Worms and garden starting

[Jay Blair]

Here in my region most of the old time gardeners all plant on Good Friday or close to it. This year due to the freak early spring hard freeze, here its almost May and many folks who have put out seedlings since the local meteorologists confirm the threat of frost is gone are disappointed with the performance of their seedlings.

The answer of course is very simple. Due to the late freak freeze the soil temperatures are just now getting into the 60 degree F. range in the top 8 inches.

Normally our soil temps reach 60 degrees around Good Friday.

I showed my neighbors how the worms in my garden on April 10 were still in semi hybernation. on the 20th the worms were fully active and confirmation of soil temp with an electronic thermoprobe showed the garden bed temps at 66 degrees.

I planted my 4 inch tall tomato seedlings on the 20th and will be comparing growth and yield with a neighbor who planted his seedlings earlier in the month.

I figure since E.f. hybernate at temps below 60 degrees and get most active at 65 to 80 degrees F. , they make for an excellent soil temp indicator.

[vermiman]

admin said:

I planted my 4 inch tall tomato seedlings on the 20th and will be comparing growth and yield with a neighbor who planted his seedlings earlier in the month.

Does your neighbor and you use the same (natural) fertilizers? Do you have the same type soil?

[Jay Blair]

they get compost from me, so I know there are worms in their garden spot. They use tillers though where I no till BISF

[vermiman]

Besides the time of planting, I was just wanting to know if you were evenly matched.