Confused - cold frame start vs. grow lights

navajoah · January 26, 2011

Hi everyone,

I have what is probably a simple problem here but to me is confusing. I have been debating whether to place my starts under T5 grown lamps inside or to take the starts and move them into a cold frame (really sort of a DIY mini-greenhouse). I live in Boulder, Colorado so a cold frame/mini GH would have to have 1) auto vents since the sun here in intense and would certainly cook the plants AND 2) some form of supplemental heat for the cold nights (it can still snow here through early May). It seems like the cold frame/mini GH will be much more expensive given the ventilation and heating requirements. Is a cold frame (or DIY mini-GH) worth it just for starting my tomato plants early? Or will the indoor lighting system be simpler and just as effective in giving my little wonders a good jump start (I also have south facing window that gets lots of sunlight to add supplemental light)?

Secondly, I found what looks like a decent T5 system that produces 10,000 lumens at only 108 watts for $69 (two 54 watt 6400k bulbs) - does that sound like enough light output for approximately 20 tomato starts?

Thanks for any and all advice!!

January 26, 2011	#1
navajoah Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 22	Confused - cold frame start vs. grow lights Hi everyone, I have what is probably a simple problem here but to me is confusing. I have been debating whether to place my starts under T5 grown lamps inside or to take the starts and move them into a cold frame (really sort of a DIY mini-greenhouse). I live in Boulder, Colorado so a cold frame/mini GH would have to have 1) auto vents since the sun here in intense and would certainly cook the plants AND 2) some form of supplemental heat for the cold nights (it can still snow here through early May). It seems like the cold frame/mini GH will be much more expensive given the ventilation and heating requirements. Is a cold frame (or DIY mini-GH) worth it just for starting my tomato plants early? Or will the indoor lighting system be simpler and just as effective in giving my little wonders a good jump start (I also have south facing window that gets lots of sunlight to add supplemental light)? Secondly, I found what looks like a decent T5 system that produces 10,000 lumens at only 108 watts for $69 (two 54 watt 6400k bulbs) - does that sound like enough light output for approximately 20 tomato starts? Thanks for any and all advice!! Last edited by navajoah; January 26, 2011 at 12:53 PM.