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General discussion regarding the techniques and methods used to successfully grow tomato plants in containers.

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Old August 2, 2012   #1
Fatal_Franklin
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Default Interested In Indoor Gardening

I am interested in growing some plants in my basement. Veggie plants that is. I would like to try a couple tomato, some onion, peppers, perhaps a cucumber and a zuccinni. I'm not interested in hydroponics, just container growing. Does anyone have any first hand experience with this?

I know that one 6 bulb bay of T5 lamps will raise the temp on a 6'X8' room 20 degrees above ambient temperature. So I could likely maintain a 75 degree temp when the lights are on in the winter time. And it would certainly require more than one light fixture I imagine....

What are day length requirements for tomato and pepper? Are there temperature requirments for flowering? As to fertilizer, I prefer to keep it organic. Chemicals I know will be needed on the peppers...neem oil is what I plan to use for that.

Would love some insight!
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Old August 3, 2012   #2
JamesL
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Franklin, check out Raybos "Inntainer" guide and posts. A most excellent system.
I grew tomatoes and carrots with it last year.
Lighting - I used several 4 bulb t5s and alternated cool and warm fluorescent bulbs in the fixtures.
Plants grew well. Humidity level will need to be monitored properly to get tomatoes to fruit.


Edit - I miswrote above. Used T8's not T5's.
Specifically a pair of these shop lights from HD.
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...1#.UBxWQZF8Apo

Last edited by JamesL; August 3, 2012 at 08:03 PM. Reason: Correction
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Old August 3, 2012   #3
Cole_Robbie
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Tomatoes and peppers will almost all be day length neutral:
http://people.umass.edu/psoil120/manual/lab11.html

I'd get one of the new digital hid lights, the biggest you can afford, and a $40 blower from wal-mart to vent the hot air through a dryer exhaust vent. Other than the onions, hps light would be the best for everything you named. The fluorescent lights do work, especially for seedlings, but bigger lights work better for flowering. In a Michigan basement, heat buildup should not be too big of a deal.
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Old August 28, 2012   #4
Crandrew
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T5 will fruit but it wont be a good yield. If you would like a good yield you should go with HID lighting. think around 2000lumens per square foot. Ventilation will be critical.
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