That being said, where is the best place to
purchase economical lights? Can I get them locally? I hate to pay for
shipping. I have been using regular fluorescent lights, but a fellow
grower I know uses the TO grow lights and her plants are fabulous! Thank
you,
Barb
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 3:57
PM
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] T5
Fluorescents for Seed Starting
Kate - What brings about the reduced useable light? Is it use
of the bulb? I ask because I have several packages of T5s I bought on sale
several years back. Are they 'good as new' when I open the packages or will
they have deteriorated even though they've never been turned on?
I do wish I had one of those light meters! ;-) (Would help find out the
truth about my old as the hills greenhouse cover plastic...)
-Allan in WV
On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 11:32 AM, Halstead, Kate <khalstead AT wsu.edu> wrote:
If
you have access to an old fashioned light meter, such as was once used by
photographers, (or one of the new-fangled ones used by medicinal herb
growers) (~ $30) you can quickly tell the difference between old and
new bulbs. You’ll likely find a significant difference. Even after a year
there is a plant-noticeable difference. Whether it’s a problem (and you need
to replace the bulbs) depends more on the crop than anything
else.
While
the human eye doesn’t detect the difference as readily, the plants can. Some
are more sensitive to lower light levels than
others.
Kate
Halstead Agriculture Workshops WSU Snohomish County
Extension 600 128th St
SE Everett,
WA 98208-6353 C-360.794.6081 W-425.357.6024 khalstead AT wsu.edu www.snohomish.wsu.edu Extension
programs and employment are available to all without discrimination.
Evidence of noncompliance may be reported through your local Extension
office or to the WSU Center for Human Rights.
In the long view, no nation is healthier than its children, or more
prosperous than its farmers. --Harry Truman
I have never heard of changing your bulbs every
year, I did notice this year that the new lights and bulbs were much
brighter than the old ones. Also the plants under the old bulbs were
leggier.
So, there must be some truth to it. I was planning on
changing the bulbs this year. Some of them have three seed starting
seasons on them.
Jay
Jay's Jellies, Produce and
More Clay Center, Kansas www.jaysjellies.com http://highfarming.blogspot.com/
--- On
Mon, 12/5/11, Allan Balliett <allan.balliett AT gmail.com>
wrote:
From: Allan
Balliett <allan.balliett AT gmail.com> Subject:
[Market-farming] T5 Fluorescents for Seed Starting To: "Market
Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org> Date:
Monday, December 5, 2011, 9:55 AM
Folks -
I'm trying to knock out a few flats
of micro greens for the market the next couple of weeks.
My
first trays are at about 10 days.
While I haven't had the mold
problems I usually get this time of year, growth ain't what i'd
expect.
I'm using an old light stand that has seen very little
use.
The bulbs must be 4 years old, but probably don't have 100
hours on them.
They certainly look bright and even.
I'm
just writing to ask if I should take the often read suggestion
to replace T5 bulbs used for plant starting yearly to heart. Will
it really make a difference?
I'm starting primarily
brassicas, wheat grass, sunflowers and peas.
I'm keeping the
day and night temps around 65 degrees
Thanks
-Allan in
WV _______________________________________________ Market-farming
mailing list Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
Market
Farming List Archives may be found here: https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/market-farming/ Unsubscribe
from the list here (you will need to login in with your email
address and password): http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/market-farming |
_______________________________________________ Market-farming
mailing list Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
Market
Farming List Archives may be found here: https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/market-farming/ Unsubscribe
from the list here (you will need to login in with your email address and
password): http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/market-farming
_______________________________________________ Market-farming
mailing
list Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming
Market
Farming List Archives may be found
here: https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/market-farming/ Unsubscribe
from the list here (you will need to login in with your email address and
password): http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/market-farming
|