Vegetable gardening used to be a luxury reserved for those with enough outside growing space and a suitable environment. However, since growth light technology has advanced, it is now possible for gardeners all over the world to practice indoor gardening. The fastest-evolving development in indoor gardening has been the technology of grow lights.
We have some advice for utilizing grow lights to produce high-quality veggies, whether you’re a novice gardener who wants to grow vegetables inside for the first time or an experienced grower who is considering switching to LEDs. But first, let’s explain why choosing grow light is such a good idea in the first place.
Why Use Grow Lights?
Light is essential for plant survival! Plants use the process of photosynthesis to capture solar energy and transform it into chemical energy that powers their development. A plant’s growth rate is often strongly linked to the quantity of light it gets. In places where there is insufficient natural sunshine, using grow lights is a simple and effective technique to maintain plants.
Using grow lights indoors is one of the easiest ways to avoid leggy seedlings and produce the healthiest, most fruitful plants. We hate to say that, but for the most part, a sunny window won’t be enough light to start seedlings indoors. Particularly during the winter, when there are already few daylight hours and most gardeners sow their seeds for the upcoming spring and summer. Grow lights will maintain seedlings short, stocky, and healthy.
You want to do it right, whether this is your first time starting an indoor garden or producing veggies in general. Fortunately, you don’t need a lot of sunshine or an outside garden. To find out how to produce veggies under grow lights, keep reading.
Grow Light Placement
Incandescent grow light bulbs should be at least 24 inches above your plants, as a basic guideline. Fluorescent and LED lights may be positioned 12 and 6 inches over plants, respectively, due to their lower heat signatures.
Choose the Right Light Level
You should also think about how much lighting your vegetable or garden will require. You might just need a modest grow lamp because low-light plants can survive with less lighting. You could need extra lights, though, if your chosen veggie demands more lighting. Another option is to get a stronger grow light and set it up near the plant. Your plants will be able to receive the proper amount of light without receiving too much.
Ideal Grow Light Spectrum for Plants
While green and yellow are also needed for photosynthesis, blue and red do play a significant role and make up the majority of the light that plants use. The most effective LED grow light is the one that delivers the best crops and highest yields. While many other factors must also be present for a successful growth, selecting the finest lights makes it simple to increase your output. Different light spectrum works differently so, make sure that you buy the one that your plant needs for growth.
- Red light: The development of leaves as well as the growth of stems depend on red light, or wavelengths between 630 and 660 nm. Additionally, this wavelength controls seed germination, dormancy intervals, and blooming.
- Blue light: Since too much exposure to blue light (400–520 nm) may hinder the growth of some plant species, blue light needs to be properly blended with light in other spectrum.
- Green light: To support the lower canopy’s leaves, Green Light (500–600 nm) pierces through the upper canopies’ dense coverings.
- Red light: Far Red Light (720–740 nm) also penetrates dense top canopies to promote the development of lower-canopy leaves.
Grow Light Schedule for Vegetables
Before you begin growing veggies under a grow light, plan a proper lighting schedule for your garden. You’ll need to provide roughly 16 hours of light every day for the plant seeds you buy. Now, depending on the vegetable you purchase, your plant may require a different quantity. Usually, older plants need 12 hours of light every day. So, during the day, you could switch on and off your grow light. Once plants reach their full size, a 12-hour rotation is ideal since it helps keep the plants healthy.
Final Thought
Vegetables may be grown under grow lights, but there are several factors to take into account. The plants you choose to cultivate, your living area, and any access to natural light should all be considered. If you do some study on how to grow veggies with grow lights before you start growing plants inside, it will be a lot easier.