Seed Started Lighting

AlittleSalt · January 19, 2018

This is how I am going to start tomato seeds this year. It is really simple to build/make. I cut a 4' x 21" sheet of 3/4" plywood with one rounded end in case I bump into it. It is sitting on a 4' tall chest of drawers inside our house - where it's nice and warm. And a folded white sheet on top of the plywood. The sheet is there in case I spill water. I was also thinking that the white sheet might reflect a little light too.

There are three 4' long T8 light fixtures hung at 7 inches apart (Sold cheap at big box stores). They are attached with the short chain they came with and then nylon string up to the hooks that I screwed into two 1' x 4''s that are screwed into one ceiling joist.

This is where I'll start the seeds in containers shown in the picture, and also where they will be after potting up into Solo cups. The containers are empty now and placed to show the versatility of what you could do. (The yellow stripes and spots are my camera acting up - it's all freshly painted white.)

wildcat62 · January 19, 2018

That will work nicely

Worth1 · January 19, 2018

Looks nice.

Worth

rhines81 · January 19, 2018

Perfect ... you are all set to give them a good start. Just give thought as to where all of those started plants will go after 4-6 weeks !!

I hope the weather warms up quickly for you guys, I saw the latest cold snap on the news ... not typical for your area for sure !!

Nan_PA_6b · January 19, 2018

I have a similar setup. I put aluminum foil around the sides to reflect light back onto the plants.

Nan

nyrfan · January 19, 2018

I would advise putting a sheet of plastic between the cloth sheet & the plywood.

Perhaps the 3 fixtures are too much but, on the plus side, you shouldn't have to turn the trays at all.

nyrfan · January 19, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b

I have a similar setup. I put aluminum foil around the sides to reflect light back onto the plants.

Nan

Excellent idea!

AlittleSalt · January 20, 2018

Nan, I thought of the aluminum foil. I would be very interested in knowing your results. I wish I could compare them to the white theme I'm going with. The lights are two soft white lights each in fixtures 1 and 3 and two natural lights in the middle light fixture. The natural lights are warmer - you can feel it easily, but they're not hot.

I am curious if the natural lights would be better to start pepper seeds with? However, after pepper seeds have sprouted - they don't require as much light and water as tomato plants do. This is from my experience with pepper plants, and I'm sure others will disagree with my findings. Any other ideas and/or facts are very welcome.

nyrfan, I'm not sure about too much light? I have given it some thought over the time I've been here at Tomatoville. Each year is an experiment for me combining things I learn along the way. There are so many posts that others have made about their way of doing things - that I didn't ask why. I should have.

loulac · January 20, 2018

I give as much light as I can as long as the seedlings are not overheated. LED lights seem to be the future as they give little heat. Fans driven with a thermostat can help to limit the temperature under the lights.

Father'sDaughter · January 20, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nan_PA_6b

I have a similar setup. I put aluminum foil around the sides to reflect light back onto the plants.

Nan

If you have a larger area to cover, try Mylar foil emergency blankets. They typically only cost a couple of bucks, will cover a large area, and can be re-used year-to-year. I have a couple taped to the sides and back of the shelf unit I use for seedlings. They also hold in any little bit of heat the lights put out which is good because my basement can get a bit too chilly sometimes.

Salt your set up looks great. I'm glad to see you're back at it this year!

BigVanVader · January 20, 2018

I use a similar setup on a wire rack. 3 lights works perfect b/c you don't need to turn and it keeps the plants stocky. Adding a small clip fan will also help with making the plants strong and stocky.

Worth1 · January 20, 2018

I use flat white or as close as I can get for reflectors back into the growing area.

But the most important thing is you use reflectors back into the growing area not whether it is foil of some sort or white.

Koala Doug · January 20, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

flat white

Same here - flat or matte white.

PaulF · January 20, 2018

Looks good.

Nan_PA_6b · January 20, 2018

I'm currently growing tomatoes under my lights. They are doing spectacularly well. I have (5) 4' LED lights, two bulbs each, plus the aluminum foil, plus table is white. The lights never get hot. (BTW, it's REALLY hard to get "too much light" indoors for tomatoes.)
20180108_133735_resized.jpg

Tomatogrowing_resized.jpg

January 19, 2018	#2
wildcat62 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Zone 6 Northern Kentucky Posts: 1,094	That will work nicely __________________ Mark

January 19, 2018	#6
nyrfan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: NJ Posts: 123	I would advise putting a sheet of plastic between the cloth sheet & the plywood. Perhaps the 3 fixtures are too much but, on the plus side, you shouldn't have to turn the trays at all. Last edited by nyrfan; January 19, 2018 at 11:36 PM.

January 20, 2018	#14
PaulF Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brownville, Ne Posts: 3,296	Looks good. __________________ there's two things money can't buy; true love and home grown tomatoes.

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January 19, 2018	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Looks nice. Worth

January 19, 2018	#4
rhines81 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Zone 5A, Poconos Posts: 959	Perfect ... you are all set to give them a good start. Just give thought as to where all of those started plants will go after 4-6 weeks !! I hope the weather warms up quickly for you guys, I saw the latest cold snap on the news ... not typical for your area for sure !!

January 19, 2018	#5
Nan_PA_6b Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 3,194	I have a similar setup. I put aluminum foil around the sides to reflect light back onto the plants. Nan

January 20, 2018	#8
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Nan, I thought of the aluminum foil. I would be very interested in knowing your results. I wish I could compare them to the white theme I'm going with. The lights are two soft white lights each in fixtures 1 and 3 and two natural lights in the middle light fixture. The natural lights are warmer - you can feel it easily, but they're not hot. I am curious if the natural lights would be better to start pepper seeds with? However, after pepper seeds have sprouted - they don't require as much light and water as tomato plants do. This is from my experience with pepper plants, and I'm sure others will disagree with my findings. Any other ideas and/or facts are very welcome. nyrfan, I'm not sure about too much light? I have given it some thought over the time I've been here at Tomatoville. Each year is an experiment for me combining things I learn along the way. There are so many posts that others have made about their way of doing things - that I didn't ask why. I should have.

January 20, 2018	#9
loulac Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: France Posts: 554	I give as much light as I can as long as the seedlings are not overheated. LED lights seem to be the future as they give little heat. Fans driven with a thermostat can help to limit the temperature under the lights.

January 20, 2018	#11
BigVanVader Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Greenville, South Carolina Posts: 3,099	I use a similar setup on a wire rack. 3 lights works perfect b/c you don't need to turn and it keeps the plants stocky. Adding a small clip fan will also help with making the plants strong and stocky.