Tomatoes under lights through the winter - Page 2

Jeannine Anne · June 11, 2010

Thank you ,I live 10 minutes drive from Tatiana and have just put an order together to go with some of the seeds I have for short growing plants. My system gives me 3 levels each one could take the height of a plant of less than 14 inches tall but my husband can remove the middle light and I can then use the bottom level for plants up to about 30 inches, so as long as the light is enough I will have a go. Each shelf has a 4 inch mini fan attached to the shelf. I guess I could hang some LED lighting to the sides of the fixture but this time around I would rather not. Will I benefit if I change the tubes to somethings else, providing they will be compatibe with the fittings I have.The lights themselves are slimmer than regular flourescents.

I have quite a few tomato varieties, is there any you would suggeat particularly.

I would have a go with some of the dwarf ones mentioned on the project if I could get them and providing folks would think they would work.

Thank you for the continuing help

XX Jeannine

artis · June 14, 2010

Jeannine,

With variable success I have grown the following varieties under 4 ft T8 fluorescent bulbs: Silvery Fir Tree, Sophie's Choice, Dwarf Champion, Lime Green Salad, Aurora, Mano, and Danko. The best performer by far in terms of productivity and taste was Danko although it was also one of the bigger plants.

It seems to me that dwarfs come in different habits. Mano is a very compact dwarf while Dwarf Champion is a large plant, almost like indeterminate. Plants with flexible vines (Silvery Fir Tree, Danko) can be easier to fit in the cramped space under the lights than large dwarfs with thick, inflexible stems that grow upwards until they hit the lights.

Most of the cheapo LED panels are way too weak for growing tomatoes (28 W is not enough!). There are some high power LED systems that are supposed to be really good but they cost $500-$1500. T8 fluorescent bulbs are probably the best compromise in terms of cost and efficiency.

Jeannine Anne · June 15, 2010

Artis, thank you so much for the reply, it seems a shame not to try when I have this fixture.

I do have some of the seeds you suggest, but don't know the Mano and Danko, I will take a look for them.

Could you please tell me when you start them off?

Thank you again, I really appreciate the help.

XX Jeannine

rnewste · June 15, 2010

I'm growing Danko for the first time this Season, and it is really putting out fruit, on a 36 inch tall plant. All my others are over 6 ft. tall today - - but Danko is hanging in there at no more that 3 ft. tall. Looks like a great candidate for indoor growing.

BTW, I will be releasing plans for an "indoor" EarthTainer in the next few months based on an 18 gallon tote. The design is completely self-contained from a watering standpoint and will not leak out any water, which indoors is a key element. I am calling it the "InnTainer". It will have a built-in water gauge visible at all times so you can see exactly how much water is in the reservoir. Stay tuned....

Raybo

artis · June 16, 2010

I got my Danko seeds from Gleckler's:
http://www.glecklerseedmen.com/Danko/p80687_494192.aspx
They have seeds of other great yet rare tomato varieties as well.

I have started seeds for winter tomatoes in Sep/Oct or January. I do not think that the timing matters as far as the temperature is kept around 70F and the plants receive plenty of artificial light.

Just one word of caution - growing of vegetables under artificial lights can be quite costly in terms of electricity.

Jeannine Anne · June 16, 2010

Linda, thank you, I actually got seed from Tatiana today, I bought quite a selection of all little ones to add to what I already have, now I have to decide what to grow. Oh why do we buy seeds!!

I have Whippersnapper growing in hanging baskets right now, I like it for this purpose, usually loaded with fruit so a regular one for me,flavour could be better but I start it very early to give some of the first toms and the first ones are always better than anything I have ever bought.I also have Tatianas Anmore Treasures growing in a hanging basket too, her de -hybridised Tumbler.She very kindly shared a few with me earlier this year when I took her some unusual squash. The tom is doing very well.

Thank you for the help, I truly appreciate it.

Gosh I wish I had been around when the Dwarf Project started but too busy then and still working in the UK. Now lots of time and less space. I really envy you. I am trying to read all I can from the beginning of the project but it is not easy, there is a lot of info there.

Did you have any trouble with them pollinating? I have had the odd small plant on a south facing window through the winter in times past and they always pollinated. I do have mini fans ready to hook up to the fixture.

Thank you again.

XX Jeannine

Jeannine Anne · June 17, 2010

Artis,sorry I forgot to thank you for the info , I was thinking inn terms of late August /September.

I have had my fixture going for the last few weeks and it has raised my electricity bill by about $10 a month.Thank you too for the link.

I shall keep an eye open for the indoor EarthTrainer Raybo,it sounds interesting.

XX jeannine

June 11, 2010	#16
Jeannine Anne Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,553	Thank you ,I live 10 minutes drive from Tatiana and have just put an order together to go with some of the seeds I have for short growing plants. My system gives me 3 levels each one could take the height of a plant of less than 14 inches tall but my husband can remove the middle light and I can then use the bottom level for plants up to about 30 inches, so as long as the light is enough I will have a go. Each shelf has a 4 inch mini fan attached to the shelf. I guess I could hang some LED lighting to the sides of the fixture but this time around I would rather not. Will I benefit if I change the tubes to somethings else, providing they will be compatibe with the fittings I have.The lights themselves are slimmer than regular flourescents. I have quite a few tomato varieties, is there any you would suggeat particularly. I would have a go with some of the dwarf ones mentioned on the project if I could get them and providing folks would think they would work. Thank you for the continuing help XX Jeannine

June 14, 2010	#17
artis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: central NJ z6/7 Posts: 73	Jeannine, With variable success I have grown the following varieties under 4 ft T8 fluorescent bulbs: Silvery Fir Tree, Sophie's Choice, Dwarf Champion, Lime Green Salad, Aurora, Mano, and Danko. The best performer by far in terms of productivity and taste was Danko although it was also one of the bigger plants. It seems to me that dwarfs come in different habits. Mano is a very compact dwarf while Dwarf Champion is a large plant, almost like indeterminate. Plants with flexible vines (Silvery Fir Tree, Danko) can be easier to fit in the cramped space under the lights than large dwarfs with thick, inflexible stems that grow upwards until they hit the lights. Most of the cheapo LED panels are way too weak for growing tomatoes (28 W is not enough!). There are some high power LED systems that are supposed to be really good but they cost $500-$1500. T8 fluorescent bulbs are probably the best compromise in terms of cost and efficiency.

June 15, 2010	#18
Jeannine Anne Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,553	Artis, thank you so much for the reply, it seems a shame not to try when I have this fixture. I do have some of the seeds you suggest, but don't know the Mano and Danko, I will take a look for them. Could you please tell me when you start them off? Thank you again, I really appreciate the help. XX Jeannine

June 15, 2010	#19
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	I'm growing Danko for the first time this Season, and it is really putting out fruit, on a 36 inch tall plant. All my others are over 6 ft. tall today - - but Danko is hanging in there at no more that 3 ft. tall. Looks like a great candidate for indoor growing. BTW, I will be releasing plans for an "indoor" EarthTainer in the next few months based on an 18 gallon tote. The design is completely self-contained from a watering standpoint and will not leak out any water, which indoors is a key element. I am calling it the "InnTainer". It will have a built-in water gauge visible at all times so you can see exactly how much water is in the reservoir. Stay tuned.... Raybo

June 16, 2010	#20
artis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: central NJ z6/7 Posts: 73	I got my Danko seeds from Gleckler's: http://www.glecklerseedmen.com/Danko/p80687_494192.aspx They have seeds of other great yet rare tomato varieties as well. I have started seeds for winter tomatoes in Sep/Oct or January. I do not think that the timing matters as far as the temperature is kept around 70F and the plants receive plenty of artificial light. Just one word of caution - growing of vegetables under artificial lights can be quite costly in terms of electricity.

June 17, 2010	#22
Jeannine Anne Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada Posts: 1,553	Artis,sorry I forgot to thank you for the info , I was thinking inn terms of late August /September. I have had my fixture going for the last few weeks and it has raised my electricity bill by about $10 a month.Thank you too for the link. I shall keep an eye open for the indoor EarthTrainer Raybo,it sounds interesting. XX jeannine