Setting up grow lights

[materlvr]

Hello, can anyone tell me the exact items I need to set up lights for germinating seeds?

Thanks so much🍅

[eyolf]

Here's my ghetto rig, almost 35 years old:

It started out with 6 salvaged florescent shop lights and a homemade shelf unit.
Some lights have failed and been replaced with LEDs.
For bottom heat:

Old-style Christmas tree lights, aluminum brownie pan under an overturned lattice 10x20. Depending on the heat load required, I unscrew one or two bulbs. All three will keep a full 10x20 about 75°F.

The lights are on a timer: 12 hrs for the LED, 16 for the fluorescent.

Cheap, but I have room for 12 10x20's, which supplies about everything my kids, the neighbors, and I need. When the garden was larger, I could theoretically accomodate twice as many 10x20's by switching out every 12 hours...but I never had to. By the time I was repotting tomatoes and peppers, some cabbage, etc was outside.

As the weather warms, things go outside to be parked on the southern exposure garage apron. First onions and crucifers, eventually everything.

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[MrsJustice]

I use a Bay Window in my Kitchen. Then transport the Plants to a large greenhouse outside. The Light system worked for Me, but I have too many plants.

[MrsJustice]

Originally Posted by eyolf

Here's my ghetto rig, almost 35 years old:

It started out with 6 salvaged florescent shop lights and a homemade shelf unit.
Some lights have failed and been replaced with LEDs.
For bottom heat:

Old-style Christmas tree lights, aluminum brownie pan under an overturned lattice 10x20. Depending on the heat load required, I unscrew one or two bulbs. All three will keep a full 10x20 about 75°F.

The lights are on a timer: 12 hrs for the LED, 16 for the fluorescent.

Cheap, but I have room for 12 10x20's, which supplies about everything my kids, the neighbors, and I need. When the garden was larger, I could theoretically accomodate twice as many 10x20's by switching out every 12 hours...but I never had to. By the time I was repotting tomatoes and peppers, some cabbage, etc was outside.

As the weather warms, things go outside to be parked on the southern exposure garage apron. First onions and crucifers, eventually everything.

Sent from my motorola edge (2022) using Tapatalk

I like your setup, Amen!!!!

Materlvr just needs to take "your picture" to a Thrift Store to find her some lights to Start her Seeds. Amen!!!!!

[materlvr]

What light bulbs do I buy?

[MrsJustice]

I would go to lowe's or Home Depot with this picture and they will help you. If you go to a Thrift Store you might find a set of lights once used for lighting up for Seeds Germination.

We will have to learn the distance of your shelves. That's is why it is so hard to give you an answer. But we can give you some Ideals for you to "Make it Happen Amen!!

Please tell the salesperson the distance from the top of your Shelves to the top of your Plants to avoid Fires or overHeating.

[ddsack]

materlvr, I see that you live in southern California. If it were me, I would not bother with lights, you really don't need them unless you live in such a cold climate that seedlings would freeze outside. You don't need lights for the germination process, just warmth, regular house temps of 70-75 are fine, heat added from a sunny window helps speed things along, a heat mat is nice, but not necessary. Most viable tomato seeds will be up in 4 to 10 days, some slow ones may take longer if your house is cooler. If your daily outside temperatures are in the 60's and 70's now, there is no reason the germinated seedlings can't go outside in full sun immediately after sprouting -- they do that in nature, right? Just keep them out of too much wind until they have a chance to size up. If they are allowed to be outside right after emergence from the soil they will be sturdier and healthier than anything you raise under artificial lights.

[materlvr]

Thank you so much for the info������

[zeuspaul]

I have done it without grow lights in Southern California but it is more challenging. I carried seed trays in and out each day. However I had problems with damping off. If there is no sun and it is cool it's a recipe for damping off.

I still carry my seed trays in and out from time of germination but tomorrow and the next day they will remain indoors under the grow lights due to cold and rainy conditions.

Also the seedlings get better growth with the longer grow light / sunlight combined conditions. They get a few hours of light before being carried outdoors and several more hours after being brought indoors.

I try to make sure they get at least good midday sun.

I use full spectrum standard screw in grow light bulbs. I have several wattages and cone angles hung from strings above which I can adjust up and down using the clamp on fixtures.

Right now they are indoors but will be going out in about twenty minutes and stay there until about five o'clock.

[eyolf]

Originally Posted by materlvr

What light bulbs do I buy?

There are likely discussions in most state agriculture dept websites explaining.
Here's mine: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-a...-indoor-plants

I don't have a Lowe's near me, but I replaced my used up fluorescents with something similar to:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Pinegreen-L...ght/5014057981
I don't think you have Menards in Cal, where I purchased. When the next fluorescent bites the dust, I'll look at:
https://www.menards.com/main/lightin...4315423836.htm


This is the first hit on a Google search:
https://hereshegrows.com/2018/03/22/...starting-rack/

The idea is to fit your space.

The entire thing started when I thought to build a greenhouse. Not having any money, I collected old storm windows as neighbors upgraded. But since all were different sizes, I learned that old glass is NOT usually going to cooperate when trimming.

I have a couple of cold frames, and they are useful, but no need for a greenhouse.

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[MrsJustice]

This is very Good information from San Diego to Central MN Tomatoville, Amen!

I love all Hardware Stores, because the people who work there just has pure knowledge from the heart of Farming Techniques to share with their Customers; Just like all of us here at TomatoVille, Amen!!

I have many Deadlines up coming up, and will be back here full time again soon.
Keep up the good Work, everyone.

Especially
This is the first hit on a Google search:
https://hereshegrows.com/2018/03/22/...starting-rack/