I ran a quick test with my seed starters.

Same seeds, planted at the same time — but one had the grow light on, and the other didn’t.
After just 2 days, the difference is huge:
💡 With light — sturdy stems, bigger and healthier leaves
💡 Without light — stretched and leggy seedlings, all stem and hardly any leaves
This really shows how important lighting is when using a seed starter.

When do you usually turn the lights on for your seedlings?

I love testing of different methods of growing.




There is a phone app that gives you the values of light  I believe mentioned in this video.


I believe it is hard to beat the method of "winter sowing"   for starting plants outside so that they are ready for outside conditions if you are growing outside.

For indoor seed starting, I just turn the lights on from day one and keep them close to whatever is growing.

I know, it isn't a very sophisticated process, but I have success with the 'technique'. I have a bunch of different LED flexible growing lights so they are not that powerful but they can grow some seedlings if used properly.