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Late sets don't grow because the plant knows the season is nearly over. Since my foliage is without insect or disease damage this is rather silly. I see no reason why running a very powerful growlight on the back or front (or both) of the natural photo-period wouldn't "trick" the plants into remaing in fruit growth mode.

Any thoughts, comments, or experiences?

Thanks,
Steve

8/23/2003 9:10:49 AM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

I think you would need a decent temperature as well but you probably have that.Because the plants are big the light would have to be quite high and so the light intensity the plant receives would be low but it might be enough to trick the plant as you suggest.Its worth a try.

8/23/2003 11:29:47 AM

Montoursville, PA

Hey guy! If you have the resources to put that kind of light on the patch go for it.

8/23/2003 12:26:49 PM

Oz

look at scrap/salvage yards. silver metal halide and hp sodium. cycle them on and off during the day,,like clouds,and on early in the morning and in the evening. remember,,the longer the electric line the less volts that you have at the end.if the daylight goes under so many hours the plant will know and continue its path.
temp can be raised at night with
furnace tube with slits cut for warm air to come out.
how you make the heat is your thing...but when the frost comes,short of a green house,it will be all over. i helped a woman cover a huge amount of roses with a poly "tent". and we used a old hotel heat pump to blow heat into the tent. we took pvc pipe and made hoops.
i used pipe fittings to connect "hoops". good luck.

8/23/2003 2:12:53 PM

[email protected]

I have some High Pressure Sodium lamp fixtures of the sort used on the outside of commercial warehouses that were given by a friend to me. I dug one out of the garage after thinking up this scheme. The bulb is only 150 watts. I'll check GE's website later for the luminary output & red/blue light spectrum of these lamps. I may end up having to make a sizeable investment if these lamps aren't siutable. Hopefully the fixtures will be at least. We have more than enough current in the greenhouse already thanks to a well placed subpanel (;->) in my garage.

Some information that would be useful if anyone knows:

Are C. Maxima C3 or C4?
How sensitive are AG's to photoperiodism?
What percent red/blue are tolerated under artificial lighting?
How many lumens are required to "trick" an AG plant into thinking it's dawn or dusk?

Steve

8/23/2003 3:27:42 PM

Cornwall UK.(50N 5W)300ft.

Steve,
Philips Lighting-Horticultural lighting. is a useful site to visit although you won't find anything about AG there.

8/23/2003 4:38:16 PM

Oz

i used a hp sodium ,,150 watts,,,i built a tripod to hold it up,,,ten feet up,,,i got a 100lb big max ten years ago.
i left the light on till 10/11 pm.

8/23/2003 4:57:24 PM

Wood River, Nebraska

Steve, HPS lamps are great for plant growth. Research has proven that the plant growth is interrupted by the unbroken dark period. Therefore even the flash of a lightning bolt will resume growth for a period of time. (perhaps an hour or so)It is also thought that the best choice for lengthening the daylight period is the morning hours prior to daybreak.
dave=stewee

8/24/2003 11:13:08 PM

[email protected]

Thanks guys. I installed one so far. All the other bulbs were wrong for these fixtures. It looks like it will take several more to really light up the patch but it seems like it can be done if I use those moveable tripods or similar.

Steve

8/25/2003 8:07:23 AM

Oz

steve,,remember not to touch bulbs with bare hands.skin oil boils and pop goes the bulb. cotton gloves are best.

8/26/2003 1:26:55 AM