This is a followup video to show how well my DIY LED grid rack is working after two months. I’m also testing out professional LED grow lights to see how they compare to the Inexpensive LED shop lights I’m using.
To see exactly how I built this rack see my LED Grow Rack Build video: https://youtu.be/4jNlb-qD45Q
Complete Grow Rack Material List on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/shop/urbanfarmstead?listId=3RJNQK37DJT9L
Other Garden products I use:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/urbanfarmstead
Some of the Seed Starting Supplies I Use:
https://www.amazon.com/shop/urbanfarmstead?listId=12J312T80V25Q
Orta terracotta seed starting pots:
https://ortakitchengarden.com
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theurbanfarmstead/
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Main music: Gimme Back My Ya Ya, Dan Lebowitz
This is super helpful and informative, thank you! Will be designing nearly an identical system for my first grow light rack. A couple questions:
1) I've read in a couple places that LED lights are supposed to be 24"-36" above the plants, but I'm not sure if/how that matters. How far above your plants have you positioned yours?
2) Would using 2 of the strip lights per shelf be enough light for the seedlings, or is 3 the minimum?
Thanks!
What height do you hang your lights above your seedlings?
i would like to build something like this because i dont have much land at all…..and for over wintering plants….do you think this would work for that??
as long as the wattage is similar and the lights are at the proper kelvin, it shouldn't matter.
Where did you find the attic insulation? This video is super helpful. I ordered my Barinnas (trying the ones without the diffuser).
'erbs
great video, are the fans absoluetly necessary since LED' don't put off much heat?
Are the shop lights warmer? may be why the cucamelons/mexican sour gherkins/mouse melons did better? they prefer warmer growing medium
Hey Kyle. If you have a minute can you tell me what you use the sea weed extract for. Thanks for your time.
Gabe
Hey Kyle, I really appreciate the video! Do you have details on what you set your timers to at various stages? Do you only use the fans when you want to harden the veggies? How much light and how far away do you keep the lights from the trays?
New here 🙂 Been using fluorescent shop lights for several years [on the same shelving as you show here in your video … love it …] and am switching to 5,000k LED shop lights. I'm nervous about the placement; I'm going to start off with 6" and see how it goes. I've been searching and searching for advice on this and it seems I can only find advice using the fancy blue/red colored LED grow lights, which doesn't help me at all. Looking at your placement, it seems you have your LED lights anywhere from about 6" to much closer … maybe even an inch or so?? I keep my fluorescent lights at 1" or less, so it will be trial and error (well, hopefully just trial and not error!).
Maybe you have a video touching specifically on this? Thanks 🙂
could you tell us what the LED grow light was you used? I don't see it i the list above. Thanks much!
Wondering how many inches you are keeping the lights above your seedlings? I'm seeing leaf curl on my peppers and I think I might have the lights too close to them. Thanks for all of your help
What is the difference between led grow lights and led shop lights?
The foam insulation looks like it has a reflective layer. What about using it the put a back and two side walls with it. It would insulate the heat and keep some moisture in and reflect more light. I used aluminum foil to reflect light, but this might work better. Hmmm!
Love the comparison. I'm wondering if shop lights would be as good for growing veg in a greenhouse, not just to start them… (i have a winter greenhouse in the north)
I switched from fluorescents to LED shoplights. My tomato seedling stop growing after they were 3 inches tall. Even after I moved them outside, they did not grow any larger, same with peppers. But, no problems with lettuce, cabbage, squash, cucumber, petunias, and zinnias. Any ideas?
I have zero outdoor space, can I bring indoor vegetables from seed to harvest indoors?
Hello! Thank you for your previous video and this one. These are the best DIY grow light videos on YT I have seen so far. I grew some seedlings for perennials toooooo late in the season. They look healthy but are still very, very small. In other words they will not be ready for fall planting. Do you think I could take these baby plants over the winter under such lights to plant them outside next spring? I dont need them to flower or fruit. Just survive, and grow if possible. I dont want them to die. Thank you Kevin!!
This is so much more helpful than all the articles I’ve found on google!!!
Hello Kyle thanks for the great, informative video. However unless I'm overlooking something, you did not post information about the LED GROW light that you used. On your amazon list for the grow rack you have the LED shop light bulbs you used, but nothing about the LED grow light, nor is there anything in the links about it.
Could you please provide information on the LED grow light that you used in this video? I would like to compare it's specs to the shop lights you used. I am designing my own system right now so that I can (hopefully) grow lettuce, bunching onions, chives, and cherry tomatoes year round. Thanks!
So it isn’t for fruit ?
Great information. What were the lumens of the lights.
Any reason I could not do this in the garage in North Florida insulated garage instead of in the house since I won't need a window?
hi! is 10000 lumens shop light to much? thanks!
I used sturdy bell wire for the lift system and it works great.
Thank you for the update. I like watching all your videos. Myself along with the others I see in the comments – can't wait to see how you mix the seed starting soil. I have struggled with getting my seedlings to germinate and I think in large part due to poor soil and lack of a set up like this. I'm excited to see I can do it cheaper than having to build a massive greenhouse. Also a question – do you think you have to have 3 lights per rack space or could you do 2 or even hang the lights vertical along the sides of the rack to reach more levels (my concern is the energy draw and cost of the lights)?
Another helpful video. Would these lights be good for houseplants such as philodendrons? I want to make the same setup but instead of only seedlings, I plan to put houseplants on there.
shop light work for vegetable？