November 6, 2025
A lighting strategy isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind when growing lettuce. But the spectrum you choose can make all the difference between a decent crop and a perfect, shelf-ready one.
We’ve spent years studying how light interacts with plants at every stage of growth and this includes finding that lettuce doesn’t need the same spectrum from start to finish — its light needs to evolve as the plant matures. Matching your lighting strategy to those phases can dramatically improve texture, color, yield, and quality while also shortening the time to harvest.
That’s the idea behind the JumpLights Phasic Lettuce System.
The Science Behind Spectrum Shifts
Different colors of light drive different biological responses in various plants.
Red light is highly efficient for photosynthesis. It can drive leaf expansion, stem elongation, and overall biomass production. Higher red intensity is ideal for the early growth stage.
Blue light plays more of a regulatory role in lettuce growth. It signals plants to grow compactly, develop thicker leaves, and produce more vibrant pigmentation.
JumpLights Phasic Lettuce System
We have designed the Phasic Lettuce System to give lettuce the light it needs when it needs it. Here’s more detail about the lighting solutions we’d recommend:
Stage 1: Growth Phase (20-30 days)
Light: ETS MAX 7A
Spectrum: ~76 % red, ~8 % blue
Purpose: Drive intense leaf expansion and growth while keeping elongation in check.
Stage 2: Finishing Phase (5-7 days)
Light: ETS MAX 2A
Spectrum: ~25 % red with an increased blue fraction
Purpose: Promote leaf thickening, darkening, and final color development.
As the lettuce matures, shifting to more blue light will enhance pigment production, improve its texture, creating more vibrant and denser heads of lettuce. The finishing spectrum ensures the lettuce appears shelf-ready.
Growers can expect to:
- Shorten time to harvest
- Enhance the leaf quality
- Achieve consistent results
- Improve energy efficiency
- End with shelf-ready product
Think of it as the plants interpreting the spectrum as a signal that tells them how to grow. By aligning those signals with the progression of the lettuce, you can grow better overall crops. Our Phasic Lettuce System ensures that you can achieve faster development, higher quality, and more reliable results with every cycle.
See how District Farms was able to turn 800-1200 cases of cut romaine per week during their darkest months with JumpLights Phasic Lettuce System.
