Flourescent lights causing "leggy" plants?

Question

I'm growing basil under cool white fluorescent lights (6 x 24" bulbs arranged like this: |||||| ), but the plants are quite leggy, with increasingly less foliage.

I know all about metal halide and high-pressure sodiub bulbs, but I was under the impression that the blue-violet spectrum produced by cool white fluorescents would cause a lot of leafy growth.

Answer 1

You want one cool and one warm light (alternating if you have 6 linedu p), or you can purchase "full spectrum" growing lights specifically for the task.

Another thing- you want your plants no less than 6" from the light source. When it's warm enough, they will benefit from an afternoon in natural sunlight as well.

Good luck with the basil :)