Food and Drink Growing herbs indoors... (not herbage)

Stewie · 01-01-2015, 04:28 PM

I had some leftover chive, basil and rosemary seeds (3+ years old) in packets and decided to throw them in small pots that previously had lucky bamboo. What the hell, right? I gave up on the seedlings about a week ago thinking the seeds were long gone. VOILA!... Today I have sprouts and it happened overnight! I put my 15 watt grow light in place and they are happy. Fresh herbs... ahhhhh...

**Fire Me Boy!** · 01-01-2015, 04:30 PM

I wish I could grow herbs. I can grow the shit out of basil, but that's it. I kill everything else within a couple months.

Stewie · 01-01-2015, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

I wish I could grow herbs. I can grow the shit out of basil, but that's it. I kill everything else within a couple months.

It's funny, but I really didn't do much for these seeds. It was on a whim and I'm not sure what sprouted. I had three pots and planted the seeds but didn't mark them. I think I have chives in one pot based on the number sprouts. The other is probably basil by the looks of the sprouts. I'm happy they survived.

Abba-Dabba · 01-01-2015, 04:36 PM

They won't be happy for long with just a 15w light. They will stretch looking for more light. Making them spindly and not as much foliage as you would like.

Look for a 2 bulb T5 with both red and blue color spectrum. Any half way decent garden store can help you with what you would need.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 01-01-2015, 04:37 PM

I had an Aerogarden that did pretty well, but didn't really produce as much as I'd use. But it was good stuff. I should try the grow lights and keeping them indoors... Maybe like a light bar I could put under the counter?

Abba-Dabba · 01-01-2015, 04:37 PM

ever thought about an aerogarden? Basic bubbleponics system that anyone with half a brain could use.

Abba-Dabba · 01-01-2015, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy!

I had an Aerogarden that did pretty week, but didn't really produce as much as I'd use. But it was good stuff. I should try the grow lights and keeping them indoors... Maybe like a light bar I could put under the counter?

They are kinda small

Stewie · 01-01-2015, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubberSponge

They won't be happy for long with just a 15w light. They will stretch looking for more light. Making them spindly and not as much foliage as you would like.

Look for a 2 bulb T5 with both red and blue color spectrum. Any half way decent garden store can help you with what you would need.

It's a 75 watt equivalent CFL. They'll move to a sunny, warm window once established.

Abba-Dabba · 01-01-2015, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie

It's a 75 watt equivalent CFL. They'll move to a sunny, warm window once established.

Doesn't matter what it is equivalent to. You are looking for lumen outpu and color spectrumt. You may get 120 lumens out of the 15w bulb. 10000 lumens with a 110w 2 bulb 4ft t5.

Stewie · 01-01-2015, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubberSponge

Doesn't matter what it is equivalent to. You are looking for lumen outpu and color spectrumt. You may get 120 lumens out of the 15w bulb. 10000 lumens with a 110w 2 bulb 4ft t5.

I understand. This is a CFL grow light for seedlings. That's why they're going into a sunny, warm window once established. I'm not trying to grow tomatoes, so if they start to look limpy I'll add supplemental light.

Abba-Dabba · 01-01-2015, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie

I understand. This is a CFL grow light for seedlings. That's why they're going into a sunny, warm window once established. I'm not trying to grow tomatoes, so if they start to look limpy I'll add supplemental light.

You probably couldn't grow tomatoes with a 2 bulb t5. Those suckers love a lot of light.

T5 lights FWIW are perfect for seedlings. Gardening indoors is not cheap. Try it on the cheap and that is what you will get.

I'm pretty sure the sun will have about 140000 lumens outdoors. So going from 120 lumens, to let's say 80,000 behind a window will burn the hell out of them.

Stewie · 01-01-2015, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubberSponge

You probably couldn't grow tomatoes with a 2 bulb t5. Those suckers love a lot of light.

T5 lights FWIW are perfect for seedlings. Gardening indoors is not cheap. Try it on the cheap and that is what you will get.

I'm pretty sure the sun will have about 140000 lumens outdoors. So going from 120 lumens, to let's say 80,000 behind a window will burn the hell out of them.

It's a 10 cent experiment. I'm surprised the old seeds sprouted at all. They seem happy under my CFL grow light. I'll put them in the window when they're established and see what happens. I might make million$ on this method.

Abba-Dabba · 01-01-2015, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie

I might make million$ on this method.

....said every new gardener.

I guess my method is just do it right, or not at all.

**Fire Me Boy!** · 01-01-2015, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubberSponge

....said every new gardener.

I guess my method is just do it right, or not at all.

Can you come to Alabama and set me up? I'll make dinner for you.

Abba-Dabba · 01-01-2015, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stewie

It's a 10 cent experiment. I'm surprised the old seeds sprouted at all. They seem happy under my CFL grow light. I'll put them in the window when they're established and see what happens. I might make million$ on this method.

Seeds can last for decades with proper storage.

01-01-2015, 04:28 PM
Stewie MVP Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: West of the Equator Casino cash: $1589901	Growing herbs indoors... (not herbage) I had some leftover chive, basil and rosemary seeds (3+ years old) in packets and decided to throw them in small pots that previously had lucky bamboo. What the hell, right? I gave up on the seedlings about a week ago thinking the seeds were long gone. VOILA!... Today I have sprouts and it happened overnight! I put my 15 watt grow light in place and they are happy. Fresh herbs... ahhhhh...
Posts: 13,630

01-01-2015, 04:30 PM	#2
Fire Me Boy! Cast Iron Jedi Join Date: Nov 2004 Casino cash: $9999900 VARSITY	I wish I could grow herbs. I can grow the shit out of basil, but that's it. I kill everything else within a couple months.
Posts: 35,253

01-01-2015, 04:36 PM	#4
Abba-Dabba MVP Join Date: May 2001 Casino cash: $4502970	They won't be happy for long with just a 15w light. They will stretch looking for more light. Making them spindly and not as much foliage as you would like. Look for a 2 bulb T5 with both red and blue color spectrum. Any half way decent garden store can help you with what you would need.
Posts: 18,146

01-01-2015, 04:37 PM	#5
Fire Me Boy! Cast Iron Jedi Join Date: Nov 2004 Casino cash: $9999900 VARSITY	Growing herbs indoors... (not herbage) I had an Aerogarden that did pretty well, but didn't really produce as much as I'd use. But it was good stuff. I should try the grow lights and keeping them indoors... Maybe like a light bar I could put under the counter?
Posts: 35,253

01-01-2015, 04:37 PM	#6
Abba-Dabba MVP Join Date: May 2001 Casino cash: $4502970	ever thought about an aerogarden? Basic bubbleponics system that anyone with half a brain could use.
Posts: 18,146