Installing LED Grow Lights in My Vegetable Greenhouse
There's always a new project being completed here at my Bedford, New York farm.
Earlier this week, I shared photos of my large vegetable greenhouse - an all-glass structure I had constructed several years ago. Its design was inspired by four-season farming expert, Eliot Coleman. It is where I am able to grow fresh, organic produce in the ground during the cold winter months. Most of the energy comes naturally through the big windows. To supplement the natural sunlight, we just installed seven Gavita LED Grow Lights from Scotts Miracle-Gro above all the raised garden beds. These lights are compact, high energy efficient units that offer full-spectrum light needs for all stages of plant growth. I am so excited to see how much more these plants grow and flourish.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- If you follow my blog regularly, you recognize this structure. It is my vegetable greenhouse located behind my large Equipment Barn and Hay Barn. The tarps are covering my dahlia tubers which are protected under bales of hay.
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- Built in 2008, this greenhouse uses minimal artificial heat – in fact, most of its energy comes directly from the sun, and it successfully grows a variety of cold hardy crops.
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- We recently received seven Gavita CT1930e LED 120-277V grow lights to fit the entire length of the vegetable greenhouse. These top lights will deliver tons of additional broad spectrum crop-loving light to the plants below.
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- They are durable and weigh about 33-pounds each. They also measure 29-inches by 11.8 inches.
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- The first step was to prepare the space for hanging the grow lights. My property manager, Doug White, secured a double line of chain centered above all the beds.
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- Down below, Pete checked all the electrical outlets to ensure the power would be safely and equally distributed.
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- There is no assembly required for the lights. Pete just secures two metal brackets to the top of units.
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- These brackets hook on at each side of the light.
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- Here is a view from above the light which will face up toward the windows when hung. Because these lights are LED, they are long-lasting and the most energy-efficient grow light option.
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- And then Pete attaches the hanger to the chains. The brackets and hangers come with the grow lights.
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- Here is the unit from underneath. In order for the plants to get even light coverage, it is best if they are all hung directly above the plants.
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- Because the lights are slightly heavier on one end, Doug custom made small wooden spacers that help to keep the lights level.
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- Pete hangs the light and secures the spacer under the hanger.
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- Here is one light completely installed. The electrical cord is also wrapped neatly on the chain and connected to the power source.
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- Here are all the lights installed and turned on just as the sun starts to set.
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- Greenhouse grow lights can greatly help to supplement natural light during the winter. Grow lights convert electrical energy into photons, light particles that stimulate photosynthesis and encourage plant growth.
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- The crops in my greenhouse already do very well, but with the added lights, they will grow faster and fuller. This is my bed of arugula.
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- And here is the lettuce bed. I grow lots of lettuce throughout the year for me and my family.
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- Here is a bed of young lettuce sprouts just starting to grow. I am looking forward to seeing these plants develop over the next few weeks.
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- My vegetable greenhouse provides many delicious vegetables – it is sure to be an even more bountiful winter season. I’ll be sure to share more photos soon.
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