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Re: Stan's hot tomato

Thank you for your concern, Sheila.
     These are exactly the kind of helpful hints that I need and look
forward to.
     The electrical code in this area requires all outside electrical
outlets to be GFI's
(ground fault interrupt).  But I should have stated any safety
precautions in my proposal.
     Since the only way I found to keep the deer out is to use an
electric fence (a big story for failed inventions leading to a good
result) I am very alert of electricity in the garden.  (not normally a
worry in the garden)  Believe me, I have shocked myself on the electric
fence many more times than the deer. 
     The concern for the deterioration of the wire as it is buried
underground is something to consider over time.  I will keep an eye on it
but I expect to get at least one season out of it to prove or disprove
the concept.  Thanks.
     I came home last night in the dark and looked out expecting to see
the one light bulb on the string that I didn't bury.  To my dismay, it
was out.
     This morning I went out to investigate.  It seems that this bulb
broke.  The buried ones were doing nicely.  It got down to about 15
degrees F. last night.  My guess right now is that the glue gun glue and
the glass bulb expanded and contracted at different rates, thus putting a
strain on  the glass bulb.  Any other Ideas?  I pulled out the next bulb
in line to see if this will happen again tonight.  
     If it does, I will set up an new string using some underground
waterproofer made for electrical devices that are buried or get wet. 
Perhaps I should have used this in the first place.   I have two strings
of lights left.  If I do get this system working, garage sales here I
come.
     Another problem is that there is not enough heat transferred to the
surface to warm the water bottles.  Today I think I will put the string
of lights on the surface and cover each bulb with a small piece of
something, maybe just paper, and then put a 2 liter bottle of water on
top and see how warm the water stays overnight.  
     I was worried about too much heat from the bulbs, not too little. 
Well, I can always bunch up more bulbs in the same spot to increase the
heat.  
     What do you think will happen to the tomato plants roots if they
find a hot bulb right under them as they grow?  I hope they would grow in
a direction that would take advantage of the heat but not grow right
toward the bulb to harm themselves.
     Wish me luck.

Stan.     The cheap and lazy gardener.

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