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Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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Posted by
LaNitaJ none (
My Page) on
Fri, Nov 30, 12 at 5:01
| Hello all and thank you! I am totally new to growing of any kind. I have a basically fully shaded balcony that I have decided to try and grow some veggies and a few other things on. I am starting kale, radish, peas, chard, beets, spinach and mesculin from seed now. I have strong sprouts so far. I take them downstairs most days for a couple of hours for some direct sun. But can't do this every day. our 1st srouts were lettuce and carrots, more of a trial and they are now tall and "leggy" and turning yellow, which I am learning is due to not enough light?. So tonight I went to walmart and bought a 75 watt grow light thinking I could set something up outside to help the sprouts develop. I have a small laundry room out there too, but I have yet to figure out how I can move the plants back and forth. I can affix the light to my shelve unit, but I was looking for advice on using a small light outside. Is it a waste? Or could it help with the development of the sprouts and then also help with any flowering/vegetable growth as well. Thank you in adavance for any advice. I am a serious novice so excuse my rambling :)
LaNita |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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| I don't see why you couldn't do it-- as long as the fixture was protected from water. I feel you pain.. I have a shade balcony myself :) |
RE: Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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| Hi & welcome! No gardening endeavor is ever a waste, they're all learning experiences! It might help if people knew where you are, to gauge the weather'n'such. How's it going so far? |
RE: Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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| Thank you both! :) I am in Phoenix AZ. It is going alright! Still going...My sprouts still have not really taken off. I have a few that have a 2nd set of true leaves but that is it. My kale has not produced any 2nd set of true leaves. My lettuce is getting leggy so I know that they are not getting enough light. I think I may need more grow lights to compensate and need them to be on for longer periods of time but I don't turn them on until 7pm because of how our electricity is set up! So it is all kind of off! But that is ok. I am not giving up on them. I have left them downstairs now so that they will get more sun throughout the day. And this will be what I do until management tells me to move them. I have started a balcony compost so I'm keeping busy out there. I wish for light every day! Like the sun will change its direction...lol but so far nothing has happened. Its all good experience though for my garden of the future! ;) I will try a spring planting too when the sun does adjust some because we get a little light during those months. But what about the summer in AZ?? Is it just too hot for sprouts? I imagine not or no plants would be out here... |
RE: Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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| I don't feel qualified to talk to you about growing veggies in AZ, but wish you the best of luck!! About lights in general though, if they're fluorescent and not within inches of the plants, they won't "do" much... Some plants grow and/or bloom according to day length, so turning on lights at 7 PM could freak some stuff out, might be something to look into for the particular plants you have... |
RE: Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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| purpleinopp is correct. The fluorescent lights will help, but need to be kept real close to the plants. Lots of folks hang their bulbs from chains/rope so they can adjust them. IMHO, more is better. I fashioned a grow light from a power strip and some CFL bulbs. Get the bright white (high Kelvin) rating bulbs and go for it. For some more ideas, check out some of the hydroponic setups. |
RE: Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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| Yes, the lights do need to be close. As far as growing veggies in AZ... I'm originally from Las Vegas-- I know about heat and dry :) Actually, having more shade may be to your advantage, especially in the warmer weather. Full sun becomes part sun with your sun :) I think that with more lights and the right distance and timing, you should be fine. But take care to be sure your stuff doesn't dry out. Being in the shade is really going to help with that. Also possibly consider looking outside the edible box-- some gingers have edible flowers, and other plants can fall into the edible category that are shade lovers in their own right. |
RE: Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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| Thank you all so much! I need to keep working on my set up! And I think I have come to accept I may not be to do veggies from seed at this point. That is ok we are only here another year and a half. It is all good experience. I think that is the way I am going to go julianna, I may try some non edibles and maybe so shade loving green veggies from start. I have some chard now that is sprouting its 2nd true leaves. I'm going to just leave them be and see what happens! |
RE: Grow lights for full shade balcony garden??
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| Consider trying some nasturtiums perhaps. I've had decent luck with them on my north-facing balcony. They fry in the heat, but until then you can eat the leaves and the flowers :) Also other things I have been working with are Mara des Bois strawberries, a few herbs, aforementioned gingers... I had to just sort of give up on my lovely tomatoes and go with the flow. |
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