If you are looking for the best grow lights to use indoors for raising healthy and strong tomato seedlings from seed, you might just be surprised how easy and affordable the answer is!
Unfortunately, a lot of gardeners shy away from starting tomato seeds and other garden vegetables indoors simply because of lighting. Many assume that the initial cost of the equipment, the time involved in growing seedlings, and the price of running the lights will be too much to make it worthwhile.
The good news is that couldn’t be further from the truth! Especially when it comes to the lights you need to grow plants indoors!
Avoiding Costly Grow Lights
There are many products on the market today advertised specifically as “grow lights.” They often have different bulb temperatures, along with all kinds of technical details on blue and red wavelengths and how they affect plants.
Along with all the bells and whistles, these grow lights also usually come with a hefty price tag. Some indoor growing systems can run as much as $200 or more. In addition to a large initial price tag, grow lights also often cost a lot more to operate on a day-to-day basis.
When it comes to growing tropical and other specialty plants, grow lights can be necessary. The special light spectrum is needed by these plants to keep them alive and healthy. But when it comes to raising tomato seedlings and other vegetable plants – it’ simply an unnecessary expense!
While expensive grow lights will definitely grow your seedlings, tomato seedlings really only need basic bright, white lighting. And for that, there is a perfect, inexpensive alternative that works incredibly well- ordinary LED shop lights!
What About Window Light?
So if tomato seedlings only need bright light, what about using light from a window? Putting tomato seedlings on a windowsill is definitely the least expensive way to grow them. Unfortunately, it isn’t the best choice for growing strong tomato seedlings.
Even in a south-facing window, the source of the sunlight – the sun – is just too far away for growing strong seedlings. Sunlight is perfect for seedlings growing outside in a garden or raised bed. However, the light received from behind a window will only do so much.
This filtered sunlight causes seedlings to stretch and reach toward the light source. The result is long, thin plants that have weak stems. These plants usually struggle with outside elements once they are planted in the garden. But LED shop lights are the perfect alternative – and are they ever easy to use!
The Best Grow Lights For Growing Tomato Seedlings
Why LED Shop Lights Are Way To Go!
There is a long list of reasons to use LED shop lights to grow your tomatoes. For starters, LED shop lights provide plenty of bright white light. Even better, that bright light is cool and carries no heat whatsoever.
That simple fact is very important for two reasons. First, it means you don’t have to worry about the lights burning delicate foliage when they are close. Because of that, it allows you to place your lights right above the top of your tomato seedlings, letting them grow low and slow and develop strong stems and foliage in the process.
Even better, LED shop lights are not only easy to find and purchase, but they are quite inexpensive when compared to grow lights. In addition, LED lights last much longer than traditional lights. Many can last up to 40,000 to 50,000 life hours, which means the same lights will work for years and years of growing amazing tomato seedlings.
Compared to fluorescent lights, LED lights are also extremely quiet. Fluorescent lights and grow lights can often “hum” as they operate. That, of course, can be quite the distraction if you have seedlings growing in a busy part of your home.
Last but not least, LED lights cost only pennies each day to operate, making them not only energy efficient but a great long-term investment as well. (Affiliate Product Link: 4 LED Shop Light Complete Set)
How To Use LED Shop Lights To Grow – The Best Grow Lights For Tomato Seedlings
In order to get the most out of using LED shop lights to grow your tomato seedlings, there are a few tips to keep in mind. For best results, keep your lights within 1 to 2 inches from the top of your tomato seedlings.
This close spacing creates strong tomato seedlings with thick stems since they don’t have to reach up to the light source. They can use their resources to fill out instead, resulting in stronger, sturdier plants.
As the plants grow taller, adjust the grow lights to keep a one to two-inch gap. You can achieve this in a few different ways. One simple method is to stack a few bricks along the ends of each light for support. As the lights need to be raised, simply add another brick or two to the stack.
As an alternative, most shop lights come with attached chains on both ends of the light. You can then use these chains to raise and lower lights as needed on a simple homemade stand made from 2×4’s, or an existing shelving unit. See: DIY Simple Seed Starting Stand Plans
Leaving The Lights On – The Best Grow Lights For Tomato Seedlings
Right after you plant your tomato seeds, there is no need to turn your lights on. Tomato seeds do not need light in order to sprout. However, once a few seedlings have popped through the soil, it’s time to start giving them light.
Young tomato seedlings need around 10 to 12 hours of light each day. Although you can turn lights on and off manually, a light timer is a great way to control lighting without worry (Affiliate Product Link: Digital Timer & Surge Protector)
Transitioning Your Seedlings Outdoors – The Best Grow Lights For Tomato Seedlings
Once the temperatures outside start to warm up, you will need to begin the process of getting your tomato seedlings ready for the outside elements. This process is called “hardening off” and helps plants adjust to the fluctuating temperatures, light and other conditions they will face outdoors.
Start hardening off about two weeks before you want to plant your tomato seedlings outside. Move the seedlings outside during the day as long as the temperatures are above 55°(F). Place them in a protected area that receives full sun for at least 6 hours during the day.
At first, only leave the seedlings outside during the day and bring them in during the night or whenever the weather gets bad. If the seedlings are inside during inclement daytime weather, be sure to place them under the grow lights.
Continue to increase the amount of time you leave the tomato seedlings outside, including overnight. Right before planting day, it’s best to leave your seedlings around the clock near the space where they will grow.
Here is to growing your own tomatoes from seed with ease! For more on starting seeds indoors – be sure to check out our article: “What You Need To Start Tomato Plants Indoors – Get Ready To Grow!”
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