| LED Gardener |
| In This Issue The Ultimate Green Extending Daylight in the Greenhouse Featured Distributor R & H Unlimited LLC 317-410-4707 www.randhunlimited.com Featured Product The SolarOasis ABP5 Aqua-Bar Ideal for Saltwater Tanks, and Freshwater Tanks Over 20" deep. Receive 10% off of your purchase of the ABP5 model in the month of December by simply mentioning that you are a reader of the LED Gardener. (Enter into Special Requests if using our website shopping cart.) Order now. 1-866-414-7244 Care to Comment? The LED Gardener appreciates all the input we receive from our readers. If you would like to submit an article or pictures; or if you would like to comment on a current article please send submissions and comments or questions to: admin@led-grow-master.com You are receiving this email because you subscribed at led-grow-master.com If you do not wish to receive this newsletter :Request your name removed by emailing angela@led-grow-master.com |
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| December, 2009 Volume 4, Issue 12 |
Micro greens are tiny vegetable and herb plants with a great deal of potential. We're talking baby versions of any edible plant, usually with only the first leaves developed. They range in size from one to two inches long, including the stem and leaves. The micro green is cut from the root and sold in small packages or in flats with the roots intact so clients are able to clip off fresh greens at will. Popular varieties include the Dikon Radish, Bulls Blood Beet, Arugula, and Basil but most growers are able to quickly switch over to any green that a client may request. Within this first set of leaves is packed a concentrated source of nutrients, vivid color, and the intense flavor of the parent plant. First made popular in Japan as a common addition to sushi, the micro green has recently become a sought after item here in the USA. These miniature plants are increasingly seen in farmers markets, co-ops, juice shops, and health food stores. Where there is a local supply- you are almost certain to find micros in the form of a garnish or salad in any fine dining restaurant. The rise in popularity is good news for small greenhouses looking for a niche to fill in their community. A relatively small amount of space can produce a great deal more than the same greenhouse growing full grown varieties. For example, a 12’ x 2’ area is able to produce almost 1800 pounds of micro greens if the greenhouse is utilized 365 days per year. The largest recurring expense will be seeds so it is important to find a good relationship with a supplier. The short turn-around and ease of propagation makes it an ideal crop for start-up greenhouses. Like any small business; greenhouses have a high rate of failure within the first few years creating a very real fear of a lost crop. While it may take months to recover from a lost crop of a full grown vegetable, a micro green grower can be back on track within a week. Micro greens are easy to propagate and will grow from seed to ready-for-market product in 5-14 days. If presoaking seeds- use 3 times more water than seed and make sure they stay soaked. Most seeds do not need to be presoaked. Germinating them in fine grade vermiculite and then sowing the germinated seeds plus vermiculite will help things along but most will sprout anywhere. Place them in a warm, dark place until they sprout. Once sprouted, the plants need at least 8-10 hours of light. I recommend LED lamp light of course. Many micro greens only need one watering after the initial moistening of your grow medium before they are ready to eat. So simple you can grow them at work or at home. In the words of the great unknown philosopher,”Bigger is not always better.” -AL Extending Daylight in the Greenhouse
make supplemental lighting a necessity for year round production in greenhouses. Conventional grow lights use up to 1,000 watts of power to operate and are often replaced yearly. Of this 1,000 watts of power, nearly 82% of the energy is in the form of intense heat (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is of little use and often damaging to greenhouse plants. Ultimately, this heat must be ventilated in the warmer months when electricity is at its peak, essentially blowing money out the vents. The advent of LED lighting has provided an electrically efficient option that not only provides a solution to the problems associated with HID lamps, but also offers significant advantages for both hobby and commercial operations. LED Grow Master grow lights operate using only 9 watts of power and are rated for 100,000 hours of life with no light degradation. The LGM brand of lighting operates at only 15 degrees above ambient temperatures making them only warm to the touch even after months of operation. Over the lifetime of LEDstick, this low energy/long lifetime translates into significant savings in electricity and replacement costs when extending daylight in greenhouses. --AL |
| MIcrogreens under LED lamp light. |
| LED lamp light in the greenhouse |
| Peppers blooming under LED lamp light. |
| LED Lamp Light For Microgreens and Greenhouses. |