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Your recipe for growth

Your recipe for growth

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How does light affect plants and people differently
Light and growth

How does light affect plants and people differently

Waking up this morning, I noticed a big difference compared to yesterday: it was still quite dark and the sky was covered with thick clouds, whereas yesterday it was bright and sunny! The dreary gray sky did not stop me from getting up. I had to get to work and there was still plenty of light for me to go about my daily activities. For the plants in my garden though, the difference in sunlight has a much bigger impact than it does on me!

The sun continuously emits radiation across a wide spectral range. Which part of that reaches earth depends strongly on where you are and what the weather is like. In fact, the spectrum remains much more stable than the amount of radiation. The spectrum varies slightly depending on location and weather, but aside from dusk and dawn, it always looks similar, ranging from UV to IR radiation. 

A night shift in the greenhouse for Signify
Light and growth

A night shift in the greenhouse for Signify

Most of our working hours at the Horticulture team are clocked during daytime. But did you know that we also regularly put in night shifts? Nighttime is when we measure if the LED lighting installed gives off the light intensity we calculated. But why at night?

It’s important for growers to make sure that every plant in the greenhouse is grown under the same optimal conditions. Irrigation, fertilization, crop care and lighting – all have to be set up to produce consistent, high quality results. At the Horticulture team, we go to great lengths to ensure that our light plans for LED grow lights fit the exact needs of the grower and the actual conditions of their greenhouse.

Our light plan is created based on a computer simulated greenhouse, which calculates the number of light photons (µmol) that will fall on a given area (square meter), every second. Every greenhouse is different, so every light plan is unique. Think about different structures, crops and screen systems. 

Follow us on a new journey combining floriculture and vertical farming
Floriculture

Follow us on a new journey combining floriculture and vertical farming

Set-up of floriculture trial
These benefits prompted us to conduct a floriculture trial in our climate-controlled test facility at BrightBox in Venlo. Most of the requests we receive are from growers of young plants, so we ran a trial on the propagation phase of flowers. We chose a wide range of annual and perennial plants, including Begonias, Petunias, Calibrachoas, Dianthus, Gerberas, Celosias, Alternatheras and Impatiens.

For this trial, we translated the cultivation conditions of a greenhouse to a climate-controlled environment and added the experience of our colleague City Farm plant specialists. Light levels were chosen based on the reference greenhouse environment with daylight, as well as scientific literature and the experience of growers. The light spectra used in the test were aligned with a number of growers to meet their quality standards for the different varieties of flowers. Growth speed is one requirement from growers, but good plant quality is the first priority. In this case, a plant is considered good if it has a compact shape, enough leaves and branches and a good root system. In addition, a good plant should be able to quickly establish roots and bloom as it moves to its next growth phases.

By drawing upon our experiences and the scientific literature we were able to extract enough insights to develop light recipes that would produce these plant characteristics. For example, many plants react to a higher amount of blue light by becoming more compact. The length of the internodes becomes shorter. Some plants benefit from far red light by germinating faster and developing stronger roots, while other react by bolting and drooping. 

Results from floriculture trial
Our results showed that as expected, each variety of flower reacts differently to a light recipe. The climate settings are also important in this respect. Higher temperatures resulted in faster, but less compact and less robust growth. The results confirmed that growing floriculture young plants in a daylight-free environment is possible and all about finding the right balance between climate factors and lighting. In fact the choice of light intensity and light spectrum plays an even greater role in a vertical farm than in a greenhouse.

This is just a first screening, but the trial gave us clear insight into the possibilities of cultivating diverse varieties of young annuals and perennials in a daylight-free environment. As with all trials, there were also plants that did not fare well as a result of a certain light recipe. But we learned from these results as well. The majority of the light recipes tested produced good results in terms of compact, robust plants with a good root system. There is plenty of room for optimization, depending on the most desirable characteristic for a specific variety. We also saw that it is definitely possible to cultivate good quality plants for several crops under one light recipe. 

What is the difference between led and hps grow lights
Light and growth

What is the difference between led and hps grow lights

As a grower, you are always looking for the best recipe for growth – ways to optimize results, minimize risks and increase yield. You can realize this through predictable, high-quality, high production crops or plants delivered all year round. You aim to have maximum control over your investment and operational costs and want to find out how you can use LEDs to improve your business results. A successful LED based growth strategy will result in a couple of promises.

Effects of temperature on basil growth
Vertical farming

Effects of temperature on basil growth

Philips researches all aspects that make up the ideal light recipe for a particular crop. But, did you know that we also study a much broader range of factors to come up with the ideal growth recipe? This means that besides LED growing lights, we look at climate, CO₂, nutrients and substrates to see how we can make them work together most effectively. In this blog I’ll tell you more about the major role that temperature plays in the storage life and yields of basil.

Additional blue light does not affect taste and crop quality of basil
Vegetables and fruits

Additional blue light does not affect taste and crop quality of basil

Basil has been cultivated for centuries and is one of the most popular culinary herbs all over the world. The fresh flavor it offers cannot be matched by any other herb or spice, making this delicate plant an excellent choice to grow indoors. Unfortunately, basil leaves will turn black when they are damaged, which can easily happen when basil is exposed to low temperatures during transport or storage. Due to the delicate nature of the crop, basil is not only one of the most expensive herbs for the consumer, but also one of the most perishable. If blue LED lighting can help strengthen the crop’s metabolic profile, it would increase its value to the retailer, end-consumer, and grower as well.

Studies have shown that the use of blue light in vertical farming can have a strong influence on a variety of crops, increasing their flavor profile and overall quality. But when it comes to the application of blue light, there is no one size fits all approach. Together with Wageningen University, we wanted to see if basil would have a positive reaction to an increased level of blue light as showcased by previous research conducted on lettuce. But we were surprised to find that basil’s performance under increased blue LED lighting did not resemble the previously researched performance of leafy greens and fruits.

How to build a successful vertical farm
Vertical farming

How to build a successful vertical farm

The interest in growing plants indoors in vertical farms keeps increasing. But many investors who thought they could simply buy an empty warehouse, plug in some grow lights and turn out perfect heads of lettuce to make money have been disappointed. Here are a few key lessons learned from city farming expert Roel Janssen on successful vertical farm projects.

4 remarkable results you can achieve with dynamic LED grow lights in a vertical farm
Vertical farming

4 remarkable results you can achieve with dynamic LED grow lights in a vertical farm

As LED lighting has become more and more popular among growers, LED lighting technology has been rapidly evolving to meet their needs. Luminaires have become more powerful, efficient and versatile. Now they are getting even smarter! At Signify’s GrowWise research facility, we have been experimenting with a color controllable luminaire, which provides a whole new level of lighting flexibility for indoor farming facilities. The GreenPower LED production module 3.0 allows you to control both the color spectra and light levels to create so-called dynamic light recipes. At GrowWise, we have been carrying out extensive research with these dynamic light recipes and would like to share 4 remarkable results we have seen.

Sun-free yet summer sweet strawberries build the case for a vertical farm
Vertical farming

Sun-free yet summer sweet strawberries build the case for a vertical farm

High productivity is important for a vertical farm – but getting the right quality of a crop is equally or even more important. With this in mind, it should not come as a surprise that our first experiments to grow strawberries at the GrowWise Center focused on achieving a sweet tasting strawberry.  

Besides measuring productivity, we also measured the Brix values (sugar content) for two different strawberry varieties. It took us just over two months to grow strawberry plants from seeds. After that, we were able to pick large amounts of beautiful strawberries for about three months.

Normally produce from our facilities is used in the restaurants at the High Tech Campus. These strawberries, however, were so immensely popular that they never left our premises; they were eaten by our team as fast as they could ripen. 

From Tall to Small: An alternative way of growing tomatoes in a vertical farm
Vertical farming

From Tall to Small: An alternative way of growing tomatoes in a vertical farm

When we think of growing tomatoes, we typically picture rows and rows of tall tomato plants climbing high into a greenhouse. These plant types are known as ‘indeterminate’ tomatoes, and they're great for extending the growing season and producing high yields. In recent years, Philips has conducted trials on various types and varieties of these indeterminate tomato plants in our own Philips GrowWise Research center in Eindhoven. Results have helped us to develop strategies and practices to maximize crop productivity and quality. However, indeterminate tomato varieties come with their own set of challenges. Because they are so tall, they share the common requirement for a single-layer high-wire growing system with wide paths between rows to facilitate continuous labor for crop maintenance and harvesting. In urban areas, where space and labor are a premium, this can become a problem.

3 Macro-trends making LED solutions the horticulture standard
Light and growth

3 Macro-trends making LED solutions the horticulture standard

  • LED grow lights help ease the pressure of feeding a growing population
  • LED technology is a serious contributor to energy savings in a world where sustainability issues are paramount
  • LED light supports the stable production of healthy foods and top-quality flowers

Eindhoven, the Netherlands – LED technology is poised to penetrate deeper into the horticultural world. According to Signify estimates, roughly 30% of the world’s greenhouse surface will be lit by 2025, up from roughly 20% in 2020—and LED technology will light more than half of that surface.

8 choices to a cost-effective LED grow light, part 1
Light and growth

8 choices to a cost-effective LED grow light, part 1

To grow crops successfully and cost-effectively with LED grow lights, your LED system must be designed to perform reliably in the harsh conditions of your greenhouse environment. In part 1 of a 2-part series, we explain 4 smart design choices we’ve made for Philips GreenPower LED toplighting compact that give you peace of mind. With this proven design, your Philips LED lighting system is guaranteed to work reliably for many years and much more than 36,000 hours of intensive use, while being easy to maintain and clean. 

8 choices to a cost-effective LED grow light, part 2
Light and growth

8 choices to a cost-effective LED grow light, part 2

To grow crops successfully and cost-effectively with LED grow lights, your LED system must be designed to perform reliably in the harsh conditions of your greenhouse environment. In part 2 of a 2-part series, we explain smart design choices 5-8 that we’ve made for Philips GreenPower LED toplighting compact that give you peace of mind. With this proven design, your Philips LED lighting system is guaranteed to work reliably for many years and much more than 36,000 hours of intensive use, while being easy to maintain and clean.

Before starting, it’s important to understand the terms we are using. When we say LEDs we are referring to the individual lamps. When we say LED grow light, it is the fixture that contains the LEDs, lens and other components to produce the right light for crops.

5 Things to check when comparing LED grow lights
Light and growth

5 Things to check when comparing LED grow lights

As a grower, you invest in supplemental LED grow lights because they power the yield and quality of your crops. In fact, the rule of thumb is that 1% light output equals 1% crop yield. So, it’s vital that your LED lighting investment delivers the full performance you paid for.

The performance is determined by the light intensity and light uniformity of the LED grow lights you use. If the light intensity produced by the grow lights installed is lower than what you expected from the design, there will be less yield. If the uniformity is inconsistent, individual plants will grow and develop at different rates and there will be uneven production in your greenhouse.

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