Can Cucumber and Leafy greens (lettuce, herbs) share one grow tent?
One tent means one light, one timer and one climate. This is what Cucumber and Leafy greens (lettuce, herbs) each need, and which differences moving the pots can fix.
The short answer
- Light: at their most demanding stage, no single light level suits both. Cucumber wants 500–800 µmol/m²/s, Leafy greens (lettuce, herbs) 210–295. (Placement can fix this)
- Day length: both are usually grown at 16 h, so one timer suits both.
- Temperature: Cucumber wants 24–28 °C, Leafy greens (lettuce, herbs) 16–22 °C. No range suits both. (Same for the whole tent)
- Humidity: both are comfortable at 60–70 % RH.
Light, stage by stage
| Cucumber | PPFD | Leafy greens (lettuce, herbs) | PPFD | Suits both |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seedling | 100–200 µmol/m²/s | Seedling | 100–200 µmol/m²/s | 100–200 µmol/m²/s |
| Seedling | 100–200 µmol/m²/s | Growth | 175–260 µmol/m²/s | none |
| Seedling | 100–200 µmol/m²/s | Mature | 210–295 µmol/m²/s | none |
| Vegetative | 300–500 µmol/m²/s | Seedling | 100–200 µmol/m²/s | none |
| Vegetative | 300–500 µmol/m²/s | Growth | 175–260 µmol/m²/s | none |
| Vegetative | 300–500 µmol/m²/s | Mature | 210–295 µmol/m²/s | none |
| Flowering/fruiting | 500–800 µmol/m²/s | Seedling | 100–200 µmol/m²/s | none |
| Flowering/fruiting | 500–800 µmol/m²/s | Growth | 175–260 µmol/m²/s | none |
| Flowering/fruiting | 500–800 µmol/m²/s | Mature | 210–295 µmol/m²/s | none |
They share a light level in 1 of 9 stage combinations.
For plants whose target is daily light (DLI), the PPFD shown is at their usual day length. On a different timer it changes.
How to make it work
Light is strongest under the centre of the fixture and weaker towards the edges. Put Cucumber under the centre and Leafy greens (lettuce, herbs) towards an edge or the back of the tent.
If Cucumber still falls short, lift its pot on a box: closer to the light means more light, without changing anything for Leafy greens (lettuce, herbs).
Day length, temperature and humidity are the same for every pot in the tent, and moving the pots does not change them. Where the two differ, any setting is a compromise for one of them.
Where exactly, in your tent?
That depends on your tent, your fixture and how high it hangs. Add Cucumber and Leafy greens (lettuce, herbs) in the app and it shows where each pot gets its own light.