Micro-farming

Howard H. · Jan 31, 2011

Planning a big garden this year and am going to start my own peppers and tomatoes from seed.

I was just wondering what advice anyone would give on using grow lights on the seedlings to keep them from getting too tall and spindly...

Will any strong lighting work OK?? Are specialty "grow lights" really worth the extra cost??

Thanks for any advice,
Howard

RGMartin · Jan 31, 2011

"Warm white" fluorescent bulbs are what you want(best bang for the buck). 160 watts worth will do a 2x4' area.

RGMartin · Jan 31, 2011

"Warm white" fluorescent bulbs are what you want(best bang for the buck). 160 watts worth will do a 2x4' area.

frankKy · Jan 31, 2011

I use a 4by4 flourescent light with 4 multispecrum bulbs from home depot. Plant seeds and keep moist in the dark till germination. Then adjust light to two inches above seedlings. Turn off light at night. Adust light fixture height as seedings grow. Since the last frost date here in west ky. is april 20, I start my seedling the last of feb. Hope this helps, Frank.

camju · Jan 31, 2011

run a fan (not big)on them to keep them shorter and stronger.I always ran 4-6 hours a day,tomaato plants had stem as thick as my thumb some years,50 lbs.per plant as well.(tomatoes not the plant)

Joe in OH · Jan 31, 2011

I used plain old florescent lights, kept very close to the plant, and a timer to give it 12 hours of light, then 12 hours of dark. from what I have read, there is no need for fancy and expensive grow lights.

I like the fan idea mentioned here!

redFarmallboy · Jan 31, 2011

Good point with the fan. I usually set my flats outside for a few hours at a time for the last 2 weeks or so before planting in the ground. Plants need to grow strong to sustain wind.

ChrisinMO · Jan 31, 2011

We use 4' fluorescent light kits. 2-40W bulbs. Don't put plants under the outside 4-6" of the lights as the light tends to be dimmer there, especially with older bulbs. We set the chains so the light bulbs just barely touch the leaves of the plants. They don't burn, but they sure respond well from the extra light intensity.

I would second the motion about running a fan or perhaps gently using a feather duster to sweep over the plants. That simulates wind and causes the stems to stay shorter and be tougher. Then they aren't so shocked when they go out into the big, bad world.

As for the peppers, they need warm soil (ie potting mix) day and night. So put them at a place in your house where they will get the climate they like. Also just enough, but not too much, water. We have often had problems getting peppers to start for us, but once they have a couple of true leaves, they do better.

Don't neglect broccoli, cabbage, head lettuce, etc. Even spinach can be transplanted, for an extra early start.

Christopher

Micro-farming

Howard H.

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RGMartin

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RGMartin

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frankKy

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camju

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Joe in OH

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redFarmallboy

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ChrisinMO

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