sebb@pyuxss.UUCP (S Badian) (02/08/84)
Does anyone out there know anything about growing plants indoors, under lights? I'd like to grow small plants like minature tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, and herbs inside. Does anyone have any information on this subject or know of any good books on the subject. It would be wonderful if I could grow real lettuce during the winter and early spring. Sharon Badian
gam@proper.UUCP (Gordon Moffett) (02/16/84)
A recommended book: "The Edible Indoor Garden", by Peggy Hardigree
(St Martin's Press). This will tell you a lot about various plants
grown indoors. There are other books on this subject; I would suggest
getting more than one (as on any topic) to get a good understanding
of the problems involved. Look in any good-sized bookstore in the
gardening section.
Some generally comments about lighting for plants: fluorescents
are best, and there are some specialized fluorescent tubes such
as Gro-Lux (Sylvania); they look pinkish. Vita-lite is more
natural spectrum tube but is much more expensive ($10/4-foot tube),
though they claim to last four times as long as regular tubes (this
appears to be true for my Vita-lites so far).
The brighter the light you can get, the better (remember, you're trying
to replace the sun!). Metal halide lamps are the brightest you can
get, but they are more expensive, burn hotter and look ugly. I have
no experience with these horticulturally, but rumor has it they
produce excellent results.
--
Gordon A. Moffett
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