Hi everyone Can anyone advise me on where to buy a heating cable please? I'm looking to get one to start my vegetable gardening early. Any helpful feedback is welcomed. Regards Julien
I've purchased them (100 ft. cables @ 5 watts/foot) at Evergro, I think their prices are competitive. There is a location at the south end of Ontario St., Van. I"ve used soil heating in my greenhouse as well as in propagation (cuttings) beds...can't remember hearing of anyone doing it right out in the veggie garden. Guess it depends on how much you spend for what kind of return. If you erect one of those poly tunnels over the heated area it would be kind of a little greenhouse (?)
Thanks for responding. I'm acting on the suggestion from my mom. Apparently she used it in her veg garden in North Van back in the 80s. For me, I'm just doing casual veg gardening so the poly tunnels will be fine. That's what I am going to use. But for my information, do you suppose the cables can be submerged under 4 inches of soil and still be safe / beneficial? Thanks Julien
As long as you don't hit them with a shovel. Heat trace (I think its the same thing) is regularly used for buried water lines here to keep them from freezing. Have you considered pex tubing and a wood fired water heater? Commonly used for household zone heating here, should be dandy for a garden. Carl
I actually heat my greenhouse with garden hose circulating water from an electric water heater...the hoses are buried about 3-4 in. deep on average. Same concept as infloor radiant heating in houses. I don't think your plants would be harmed by the heat from either source. As pointed out, don't be digging into heating lines! The simple poly tunnels as Steve Solomon/West coast seeds have touted...plastic arches from PVC or Poly pipe covered with poly clipped on...do get the garden going much earlier this time of year. Actually have to watch you don't cook the plants...be sure to open the tunnels some on days like today.
