Why does nobody talk about how much sun balconies actually lose in the fall?

I've been growing tomatoes and peppers on my south-facing balcony for three years now. Every September I think I know what's coming, and every year my plants end up leggy and sad. I keep seeing people online say "just get full-sun plants" like that's the answer. But my balcony gets maybe 4 hours of direct light by October compared to 8 in June. Is it better to pack up and go with a grow light setup, or should I just switch to greens and herbs that handle less light? I tested with a light meter last week and my results were pretty rough. Anyone else deal with this seasonal shift?

2 comments

2 Comments

faithbarnes6d ago

Same here, my basil gets so dramatic about it I swear it's giving me the silent treatment by mid October. Maybe it's just me but I'd rather fight with a grow light than admit I can't grow anything in the winter.

troy9775d ago

My 10 year old LED panel keeps my thyme going all winter but @faithbarnes your basil might need more light than you think. I learned the hard way that those cheap blurple lights don't put out enough for Mediterranean herbs. Try bumping it up to 12 hours a day and see if it stops giving you the cold shoulder.