Extend Your Gardening Day: Using Solar Lights for Winter Herb Beds & Greenhouses

For the winter gardener, a few extra hours of light can mean healthier cold-weather crops like kale, spinach, and herbs. Solar lights aren’t just for seeing—they can supplement your plants.

Understand the Goal: You’re Not Replacing the Sun. The purpose is photoperiod extension, not growth lighting. A soft glow can prevent early bolting in some greens and lets you check on plants after work.

Use Broad-Spectrum White LED Solar Lights: Avoid colored or cool-toned lights. Place solar path lights or small spotlights around the perimeter of your raised beds or inside your cold frame. The reflected light from surrounding surfaces provides a gentle, diffused effect.

The Greenhouse Trick: In a plastic or glass greenhouse, solar lights serve a dual purpose. They provide light for evening puttering and generate a tiny amount of heat. Cluster several solar lanterns together—their battery compartments release a whisper of warmth as they discharge, which can help fend off a light frost on the inside surface.

Keep it Practical: Ensure lights are on stakes or hooks, so you can easily move them out of the way for weeding and harvesting.