Big Grow Light Stand Annex

Much has been going on in the garden lately. I have planted broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, chard, peas, potatoes and my first installment of extra-early tomatoes outside. Inside has been even busier. I now have peppers, cucumbers, zucchini and over 100 tomato seedlings under the lights. The problem is that I still have 10 giant extra-early tomato plants also under the lights. Things were getting pretty crowded!

I couldn't fit everything in and I couldn't get the lower lights to go any higher. The plants were growing into and over the lights.

The only way to fix this without abandoning my extra-early tomato plan was to build a light stand annex. I rounded up another old table, some more hooks chains and shop lights and presto - a lovely annex on the other side of the room!

They are already growing up to touch the lights, but I can keep moving the lights up higher now.

Moving these plants around has reminded me that I never shared with you my creative container choices. Anything goes when I get into the larger pot size.

I won't be able to use these double pots again since I had to cut out the bottom. I have already planted some of these out in the garden and I had to completely cut away the pot to get the plant out. The sand pail is a better idea. Just remember, if you use something that wasn't originally intended to be a planter, you need to drill holes in the bottom for drainage. This sand bucket won't hold water anymore!

I have already transplanted five tomato plants in the prepared outside bed. Soon I will have pictures of them. They were Early Girl, New Girl, Orange Blossom, and two 4th of July plants. I did manage to put black plastic down over the bed to heat up the soil but I have not yet built my makeshift lean-to greenhouse to go over them. I haven't had to yet because it has been unseasonably warm this week in the mid 80's! Next week's weather will not be so tomato friendly though. It is supposed to only get to about 50 degrees with overnight lows in the 30s - yikes! That is why it is crazy to plant tomatoes outside here in April. I hope I can get my plastic up soon and it works!

In the meantime I will be potting up the inside tomatoes to even bigger containers. They are looking very happy in their cozy warm indoor environment.

Too bad I can't grow them to fruit stage inside. Sooner or later they have to brave the elements outside. I am still dreaming of ripe tomatoes here in northern zone 5 by June 1st! Wish me luck!

Comments

[April 26, 2008 at 07:12 AM]

looks good Marc. my tomato seedlings are still small' but I did manage to plant some tomatoes given me

[April 26, 2008 at 07:57 AM]

Look at you go...I'd say luck is not necessary except for the weather, so good luck! What a great start!

[April 27, 2008 at 03:24 PM]

That is an impressive bunch of tomato plants. Looks to me like June 1st will see tomatoes on your table. Great work.

[April 27, 2008 at 04:37 PM]

Look like you'll be having quite a few tomatoes! Are you going to plant all of these in your garden?

[Melissa]

Hi, I am new here, but will be back! I am only in my third year gardening up in the Northeast. After a really great year last year, using transplants from a commercial nursery, I am afraid I have been a victim this year of overambitious seed planting. I did not have proper grow lights, so went through the splindlies (sigh) - and then when I transplanted some good-looking cucumbers last week, on an exceptionally warm day, we had a frost, and I not only lost whatever I put into the garden (except for the peas - they are hanging in), but lost an entire tray of tomato seedlings I'd stupidly left out overnight. Dumb.

I am so envious of your gorgeous healthy tomato plants !!! I covet them !!!

What a great job you are doing. congrats!

[Ben]

Wow, those tomatoes look great!

Are the fluro tubes special or just the every day sort? How much power do they use?

This has got me thinking on how to set a system up in my shed over the very hot summer to keep my lettuce supply up. All I would need to do is turn the lights on at night and let them bask in the warmth of the shed during the day.

[November 07, 2008 at 11:18 PM]

Wow the tomatoes do look great. I think the new led grow lights save on electric. I think they use about 1/3 the energy as traditional grow lights. Saw some over at Peaceful Valley's grow organic site:
http://www.groworganic.com/item_GP839_SolarOasis_Pro5_Ruby_Gro_Bar__Ei.html

[Brad]

I loved my leds from Sunshine-Systems.com so much I started my own business.



www.igrowwithleds.com

I offer exceptional customer service and the best led grow lights offered today. We have 5 models and warranties on all our products. Happy Holidays!!!! :)
Brad

[Brad]

Those tomatoes are great. I use led grow lights and have excellent results also. Check out my site

www.igrowwithleds.com

Happy Holidays everyone!! :)

[27Reasons]

This is an excellent example of what fluoros are capable of. Each 4' bulb uses between 32 and 40 watts, depending on whether it is a T12 or T8 bulb.

Either way, these lights are very energy efficient compared to high-pressure-sodium, halide, and even LED lights.

Typical shop lights are considered 'cool white,' and typically burn at 5,000 degrees kelvin. This is perfect for supporting plant growth.

When it comes time to fruit, you want to add some 'yellow light.' This can be achieved by adding bulbs that burn at about 3,500 degrees kelvin, or you can add bulbs that burn in the 6,000 to 7,000 kelvin range. The latter bulbs are tougher to find and are considered 'full spectrum.' They are most similar to what the sun would naturally put out throughout the course of a day.

Slowly decreasing the amount of light each day will also help to trick the plants into flowering.

Thanks Marc, for helping to prove that fluorescents can really produce some bang for their buck.