So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
fluorescent shop light.

The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.

I hope they take off.

> wrote in message
...
> So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
> fluorescent shop light.
>
> The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>
> I hope they take off.

Keep the light very close, or those plants will get too leggy. I'm talking
2-3 inches above the tallest leaves.

"Doug Kanter" > wrote in message
...
>
> > wrote in message
> ...
>> So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
>> fluorescent shop light.
>>
>> The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>>
>> I hope they take off.
>
> Keep the light very close, or those plants will get too leggy. I'm talking
> 2-3 inches above the tallest leaves.
I've wondered how to grow herbs inside that weren't leggy.

Lynne

"King's Crown" > wrote in message
. net...
>
> "Doug Kanter" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
>>> fluorescent shop light.
>>>
>>> The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>>>
>>> I hope they take off.
>>
>> Keep the light very close, or those plants will get too leggy. I'm
>> talking 2-3 inches above the tallest leaves.
> I've wondered how to grow herbs inside that weren't leggy.
>
> Lynne
>

Although some herbs like basil will put up with partial shade outdoors, most
herbs love lots of sun. So, indoors, you really need to make artificial
lighting as intense as possible. It's the same for almost any seeds you
start indoors. Fluorescent bulbs never completely duplicate the sun's
intensity*, so you compensate as much as possible by keeping them close to
the plants, and moving them upward as the plants grow.

*This is why people use sodium lights when growing marijuana indoors, which
also gets them in trouble sometimes because if the cops already suspect
something going on at a certain house, they ask the electric company if the
house seems to be using as much electricity as a shopping mall. :-)

"King's Crown" > wrote in message
. net...
>
> "Doug Kanter" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
>>> fluorescent shop light.
>>>
>>> The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>>>
>>> I hope they take off.
>>
>> Keep the light very close, or those plants will get too leggy. I'm
>> talking 2-3 inches above the tallest leaves.
> I've wondered how to grow herbs inside that weren't leggy.
>
> Lynne
In addition to keeping the grow light really close, be sure to leave a
couple of inches of space around each plant. Crowding will also cause
legginess. For instance, when I start tomatoes, I do not use the peat
planting cells that are 1 inch in size, but rather use 3 or 4 inch peat
pots. With the light and air coming at the plant from all sides, you will
develop nice bushy plants. You will have to be able to raise the light
every couple of days as the plant grow. You'll need chain and hooks or
similar. Good air movement is desirable as well. A small fan will
stimulate the plants to grow sturdy stems and become hardy. Plan to pot up
a couple times.
Janet

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in message
...
>
> "King's Crown" > wrote in message
> . net...
>>
>> "Doug Kanter" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>
>>> > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
>>>> fluorescent shop light.
>>>>
>>>> The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>>>>
>>>> I hope they take off.
>>>
>>> Keep the light very close, or those plants will get too leggy. I'm
>>> talking 2-3 inches above the tallest leaves.
>> I've wondered how to grow herbs inside that weren't leggy.
>>
>> Lynne
> In addition to keeping the grow light really close, be sure to leave a
> couple of inches of space around each plant. Crowding will also cause
> legginess. For instance, when I start tomatoes, I do not use the peat
> planting cells that are 1 inch in size, but rather use 3 or 4 inch peat
> pots. With the light and air coming at the plant from all sides, you will
> develop nice bushy plants. You will have to be able to raise the light
> every couple of days as the plant grow. You'll need chain and hooks or
> similar. Good air movement is desirable as well. A small fan will
> stimulate the plants to grow sturdy stems and become hardy. Plan to pot
> up a couple times.
> Janet
>

And, for side light (like windows), be sure to rotate the plants perhaps 1/4
turn every 20 minutes. Just kidding. It varies depending on the plant, but
every day or two is a good enough guess.

King's Crown wrote:

> "Doug Kanter" > wrote in message
> ...
>
> wrote in message
. ..
>>
>>>So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
>>>fluorescent shop light.
>>>
>>>The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>>>
>>>I hope they take off.
>>
>>Keep the light very close, or those plants will get too leggy. I'm talking
>>2-3 inches above the tallest leaves.
>
> I've wondered how to grow herbs inside that weren't leggy.
>
> Lynne
>
>
You do the same as outdoors, pinch them to promote branching and prevent
blooming. Basil tends to be the worst offender for becoming leggy
indoors and generally doesn't do very well. It is considered an annual.
I have one basil plant indoors that is surviving but just barely.
Still the fresh basil we've been able to enjoy this winter has been
nice. I'll be using a bit of it in tonight's dinner.

In article >,
" <> wrote:

> So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
> fluorescent shop light.
>
> The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>
> I hope they take off.

Good luck!!!

Keep us posted.
--
Peace, Om.

"My mother never saw the irony in calling me a son-of-a-bitch." -Jack Nicholson

> wrote in message
...
> So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
> fluorescent shop light.
>
> The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>
> I hope they take off.
==========

Which ones are you growing? We're having cool (for Florida) weather right
now so I'll probably start my seeds sometime in the next two or three weeks.

I'm thinking:

Sweet Basil
Lemon Basil
Purple Basil
Dill
Thyme
Carrots
Mixed lettuce
Peas
Green Onions (Spring...scallion...)
and maybe some Radishes.

--
Syssi

"Janet Bostwick" <, "King's Crown" <,"Doug Kanter" & <Mitch@ wrote
>>>> So far, so good. I built a structure out of PVC to support a large
>>>> fluorescent shop light.
>>>>
>>>> The sprouts stood up straight towards it within about an hour.
>>>>
>>>> I hope they take off.
>>>
>>> Keep the light very close, or those plants will get too leggy. I'm
>>> talking 2-3 inches above the tallest leaves.
>> I've wondered how to grow herbs inside that weren't leggy.
>>
>> Lynne
> In addition to keeping the grow light really close, be sure to leave a
> couple of inches of space around each plant. Crowding will also cause
> legginess. For instance, when I start tomatoes, I do not use the peat
> planting cells that are 1 inch in size, but rather use 3 or 4 inch peat
> pots. With the light and air coming at the plant from all sides, you will
> develop nice bushy plants. You will have to be able to raise the light
> every couple of days as the plant grow. You'll need chain and hooks or
> similar. Good air movement is desirable as well. A small fan will
> stimulate the plants to grow sturdy stems and become hardy. Plan to pot
> up a couple times.
> Janet
============

Duh... Tomatoes!! I'll need to start some of those, too!

--
Syssi