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Re: Crop Heat Units

Tom,

You've opened the door on a fascinating subject, at least it's
fascinating to garden nerds like me!

One observation I'd like to make is that you used the word "control" to
describe our relationship with nutrients and moisture.  To me, the word
is a bit too strong for this usage.  It may just be my own connotation,
but I prefer the word "influence" over the word "control".  So many
factors influence moisture and nutrient uptake that we cannot affect
them precisely but only generally modify them.

Some other interesting components of the garden that we can affect to
some varying degree of significance are: soil tilth, humus content, soil
PH, microbial activity and rate of heat absorbtion and radiation by the
soil.

Those factors which we can influence very little are: ambient air
temperature (which add up to heat units over time) and total light
energy.

And in the middle range of influence are basic soil type and moisture
levels.  The reason I include moisture in the middle range of influence
is that, while we can irrigate to somewhat compensate for drought, we
cannot control excess amounts of moisture very well.  (Though, Lord
knows, I've tried.) 

I'm kind of a primitivist when it comes to gardening (which is counter
to my professional life as an Electronic Commerce specialist) so I limit
my use of the computer in the garden to maintaining a spreadsheet of
expenses and yield, and keeping weather records (somewhat poorly).  But
if you find or develop something to manage heat unit data, I'd probably
succumb to temptation and at least look at it. 

Steve


Thomas Olenio wrote:
> 
> Hello veggie-list,
> 
> Does anyone know of any shareware or freeware software that deals with
> Crop Heat Units?  Sometimes this principle is referred to as Degree
> Days.
> 
> All plant growth is based on how much heat it gets from the sun, along
> with that crops particular base growth heat.  By keeping track of your
> daily local heat units, you should be able to judge, when to plant, and
> how far along your plants should be.  Comparing that data from year to
> year would tell you alot about your specific growing conditions.  We can
> control water (prevent draught), and nutrients, but we can only measure
> and record heat units, using the information to our advantage.
> 
> If someone is an expert in this area I wouldn't mind learning the
> specifics, and I will build a MS-Excel spreadsheet to do the work, and
> gladly share it with everyone.
> 
> Any experts out there?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Tom
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