Market Farming

["Ron McElwain" <gofish54 AT centurytel.net>]

Barb - This is probably not the answer that you are looking for, but I use T8s
which can be bought quite economically at Lowes, Menards, etc.  I look for
the best case price on them and make sure I get K6500s.  I know there are
better lights out there, but these fit my budget and my plants have been on
par or ahead of other growers around here.  - mac

Quoting
BarbaraJ

:

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 -----

From: Allan Balliett

To: Market Farming

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 Extension600 128th St SEEverett, WA 98208-6353
C-360.794.6081
W-425.357.6024
khalstead AT wsu.edu
www.snohomish.wsu.eduExtension 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

 

From: market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org [mailto:market-farming-bounces AT lists.ibiblio.org] On Behalf Of Jay Sleichter
Sent: Monday, December 05, 2011 8:18 AM
To: Market Farming
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] T5 Fluorescents for Seed Starting

 

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
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Ron
McElwain
NW Missouri - Zone 5