Show me your lights!

[hamamelis]

I'm starting planning out for next season, and I've noticed one glaring problem; my old place had multiple good windowsills, and a lean-to greenhouse. Great for starting stuff off in spring. This place has skylights. There's one little awkward kitchen window, but it doesn't face the best direction (just North of East) and I'm not going to be able to fit much on it anyway, but I really want to get an early start for squish, beans and the like.

I've been looking at supplementary lights, so I can set something up on my desk to start my babies off, it's under a skylight, so it does get some natural light, if not enough to grow healthy stuff. I've never had to use 'em before, so I'm not sure where to start.

Anyone got a good indoor light setup? Tips? Things to avoid?

It's hard to look up info on without, how to put this, being redirected to sites dedicated to growing crops people have other reasons for not wishing to put on a windowsill...

Thanks for any advice!

[veggiechicken]

Try this http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ght=growlights

[treepixie]

I use these from ikea, really helped my plants get started this year

[hamamelis]

Ooh, I was looking at those treepixie, but I've not been able to find any long term reviews, just "I just bought this and it looks good" stuff, which doesn't really help if you want to know how well it works long term. Good to know it's working OK for you!

There's been so much change in LED stuff over the last few years, it's really hard to decide what's best...

[Penellype]

I have 2 of these: https://www.garlandproducts.com/grow...den-black.html and one of these: ROOT!T T5 Light System

The grow light gardens are great for starting off young seedlings and for low growing plants like lettuce:



An insert tray is available which forms a self watering reservoir, and the unit has 2 T5 fluorescent bulbs. The height is adjustable, but the rubber bands that hold the top up tend to perish and I'm scared that if I move them too much the top will fall down, so I've set them at about 2/3 height (10 inches from the table top) and leave them there. It can be a little tricky to get plants out of the grow light garden especially without an insert tray as the lip on the base is 3 inches high - this has to be factored in unless you are prepared to move the top up and down (one of mine is very stiff to move).

The root!t one is taller (lights are 18 inches above the table top) and helps peppers and tomatoes not to become leggy when light is still at a premium in spring. I'm using mine for carrots, pea shoots, surplus lettuce and a random tomato sideshoot at the moment:



The green tray is the insert for the grow light garden - I have 8 of these as they are mind-bogglingly useful! As you can see, the area available under this is slightly bigger and there are 4 T5 tubes compared to 2 in the grow light garden. The bulbs for the 2 systems are identical, 24 watts each. This is a more versatile system as the legs are removable and you can hang the unit from the ceiling, allowing for taller plants.

With both systems the lights get quite warm and foliage that touches them for any length of time will get burnt.

Photos taken today.

[Baldy]

Anyone here growing herbs under lights?
thinking of trying some coriander cos I've never got that to do anything other than from supermarket plants which doesnt really count

[treepixie]

The ikea ones are great for getting plants started, but if you are thinking of using them to grow hydroponicly then not so good, I am trying watercress at the moment, as I have a double unit as well which have pots of herbs in which are doing really well.

[veggiechicken]

Anyone here growing herbs under lights?

What sort of herbs, Baldy?

[Baldy]

coriander principally - what ones were you thinking I was thinking of?

Mrs B does a lot of Indian cooking - there are quite a few that are probably impossible to do here even using propagators

[Baldy]

but I wouldn't mind giving some a go... If anyone has had success... though I've only got an unheated GH to move them on to...

(You still getting the MODS feed then...)

[veggiechicken]

This is what I'm thinking of - and coriander is one of the herbs that you're supposed to be able to sow all year round.
http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ter_95289.html

Try it - what's to lose?

[Baldy]

my mind...

too late too late

[Jungle Jane]

I use an aquarium light but not for beans,they'd outgrow the space too quickly,melons start under them but run out of space quickly too,having something next to the window like a shelf would help for when the plants get too big,do you have space outside for a plastic greenhouse/blowaway?

[treepixie]

I have coriander under my lights and it doing well, also parsley, Greek basil and purple basil

[hamamelis]

I only have an allotment, no outside space at the flat. A blowaway at the plot would be better called a kite.

We're not allowed sheds and there are no greenhouses of any kind onsite (I wasn't told they were banned, but there aren't any there!) I plan to cobble a cloche together for spring, I reckon that should be OK bpth rules wise and for hardening off. I want to be starting a few chillies and things inside though, it's bad enough waiting 'til February!