Market Farming

[Lucy Goodman <goodows AT infinet.com>]

I use a double shop light fixture put about 
1" to 3" above the plants. I do not use any 
special lighting such as one "cool" and one 
"warm" bulb. I do try to get the seedlings 
out into natural light (cold frame) ASAP 
which in FL would be as soon as they 
germinate and show any leaves.

Here in Ohio I generally get my tomatoes out 
into cold frames by mid April. But this 
season I have yet to start my tomatoes and 
plan on doing a very late crop for the 
hoophouse and 'maters in November when no one 
else has them and they can fetch a very nice 
price. last year we could barely sell 
tomatoes in July trough Sept. since every 
vendor and almost every customer had lots of 
'maters. Probably will start my seeds for the 
main crop after mid May so they can get in 
the ground before late June

lucy Goodman
Boulder belt organics

Peter Mattli, D.D.S. wrote:

> Pat has to be right. How can you argue with success, especially
> 30 years of it. My input was based on 30 months (not years)
> of moderate success plus whatever comes from reading five
> books on growing tomatoes from seed. So now a question for Pat:
>
> Pat, I am using a single-tube flourescent light source, but will soon
> change to two tubes w/large reflector. How does that compare with
> what you use and what do you recommend as an optimum light source?
>
> Pete Mattli