Turning the Christmas lights on

With the new salad polytunnel now installed, next was the very exciting task of making the inside fit for purpose ready to receive the salad trays. With the intention of trying to control the humidity we lined the floor with damp proof membrane in an attempt to try to restrict the moisture coming up from the ground.

This plastic sheeting will need protecting from damage which could be caused both from walking on it and also from the light and so we paid a visit to our local floor covering company for off-cuts of carpet.

With just enough, the backs of the carpets provided excellent protection and just what we had in mind. Next was for us to decide on the best orientation for the seed trays, both to maximise the space but also to provide the access we needed to move trays around and for watering.

This is the tunnel that is going to house our new LED grow lights, which are going to hang off the metal hoops in two strips, held by sections of wire rope attached along the length of the tunnel. Melv began to fix the brackets ready to hold the rope in position. This type of fixing arrangement would mean that we had maximum flexibility to position each light where needed.

Once the rope was in place it took no time at all to hang the first 6 lights, with easy fixings via carabiners and wire cord each one could be hung where desired along the length of the tunnel. 

Guided by a simulation undertaken by GN UK, the light manufacturers, the lights were positioned pretty much under each hoop. Next it was the electrics, but again as a plug and play system the installation was straight forward and we were ready for the first trial switch on in no time at all!!

The lights are dominantly a red spectrum, which is the most desirable range for polytunnels and for supplementing natural light. Although there will be a degree of experimentation and adaptation, our initial intention is to operate the lights either end of the day in an attempt to achieve the light hours we need for baby leaf salad growth. The pink spectrum certainly looked most impressive from the outside and the pink illumination from each light was very visible.

However as darkness fell it was like nothing we had seen - WOW - it'll be the talk of the village - a warm pink glow exuded from the tunnel, much to the fascination of one of our more adventurous hens!

Once our electrician had completed a permanent electrical connection to the tunnel we were ready for the installation of the trays and to safely switch on the second strip of lights .

Realising that the distance from the trays to the lights may be a little experimental, initially we positioned the trays on boards placed directly onto the ground. This would provide us with the option to try different heights depending on how the leaf growth responded. With a number of trays in place and the electrics safe, we seized the moment for the big December switch on.

Inside, the lights made the tunnel and trays look rather eerie, but from the outside...

they look amazing - now we will monitor their performance and eagerly await to see how the salads respond - the prefect Christmas present for any horticulturalist!!