Outdoor Supplemental Lighting

So Im new here but have a question I cant find a definitive answer too or any adequate answer.

Some background I have grown indoors and veg then flowered outdoors both successfully. So now that I have the mean next outdoor season I want to do a full-fledged outdoor grow. Currently thinking 20 plants, all will be clones but here is where the question comes in I want to put them out early as my last frost is early ie middle of may but I don’t want them to flower early.

So here comes the question what are my the best options for outdoor supplemental lighting?
Is my only option a cfl in clamp light above each plant my only option?
What about the industrial work lights on a tripod at the ends of each row?
could i get away with a 2cfl on a Y in the middle of every 4 plants?

thanks

You can supplement light outside like you are talking about but you could also grow them inside until it's late enough to put them outside and not flower. I have supplemented outside lighting with a T5 before but then the next years just opted to veg inside and move them out when the day was long enough outside.
20 plants is a lot of space and work. I started off planting 6 plants in a space and now I'm just planting three in the same space and get as much or more because I just didn't realize how big these monsters can get when I first started. I'm easily getting 7+ footers which take up at least 4 x 4 feet of space.
If you have that late of a frost to start then I'd guess your season ends early due to weather too? If so, do some research on early finishers and select strain(s) that resist cold/wet/mold/mildew. Have fun.

Thanks and yes 20 plants is alot of work but this is now able to be full time for me. Reason I don't want to veg indoors is I also want to have my indoor crop growing and limited indoor space. And correction I meant March not may. If it was may id just veg inside them then throw then out mid June to flower like i have done.
So I guess my actual question is how little artificial light will keep plants in veg state, the day length chart says i will have ~13hours first day of April.

You can supplement with candescent bulbs. all you want to do is keep them awake.

thanks, do the candesent bulbs have better range than the cfls? and ya I was wondering the minimum light needed to keep them awake.

I believe I was using 60w incandescent........works great......good luck....

sweet thanks the last pic says alot in turns of not needing an excessive amount of light to keep them in a veg state of mind. Also doublejj love your carport threads and that giant og kush stem. anyways figure 2 50' strings with 5 lights each should be enough to be strung throughout the 20 plants to keep them in veg and not cause them to hermie.

oldguyfood said:

sweet thanks the last pic says alot in turns of not needing an excessive amount of light to keep them in a veg state of mind. Also doublejj love your carport threads and that giant og kush stem. anyways figure 2 50' strings with 5 lights each should be enough to be strung throughout the 20 plants to keep them in veg and not cause them to hermie.

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I think your right on track..........that OG plant your talking about is the plant dead center in this picture. She wasn't even very big in May when we planted her......................................................

Same OG Kush. 2 weeks later..........................................

I like those light fixtures on 1 cord you have there JJ. Where did you find those?

BigB 420 said:

I like those light fixtures on 1 cord you have there JJ. Where did you find those?

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Home Depot........

oldguyfood said:

=So here comes the question what are my the best options for outdoor supplemental lighting?
Is my only option a cfl in clamp light above each plant my only option?
What about the industrial work lights on a tripod at the ends of each row?
could i get away with a 2cfl on a Y in the middle of every 4 plants?

thanks

Click to expand...

1. cfls in some sort of hanging outdoor light will work fine. It does not have to be an incandescent bulb. get some outdoor hanging work lights. Super high wattage is not necessary.
2. I would grow inside as long as possible. Early in the season its cool slowing plant gowth.
3. Do a google search for Gas Lantern Routine. You only need to provide additional light for a few hours during night time. Chrysanthemum growers interrupt night with light breaks to control flowering. http://www.howsitgoineh.com/forums/index.php?topic=11346.0

Exactly what I was looking for purplebuz thanks man. While the cooler temps may slow the growth its a trade off with having more plants growing at the same time.