Hi all. I'm a design student from the UK and for my major project this year I am designer a set of growing pods for use in classrooms. The idea is that they can be an educational tool to teach kids about growing fruit and vegetables. I've done a few tests to try and grow a few veg in my room but they have struggled from lack of light. I'm growing mixed salad, small onions and baby carrots. I've only got a 100W fluorescent bulb on them. Now my real issue is that all good growing lights cost ridiculous amounts of money and I want this to be a fairly cheap product so that schools would want to invest in them. My question is, does any body know which vegetables, fruit baring plants or salads would still grow well under less intense light? Any answers would be greatly appreciated! Thankyou!
I'm assuming you are using a standard fluorescent bulb. If so, I'd switch to 2 if not 3 CFL's (compact fluorescent lights) the kind that screw into a standard light socket. With 2 or 3 100w CFL's you'll have plenty of light and not enough heat to damage the plants. Hope that helps.
