My first though it: how much do you love watermelon and pumpkins? ;) They take up a lot of space! If you're a DIY kind of person, it's relatively easy to make your own lighting set up with sockets and sheet metal reflectors and it's a whole lot cheaper. A fluorescent bulb or two--like a shop light should work fine, Since you want something that's relatively cheap.Go for a "cool white". high output color florescent bulb and don't worry about positioning them close to the plants--they don't really heat up that much. Metal Halide bulls are good for vegetables and starting from seeds, but WAY expensive.T5 fluorescents are too, and i think you can get the same results as a cheap "Shop light" set-up.

Good luck!

Garden Gnome,

I wanted to start 4 watermelon plants and 2 big max pumpkin plants.

Can you send me a link of a picture with what your talking about? I'm new to gardening XD.

Thanks for your help!

MSugrl

You must have much more space than i do! Here is a shop light set up that you can see. I mentioned reflectors overhead but this kind of side reflection works too, its metallic bubble packing--a cheap way to get reflection, easier to rig than metal around the lights. if you're going for tomatoes, watermelons and pumpkins, I'd get the 4 foot shop lights, and the regular cool spectrum flourescent bulbs can be bought in packs of ten. There is a guy on a forum that explained a good DIY set-up., with pics. I need to find it for ya, No expensive halite or T5 bulbs. He also mentioned a product called 'earthshine' additive I think. Maybe that's why I cant seem to find the thread, i think they might take down a post that mentions a product name..but I will try to find--it was a really helpful post.

I know this is the Growing Under Lights Forum - but the absolutely cheapest, least labour intensive and most energy efficient way to start vegetables is not to use lights at all. I don't know your local conditions but I am pretty sure most of those can be started outdoors at an appropriate time (you don't have to start in March). Using plastic pop bottles as mini cloches can help. If you really want to start indoors and you only need a few plants a windowsill or glazed porch will do fine. Many on this forum will dispute this but people do it all the time. Hardly anyone uses lights over here except in commercial greenhouses. I start all my zucchini, tomatoes, beans, lettuces and peppers in a glass porch. The link shows a fancy set up which increases the light available.

Here is a link that might be useful: WIndowsill plants

Garden Gnome,

Thanks for the picture! I really appreciate you trying to find that guy's set up. Yes I have several acres of property, so I have enough space to grow a couple of watermelon vines and pumpkin ;)

Flora,
really? wow that's good to know, I'll definitely look at that link more, thanks! :)

MSUgrl

Another fun, cheap way to start seeds is by wintersowing. There is en entire forum with excellent FAQ and many very helpful, encouraging members who would love to have you join them in their addiction to winter gardening. i've been wintersowing for at least 10 years and can't imagine a winter/spring without it. Hope you'll check us out.

Martha