How to Grow Vegetables Indoors with Grow Lights

Growing well is a great factor when you are planning to the vegetable garden. You may know almost all vegetables require light to grow up. When the word is indoor, it is a must to think about lighting. Because you are trying to grow vegetables where all the time you may have not received the sunlight. On the side, it is also very much true that sunlight may not reach your indoor. That’s why many people are growing vegetables indoors with lights.

To become a successful gardener, you should know about the lighting procedure, lighting duration, direction, and so on. You also need to know which types of lights are best for the vegetables you are growing. To discuss the impact of light on indoor growing vegetables, the right selection of lights, and all other light related important facts we sit to write.

Selection of Right Bulb

It is an important hesitating factor before making an indoor garden. Most people can’t decide whether they will use Fluorescent light or LED light. We clearly advise you to use LED lights.

Nowadays, in the market, you will find LED growing lights that are cost-effective and good for your vegetables. Its lifespan is also 5-6 times more than the fluorescent lights. The lights also emit all types of rays which exactly your vegetables need. In a word, it is ideal for your indoor vegetable garden.

Determine the Duration of Light

You should know the light requirement of the vegetables you are growing. All the vegetables don’t require the same duration of light. Some of the vegetables need lights for a minimum of 12 hours, some require 14-18 hours and some require less than 12 hours.

The light requirements also vary to different types of vegetables. So, first of all, you need to know which vegetable requires light and for how long? Then apply the lights according to the right duration so that you can get the best result.

Does the Light Emit All Colors Which are Found in Sunlight?

Yes, it is also an important factor. All the vegetables and plants use natural sunlight to start photosynthesis and to complete the process. Different vegetables use different colors of light for photosynthesis. If any color ray may not be present on your light source then there may have a vegetable that cannot grow properly. So, all the time remember that all colors of light should be present on the light which you brought for your indoor vegetable garden.

Choose the Intensity of Light

LED or Fluorescent whatever you tell both are artificial. Correct? If you can use the sunlight properly then we will never recommend you use LED or Fluorescent light.

All in the places you will don’t get sunlight. Similarly, Long day plants also require more light than you get from the sunlight during the day. That is why you will need to use artificial light. You may have known that the intensity of the sunlight is not low. So, you should always use high-intensity light.

10 Best Vegetables To Grow Indoors Under Lights

Ready to try your luck in growing vegetables indoors? Here are the best crops to kickstart your journey:

Lettuce

For a year-long supply of healthy salads, you can grow lettuce at home. Lettuce adapts well to indoor conditions and can survive with basic care. Aside from a grow light, all you need are water, fertilizer, plastic bottles or pots as planters, and standard potting soil.

Mushrooms

Growing mushrooms indoors is fun. What’s more, it’s a fairly easy and quick process. Small varieties will be ready for harvest after two or three days. In comparison, larger varieties will take roughly two weeks to mature. You can plant them in pots, grow boxes, or even unused cans or old laundry containers.

Spinach

Like most leafy vegetables, spinach grows indoors incredibly well. You can choose to grow them in water through aquaponics or plant them directly in soiled containers. Since spinach is a cool-weather crop, it will require six to eight hours of light.

Bell Pepper

Great for omelets and salads, bell pepper is an excellent addition to your indoor vegetable garden too. The coolest thing about this plant is that the more you harvest, the more it will produce more fruits. However, do note that bell peppers need closer to 16 hours of lighting per day.

Green Beans

Beans grow very fast and grow very tall too. It is best to plant the bush bean variety because they are smaller and grow better in containers. They also require full sun or at least six to eight hours of light each day.

Scallions

Scallions are perhaps among the easiest to grow indoors, making them ideal for beginner indoor home gardeners. The best way to grow scallions indoors is with scraps from another plant. While they need six to eight hours of light, scallions can do well in lower lighting conditions.

Arugula

Since it prefers a cooler temperature, arugula is one of the best vegetables to grow indoors. It is easy to grow in containers and requires at least five hours of bright grow light. You will want to place the bulb six inches away from the top of the plant. Doing this will give your plant enough light to thrive.

Radish

If you are looking for crops that don’t take a while to mature and bear fruit, radish is another excellent option. Given the right growing conditions, it will be ready to harvest in just three or four weeks.

If you grow radishes under a grow light, they need to be there for 12 to 16 hours. They also need enough space, well-draining containers, and enough moisture. Do not let the soil dry.

Carrots

When growing carrots indoors, choose a variety that fits comfortably in your selected containers and growing space. Instead of fluorescent lights, choose LED grow lights because they don’t emit as much heat.

Make sure your grow lights offer a full spectrum of white light or a mix of red and blue light. This way, they will facilitate the healthy growth of your carrots.

Swiss Chard

Swiss chard isn’t different from kale and is extremely easy to grow. This leafy veggie requires six hours of full sun, so set it under a grow light for at least six hours a day.

Note:

Sun-loving crops will need high-output grow lights turned on for 12 to 20 hours a day, depending on the type of plant and the ambient light in your space. If your crops aren’t growing at the expected rate or not flowering enough to produce good fruit yields, consider leaving the lamps on longer.

Additionally, grow lights should provide the proper spectrum of light for photosynthesis, which is crucial. Lights that offer a full spectrum are ideal for indoor plants.

Final Words

We don’t know about you. But, at present many others are growing vegetables indoors with LED lights. They also follow these important facts and as a result, they get good output also. If you set the artificial light source following these important points then we can say you are going forward through the right track. If face any problem, please let us know.