The next obvious step was to create a grow box, now if this wasn't cheap vegetable gardener I would just buy a commercial grow box, but by now you should know better than that :)
Looking through my garage I found my first victim, an old PC case. After a few screws and a few drilled out rivets I had a good structure for the grow box. Next I added some styrofoam insulation which I got at HD on all 4 sides. Also at HD I picked up a cheap extension cord, lamp timer, and a socket plug adapters that allowed me to plug right into the extension cord. Followed by a small hole in the top and about 45 minutes my work is done.
In January we had a strange couple weeks of 20 degree days so I also added an incandescent build for some extra light but more importantly little extra heat. Which I made from a old lamp taking up space in the garage. With all the sides up the box is able to maintain a 70-75 degree temperature even with the chilly conditions in the garage.
After a little over a week we seemed to be getting some good results with our first blossom on the strawberry plant my daughter chose under snow in our garden.
| Old PC Case | $ 0.00 |
| Extension Cord | $ 1.25 |
| 2 - Socket adapters | $ 5.00 |
| Lamp timer | $ 4.00 |
| 2 - compact fluorescent blubs | $ 7.00 |
| Small sheet of insulated Styrofoam | $ 2.50 |
| | |
| Total | $ 19.75 |
Some of our other grow boxes
Fully automated computerized grow box (Project Everbearing) Beta 1
Cheap LED Light and Grow Box
9 comments:
that is SERIOUSLY cool. although my computer loving (non-gardening) OH is looking on in horror... :D you made my day! thankyou!
If it makes him feel any better the computer was an eight years old and lived a good life.
What a great way to reuse an old PC. Maybe I should get a new desktop PC so I can make my old one into a grow box?
Great idea!! I am the same way, don't let anything go to waste. If it is broken, use it for something else!!
This is an awesome project. Nice work. Just be sure to run Norton before putting your strawberries in there. Wouldn't want them to catch a virus. Ba-dum-bum. Thank you, I'll be here all week. :)
You left out the cost of the pottery and potting soil.
Well I was just pricing the grow box not the contents, ironically I used dirt from the garden which the strawberry plant was currently growing and a pot recycled from a plant we got as a gift.
It works great for growing marijuana as well.
usefull 4 ganja
Post a Comment