The joy of grow lights ~ costs | benefits | tips | my setup

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  • Опубліковано 25 січ 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 65

  • @sowgroweat6987
    @sowgroweat6987 11 днів тому

    The cost v value comparisons really puts forward the arguement loads, then again the fact you love having them on as well is justification alone. Thanks for sharing this

  • @RockMan-go3ni
    @RockMan-go3ni 11 днів тому +3

    Great video Steve thanks for sharing in such detail. £56k of veg feeding 14 people is a great achievement, and its reassuring for those of us with smaller ambitions that its quite achievable with a plan and organisation. Cheers

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому

      I scale things down in my book, but it sounds more impressive than it is. Once you divide by 8 years.

  • @andrewlee5237
    @andrewlee5237 10 днів тому

    Hi Steve, my allotment is my hobby and I have never considered or viewed my vegetable growing in any financial sense. I accept if I wasn't working I would definitely struggle to justify what I spend on this hobby. Harvesting my vegetables is a joy to behold, and to me the taste exceeds anything I can buy in the shops. One example is the growing of my own carrots. People have said to me they won't grow carrots as its cheaper at Tesco, this is true, but misses the point of the huge quality in home grown carrots compared to shop bought. I do find your channel awesome though and extremely impressive what you grow year round, but also you are an amazingly organised grower and successful to boot. Good luck with the next 12 months. I was going to say the coming season but you grow all year round hence the good luck for the next 12 months. 👍👍😁😁

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  10 днів тому

      Absolutely Andrew, I think the joy of gardening and the quality of the veg is almost a given. The financial side is rarely discussed and since I was in the unenviable position of not having any money to spend on gardening for many years I’ve found it an interesting challenge to make sure it’s zero cost or profitable. With that data it’s now possible to recommend it to people of limited means as not just a great way to live and eat, but also a way to save money if you do it well. Hence all of my resources being made available for free : all the best - Steve

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  10 днів тому

      As an aside I’m actually not very organised and I’m almost obsessive about living a life free of structure and planning. What I am is motivated to create reusable systems that do that organising for me, so that I don’t have to think about it. Naturally I also give those systems away for free to help other disorganised people do the same as I do. I find cold wet and windy winter days just perfect for motivating me to eliminate the organisation by creating systems : all the best - Steve

  • @kazza0206
    @kazza0206 11 днів тому

    Just wanted to quickly say that your channel + ebook are the most detailed guides I've seen! I've been binge watching your videos and will eventually become a paid subscriber of your newsletter! Thanks again

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому +1

      The newsletter is free though, so only pay if you can easily afford to. It helps that I’ve not written paper books and then every year had to write a new one that duplicates half of the previous one. I’ve just been able to keep improving the ebook. It further helps that it’s all database driven which makes everything very efficient : all the best - Steve

  • @TheWeeGarden
    @TheWeeGarden 12 днів тому +1

    Hi Steve, as a newbie I appreciate all your videos and hope you have a fantastic new season. Looks like you’re off to a great start already.

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      I never really make a start, I’m always sowing and growing : all the best - Steve

  • @dougtheslug6435
    @dougtheslug6435 12 днів тому

    Nice work, your really dialed into your operation. Cheers and happy gardening.

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому +1

      Thanks, it’s taken a few years, but I grow a lot more, with less effort : all the best - Steve

  • @bewoodford2807
    @bewoodford2807 12 днів тому +1

    Brilliant video, Steve. Thank you so much. I don't often cost my gardening t.b.h. , but whatever it costs it is invaluable for my physical and mental health, plus the sheer joy of nurturing and growing. . So to me it's worth every penny. I don't drink, smoke or have a gym membership so you can't put a price on health, and the added bonus is plenty of fresh, healthy food, that I know has had no artificial feeds, pesticides or herbicides any where near it. Also it is great that I can grow enough food to feed us plus plenty to share with friends and the local food bank. I was lucky enough to be bought a SF growlight for Christmas and I am making full use of it- I love it. Happy growing 🙂

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      I didn’t have that luxury, so I had to cost my gardening, but the spin off benefit was that it allowed me to demonstrate that it does actually pay for itself, which means that I’m able to recommend my style of growing to people of all means : all the best - Steve

  • @Anna-jl1rx
    @Anna-jl1rx 12 днів тому +1

    Very interesting! In my new home I've got about a quarter of your growing area per person and am looking at maximising the yield. Your channel is unusually useful.

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому +1

      The same principles apply, max out the successions, interplant and relay plant, and use lights : all the best - Steve

  • @Iamhome365
    @Iamhome365 12 днів тому +1

    Hi Steve. Part of the way through and very informative as always! Was listening on yhe drive home from the school run and going inside to make a cup of tea and start over again. I'm always amazed at all that you grow! I really need to plan my years out way more to have something all year round, I have a 40ft polycarbonate tunnel that is completely underused !! I will be taking plenty of notes 😊 grow light may be the next thing I'll invest in

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      How many successions do you get out of your tunnel each year?

    • @Iamhome365
      @Iamhome365 10 днів тому

      ​@SteveRichards i only have it over a year but honestly last year it grew mostly weeds due to an awful back injury i sustained from a car crash 23 years ago! I went through a particularly bad year with pain and barely able to walk at times, bending iver leaves me in a lot of pain and then i end up nearly bed bound if i do it for even a few minutes but with the help of God hopefully this year will be better. I need to watch a load of tour videos on planting, succession planting! I feel overwhelmed, thinking of what should be planted when, i mean you have broccoli growing and i never think of what needs to be planted when in order to maximise my growing space! I did have an abundance of tomatoes out of the tunnel, volunteer ones that never got a drop of water for months (and i mean that!) But they just kept on coming!

  • @jadeloistv
    @jadeloistv 4 дні тому

    Love seeing your greenhouse. I’m just up the road from you at Starr Gate and was wondering how far from the coast you are and how the greenhouse holds up? Thanks

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  4 дні тому

      About 300m from the prom, so far so good : all the best - Steve

  • @liz3putt
    @liz3putt 11 днів тому

    Only just found you Steve! Great information x

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому

      Hi Liz, be sure to look at the video description for all of my free info

  • @JohnSmith-rn8ui
    @JohnSmith-rn8ui 9 днів тому

    Hi great show , tomorrow I begin , I have the property & the land approx 2 acres with some buildings on but everything is grass, except from a mixed orchard damson pears apples cherries plums, I also have rhubarb & elderberries , have no idea about the vegg growing side of things ,& really wish I had some help but tomorrow I start ,shall be watching you from now on ,cheers

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  9 днів тому

      Grass is a great place to start John, lots of goodness locked up in that soil and you can make your beds on top of the grass : All the best - Steve

  • @mariadaltonshaw7755
    @mariadaltonshaw7755 11 днів тому

    Very informative video, thanks for sharing

  • @lynnpurfield9430
    @lynnpurfield9430 12 днів тому

    I love my grow lights. They are just T2 strips that clip togerher...cheap but really bright. I have them on even when not growing as it gives me joy to look out of the window onto.the patio to see a light up greenhouse and raised seed beds at the back door 😊😊
    I also have 4 in the spare room for micro greens and get the benefit of that light myself during these darker days.

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      Yes! I love the garden all lit up when it’s dark or gloomy, best investment I ever made was garden lights, I have dedicated greenhouse lights for decoration : all the best - Steve

  • @ericganthomson
    @ericganthomson 3 дні тому

    Hi, this is is a great video as always. Very informative and I canny believe how much produce you have always on the go. Can I ask how wide your shelves and beds are in the greenhouse and polytunnel? I have a new 2.5mx4.5m greenhouse coming in a few weeks and am trying to find the most effiecient layout for it including path widths. It will be oriented roughly north/south on the long side due to garden constraints just in case this affects the optimum bed widths. Thanks!

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  3 дні тому +1

      I don’t have the measurements with me right now, but these chapters in my book might help www.notion.so/steverichards/Greenhouse-Design-and-Growing-Guide-b3bf5d6ee29f4feaaa1671b0ea0a42f9?pvs=4 and www.notion.so/steverichards/Polytunnel-Design-and-Growing-Guide-e260fa0b71bd4dea9a9003c74bdb9ce7?pvs=4 : all the best - Steve

    • @ericganthomson
      @ericganthomson 3 дні тому

      @@SteveRichards This is fantastic. Thanks so much! Plenty of bedtime reading until the greenhouse arrives!

  • @lynnpurfield9430
    @lynnpurfield9430 12 днів тому

    Debbie is a marvelous partner Steve. She gives you freedom to do your own thing...not common in many relationship is it? I have thst blessing too xxx

    • @lynnpurfield9430
      @lynnpurfield9430 12 днів тому

      Steve, do you get much greenfly in the house. I do on my microgreens

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      Well it’s her thing too, so that makes it a lot easier : all the best - Steve

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      I try to avoid growing anything to maturity in the house in winter, right now I’ve just fire breaked the conservatory to get rid of fungus gnats and any other insects. I don’t really like microgreens myself, too prone to disease unless your very diligent, which I’m not : all the best - Steve

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      At your urging though I’ve done a lot of mini greens this year and it’s been brilliant

  • @mickdownes9265
    @mickdownes9265 11 днів тому

    Great video Steve, I've got a couple of grow lights now! Have you considered getting solar panels and home batteries? I got some installed in June 2020 and they're great. I'm on an Economy 7 tariff so the worst I pay for electricity (all year) is about 14p/kWh. If there's no sun I charge my batteries overnight and use that power during the day & night.

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому +1

      I have solar panels, they’re about 15 years old now. When I replace them I will probably get batteries too. I am a part owner of a solar farm and soon a wind farm too so that keeps the bills lower

  • @gardeningsimplified
    @gardeningsimplified 12 днів тому

    Many times people focus too much on the initial cost of getting started growing their own food. As you stated, these cost have benefits spread out for years. I rarely focus on how much it costs to grow my own food, because the food I grow is far superior to any vegetables I can buy.

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому +1

      Yes! I’m always saying a lifestyle and a diet that money can’t buy. But it pays to invest : all the best - Steve

  • @susiespearing6165
    @susiespearing6165 12 днів тому

    Thanks Steve .Interesting 🙂

  • @pipsullivan7165
    @pipsullivan7165 12 днів тому

    I bought a couple of blue light spectrum tubes (maxi light led propagation tubes) this year - supposedly new seedlings don’t need full spectrum, but I guess time will tell - my biggest challenge is figuring out how to suspend them in my potting shed, and what height above the seed trays I need to have them at! My potting shed has a polycarbonate roof and huge windows so gets loads of natural light but the growlights will top and tail that, same as you do.

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      Usually 18” above seedlings maybe a little more for some.

  • @__Shellspace__
    @__Shellspace__ 12 днів тому

    great video !

  • @lynnpurfield9430
    @lynnpurfield9430 12 днів тому

    Have you done your first early strawb baskets yet Steve?

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      My first earlies went into the polytunnel in early January, I’m going to start breaking dormancy on my super earlies today!

  • @gingerlewis798
    @gingerlewis798 12 днів тому

    Are the plants on your spare room cupboard on a heat mat as well ?

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому

      They’re on a wardrobe top, I don’t use heat mats, or propagators, they’re not needed in a house, only outside in a shed or greenhouse : all the best - Steve

    • @angelabooth7871
      @angelabooth7871 11 днів тому

      I have a wardobe possible set up - but how often would I need to use a ladder to check the plants ?

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому

      I use a little folding stool, I check mine once a day, takes seconds. Something like this, mines smaller amzn.to/3CiAIJx

  • @TheCultivatingFisherman
    @TheCultivatingFisherman 12 днів тому

    Hello Steve, love your videos but I am intrigued, when you say you never invest any money on the allotment, may I ask, how have you built your raised beds, filled them and built the hoop houses, were all the resources sourced free of charge, if so any tips you can give? Or do you mean you have spent money, but it's been written off by the savings you've made of growing your own fruit & veg?

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому +1

      Yes, I mean I’ve never spent any money from the family budget. When I started my allotment I took £300 that I’d allocated for a holiday and spent the time I would have been on holiday building my allotment, which too 3 weeks, I’d paid that back within a couple of months . I then took 1/2 of any further savings off the food bill and banked those for expenses related to gardening, allotment rent, seeds, timber, fleece, polytunnel, greenhouse, grow lights etc etc. The other half of food bill savings I allocated to the kitchen garden, patios, buildings, lighting etc. So from the perspective of my household budget (which was very tight, having retired at 52 due to ill health) I’ve not spent any money. I’ve still got plenty of money saved up. Hope that helps : all the best - Steve

    • @TheCultivatingFisherman
      @TheCultivatingFisherman 12 днів тому +2

      @@SteveRichards cheers for the prompt response Steve! This will help bolster my reasoning when my partner next realises I've spent more money on materials :D

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  12 днів тому +2

      @TheCultivatingFisherman my main tip is that I’ve always been happy to invest to save and I kept good records for about 6 years. I don’t need to now because my revenue from my gardening media (book, newsletter and YT) makes it not very relevant : all the best - Steve

  • @SMRetired
    @SMRetired 11 днів тому

    Thankyou 🙂

  • @markshaw5835
    @markshaw5835 11 днів тому

    It's amazing how much food U grow, plus the money u made from it by not spending in the shop. My wife would go crazy if she caught me sowing lettuce on the top of our Wardrobe she would kill me lol😂

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому +1

      lol, I always find that so strange, my wife loves it, almost every meal she eats is home grown, every week of the year so she’s understands. Also we make sure the house looks lovely, so what does it matter : all the best - Steve

    • @markshaw5835
      @markshaw5835 11 днів тому

      @SteveRichards I agree 💯, my wife hates any mess. She love the food I grow but it has to be done outside lol

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  10 днів тому +1

      No mess in my house

    • @markshaw5835
      @markshaw5835 10 днів тому

      @@SteveRichards I didn't mean any offence, I wish my wife would allow me to grow stuff inside.

  • @ashleycarey3190
    @ashleycarey3190 11 днів тому

    I got electrocuted from those grow lights the leds didn't have any covering.
    Karma horticulture make amazing led lights made in uk 5 year warranty using top of the range leds also have uv built in there a far superior grow light IMHO

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому

      The mars hydro and spider farmer lights I use are all resin coated and waterproof or at least splash proof and have full spectrum LEDs : all the best - Steve

    • @SteveRichards
      @SteveRichards  11 днів тому

      A modern consumer unit is a very good investment or even just a RCD socket, no need to be electrocuted these days : all the best - Steve