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Recent Entries to this Blog
Indoor LED Gardening, Week 6
Posted: 27 Feb 2012 Posted: 17 Feb 2012 Posted: 04 Feb 2012 Posted: 30 Jan 2012 Posted: 22 Jan 2012 All Entries |
Farmer Deb's Blog
Indoor LED Gardening, Week 6
Category: Indoor Lighting With LEDs | Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2012 12:15 am I wasn't planning on posting so soon, but I'm nearing the end of week 6 and have been eating the fruits (or veggies actually) of my labor. We're also getting little green beans, so I just had to share. The only limitations I can see with LED indoor gardening are how much area the lights cover -- I really can't put all of my plants into larger containers because they'd take up too much room to get sufficient LED coverage. And by not upsizing the containers, the plants are limited as far as growth. Oh if I was only a millionaire, I'd fill an entire ceiling with LED lights! 
This blog entry has been viewed 299 times
LED Gardening, week five
Category: Indoor Lighting With LEDs | Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:51 pm Sorry this post is late, it's been a bear of a week! This Sunday will mark the end of week 5 (from when the seeds were planted) of my indoor garden. Everything continues to flourish. The bush beans are the winner as far as growth (about 9" tall now). I've added a photo comparing mustard greens that were put in a larger pot previously, to one that remained in the seed starter cell -- the one that was in the larger pot is definitely bigger. I ended up choosing a few more plants to upgrade to larger pots and fed the remaining seedlings to my chickens. I probably won't post about this for a while unless something extraordinary comes up. I'm very happy with the LED lights. I can see being able to grow plants all winter long with them and may get a second light later this summer! I can just fit two flats under the lights. This is the first time I've been able to get basil to germinate and grow too. A note: While I was transplanting some seedlings I put my larger plants in the sun in my sunroom. They quickly began to wilt, I think from the heat. So any seeds I start under this light for my outdoor garden will definitely have to be hardened off to sun exposure. 
This blog entry has been viewed 721 times
LED Gardening, End of week three
Category: Indoor Lighting With LEDs | Posted: Sat Feb 04, 2012 11:54 pm The photos below speak for themselves. Bush beans are nearly 6" tall, tomato plants are bigger than the ones almost twice their age that I started using my traditional method (carry them out to the sunroom every day for sun exposure, into the house at night to stay warm). No wonder I have to start my tomatoes and peppers in January! I've moved some plants to larger pots -- the 4 tomatoes, broccoli, mustard, space saver spinach and swiss chard. I'm curious of the grid light will be able to light all of these plants! 
This blog entry has been viewed 703 times
LED Gardening, End of week two
Category: Indoor Lighting With LEDs | Posted: Mon Jan 30, 2012 3:05 am Not a whole lot to report tonight. Two days ago (1/27) I transplanted the bush beans to two 1 gallon planters because they were getting big and were shading the other seedlings. I'm hoping they can stay in these planters as I don't think beans transplant well. I put more White Sage seeds into their cells and I'm not positive but they may have started sprouting per my photo. I need to look tomorrow when the light is better. I also reseeded the lettuce. Everything else is growing well. I added the heat pad back in because the light's fan tends to cool the soil too much. I moved my plants to another room because my sewing room was getting crowded. The pepper seeds were showing some germination activity the last couple of days. Everything looks very green and healthy. More news next week! 
End of week two! ( photo / image / picture from Farmer Deb's Garden ) This blog entry has been viewed 250 times
LED Gardening, End of week one
Category: Indoor Lighting With LEDs | Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:24 pm As of today, my seeds have been planted for a week. I kept them in my kitchen, the warmest room in the house, until some plants broke the surface. The first ones to appear, on Day 4 (Jan. 19), were Derby Bush Beans, Collard Greens, Kale, Mustard, Space Saver Spinach and Turnips. I removed the plastic cover and put the seed starter in my sewing room. My husband rigged up a light stand with sand bags and we attached the grid LED. It's 2' above the plants. The first day I had the lights on for 7 hours. The fans are not very loud, they don't throw a lot of heat and cast a gorgeous magenta color. At bed time I replaced the clear cover to keep the seed starter moist -- it's SO dry here in Colorado, especially in the winter when the furnace is running. I also planted some Greek Oregano seeds today. Day 5 (Jan. 20) brought forth Calabrese Broccoli, Summerlong Basil, Green Onions, Bloomsdale Spinach. The first plants grew taller. I had the lights on for 12 hours. Day 6 (Jan. 21) I added, at a friend's suggestion, a heating pad under the tray although I don't think it was necessary. I ran the LED's for 12 hours again and also set up a oscillating fan for 3 hours to strengthen plant stalks. I didn't want to dry out the soil so only did 3 hours. More plants surfaced today: Bright Lights Chard, Bush Beefsteak Tomatoes, Kumato Tomatoes (beautiful chocolate tomatoes, seeds self-harvested from Wholefoods tomatoes); Cutie Tomatoes (sweet grapelike tomatoes, self-harvested from King Soopers tomatoes; I grew them in patio pots a couple of years ago and they are PROLIFIC producers). Only 5 more seeds need to germinate: Butterhead Lettuce, two types of peppers, White Sage (seeds given to me by a friend, I have a HARD time getting them to germinate), Brown Tomatoes from seeds I saved from a big gorgeous chocolate tomato I ate in an Arizona WholeFoods. Day 7 (Jan. 22) The pepper seeds are about to sprout. I'm surprised about the lettuce taking so long. Running lights 12 hours again today. 
LED Setup ( photo / image / picture from Farmer Deb's Garden ) 
Seedlings, End of Week 01 ( photo / image / picture from Farmer Deb's Garden ) Last edited: Sun Jan 22, 2012 9:25 pm This blog entry has been viewed 267 times
Indoor Gardening with LED Lights, Week 1
Category: Indoor Lighting With LEDs | Posted: Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:25 pm I've been wondering if I can keep veg & herb plants producing indoors over winter, as well as making my seed starting in the spring easier, with the use of LED lights. Internet searches brought me little or no information on how to get started, so I'm experimenting and taking notes and photos. I will post my results here. I'm hoping to post at least once a week about my experiences. I'm using a 240W grid led grow light. I planted some seeds yesterday, January 16, 2012. Wondering what types of vegs I can grow indoors, I planted a variety: tomatoes, peppers, green onions, bush beans, various greens, lettuce, spinach, turnips and a couple of herbs. I made myself a record keeping sheet for notes. Wish me luck! 
Last edited: Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:27 pm This blog entry has been viewed 893 times
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