Della--when Rick says: "Do you really need lights?" (or even this set up for that matter?). A set up/project such as yours would work just fime for an unheated garage or shed or under a roof, etc. but out in open air---???. For one thing with an enclosure such as this, you'd be losing all your defussed natural side light and you have to consider too, that any light fixture you put in there is going to create a shadow blocking natural light from above. Something to think about.
When I look at climate data for Hobart, I see that your average high and low temperature for today is 67'F and 51F. By June 1st, that will drop to 55'F and 40F. Seems to me, these are ideal temperatures for bulb and root growth with the understanding tho, that you have progressively decreasing light values during the period. But like I say, if I have at least two good leaves, then I know I pretty much 'got it made'.
In the meantime, continue to work on getting your project together and have it ready ' to go' so that at some point you decide that your natural outdoor light values have deminished to an extent where you feel you have more to gain by artificial light, then make the switch and continue to grow them out a little more that way.
It's interesting to note that You and Anthony are at 42.8 ' L in the southern hemisphere, while Tracey and I are at 42.6L in the northern. The amount daylights are exactly the opposite for each day of the year. Today you will lose 2 minutes, 57 seconds but we will gain 2 minutes, 55 seconds, or about only 2 or 3 seconds of opposite difference each day. Rick, in Minneapolis will gain 3 minute and 9 seconds of daylight, being just a little further north. Just thought I'd throw that in there.
