Before installing your new garden air out the area, spray it with an insecticide and thoroughly scrub with a disinfectant cleaner. Lighting Choosing the right lighting is one of the most important decisions you will make. Light is essential for plant growth and the closer you can come in intensity and colour spectrum to full natural sunlight the better. It does not matter to plants if their lighting needs are met by artificial or natural means as long as the intensity and light spectrum are right. Intensity is the brightness of the light i.e. the amount of light measured in foot-candles or lumens.
Wattage is the measure of electricity consumed.
Some types of lighting systems are more efficient than others i.e. they produce more light and less heat per watt consumed. Different types of plants require different light levels. Salad greens and culinary herbs require less than vegetables and tomatoes that must flower to produce their fruit. If the crop you choose to grow prefers hot sunlight in its natural environment, then you have to give it a lot of artificial light to produce satisfactory results. Colour spectrum is another important factor.