Grow lights are an ideal way to start tomato plants and grow them indoors (or in a greenhouse) until they are ready to set out in the garden.
While natural light offers the full spectrum of color, grow lights for seedlings provide consistency to get your seedlings off to a good start. You can give plants the hours of light they need, at an appropriate intensity, so that they can grow healthy and strong.
That being said, many of us have questions about using grow lights to start and grow tomato seedlings.
Here are three of most frequently
asked questions about tomato grow lights.
Q. What are the most popular grow lights for tomato seed starting?
A. Fluorescent bulbs are a favorite among home gardeners. They are ideal for starting tomato seeds because they give off very little heat and they provide high intensity light. Plus, they are not expensive.
Q. Why are the least efficient grow lights for tomatoes?
A. Incandescent bulbs emit too much heat, which can burn tender tomato foliage. They also lack blue spectrum light that helps seedlings become stocky and dark green.
Q. I hear that I should choose a “full spectrum” light. What does that mean?
A. “Full spectrum” refers to light that contains all colors of the rainbow. Tomato plants require the full spectrum for photosynthesis, although red and blue are most important. Natural sunlight contains the full spectrum of light. The most effective grow lights imitate this aspect of natural light the best.