildings, etc.

I have some apricots that made it through and am still hoping for some harvest.
Kansas Soil Temps.
 

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