#Best grow light for seeds how to#

These plants can also grow if you happen to have a very bright window, but the sun only shines through for a few hours. This means 5+ hours of sunlight hitting the plant leaves is recommended for growing lettuce and other leafy greens. Direct lightĪs shown in the table, most leafy greens grow well with at least 5 hours of direct light per day. How much light does Lettuce need per day: Indirect vs. Your indoor light conditions change day-to-day and with the seasons – so if you want to try it without a grow light, check out our exercises to understand your natural light environment.

It’s a great way to get started (especially in the spring or fall) but ultimately we prefer using grow lights because they can grow the plants faster and for longer. Scroll further down and you’ll see other lettuce light requirements.ĭo I have enough sunlight to grow leafy greens?īecause leafy growth does best in the lower light, you might just be lucky enough to have enough natural light to grow these plants without any problem. The last column is if they need to spend more than half the day in the dark to stay “vegetative” longer. Below is a chart of the amount of direct sun that popular leafy greens need. Indoors it’s our goal to have the longest, productive harvest possible, so we’ll provide them with enough light to grow well, and enough darkness to keep them in their first growth stage as long as possible. When they sense shorter summer nights, their focus switches to making seeds before winter. Outdoors, leafy greens thrive in the shorter days of spring – the short bright day gives them enough energy to grow and the longer nights keep them focused on growing leaves.

Lettuce and Other Leafy Greens Light Requirements

#Best grow light for seeds how to#

In this blog, we’ll cover their lighting and temperature needs and how to get the most out of your plants. Their fast-growing nature combined with ample and consistent light results in impressive, regular harvests for you. The game is to not let them think it’s summer (when it gets too hot or the days get too long, they end their life cycle).

Leafy greens tend to be short-lived crops in nature but when grown in a controlled environment, like your home, they can be harvestable for a long time.