How do you measure soil temperature?

[3Lfarms]

I am going to plant pasture grass this fall. Field is tilled and ready. Seed supplier says soil temp needs to be below 45 degrees.
My question is how and when do you measure the temperature? I have a meter with an 8”probe that tells temperature, moisture and PH. It seems to me that the soil temperature will fluctuate and be warmer on sunny days. The seeds will be planted no more than 1/4” deep, so I don’t know why I would really care what the temperature is several inches down. What time of day should I be doing this and how deep?

 

[Texasmark]

I usually notice the word "average" in planting charts. I'm usually looking for 60-65F average soil temp in the spring for early planting. I use a HF non-contact infrared thermometer and just shoot the soil at first light and around 4 pm add divide by 2 and that's my number.

 

[/pine]

I am going to plant pasture grass this fall. Field is tilled and ready. Seed supplier says soil temp needs to be below 45 degrees.
My question is how and when do you measure the temperature? I have a meter with an 8廃robe that tells temperature, moisture and PH. It seems to me that the soil temperature will fluctuate and be warmer on sunny days. The seeds will be planted no more than 1/4 deep, so I don稚 know why I would really care what the temperature is several inches down. What time of day should I be doing this and how deep?

I'd ask the seed supplier...

 

[2458n]

Some grass seeds sprout better after being exposed to a freezing temperature. Nothing simple is it.

 

[Texasmark]

Some grass seeds sprout better after being exposed to a freezing temperature. Nothing simple is it.

I hear that fruit trees need to suffer so many days of freezing temps to have a good spring crop.