How to Build a Grow Box

Starting flower or vegetable seeds indoors can be a rewarding task if you have the correct equipment. An indoor windowsill and grow box is all that is needed to begin this year's garden plants indoors. If a windowsill is not available, you can purchase an inexpensive grow light from any of the big box stores and mount it above the grow box.

Things You'll Need

• 1 1-by-12-by-8 foot-long redwood or cedar-board
• tape measure
• Pencil
• Carpenter's square
• Circular saw or table saw
• 1 1-by-12-by-36-inch-long piece of redwood or cedar
• 4 1-by-2-by-8-inch-long pieces of redwood or cedar
• 2 1-by-2-by-36-inch-long pieces of redwood or cedar
• 2 1-by-2-by-12-inch-long pieces of redwood or cedar
• 16 1½-inch-long Philips head screws
• Power screwdriver with Philips head
• Box of clear plastic food wrap (16 to 18 inches wide)

Instructions

1. Using the tape measure and pencil, measure and mark out the above parts list. Use the redwood or cedar 1-by-12-by-8-foot-long board as the master piece to cut the material list from using the table saw or circular saw. Redwood or cedar should be used for its rot-resistant qualities. This grow box will last for many seasons if properly constructed.

2. Attach each of the 1-by-2-by-8-inch-long pieces to each corner of the 1-by-12-by-36-inch-long board. Use two screws, evenly spaced, for each upright and screw through the 1 by 12 into the 1 by 2. You should have something that resembles an upside-down table.

3. Screw the two 12-inch-long 1 by 2's into the 8-inch-long uprights on the outside top ends of the box. The final two 1-by-2-by-36-inch-long pieces will be screwed into these two sideboards. You should have a rim that runs completely around the top of the grow box constructed from the 1 by 2's.

4. Wrap the entire grow box with at least three to four rounds of the plastic food wrap. This will give the grow box a greenhouse-like structure for holding in moisture. Once you have placed your seeds and pots inside, cover the top of the grow box with another piece of plastic wrap to seal in the moisture. The grow box will now act like a mini greenhouse.

Tips & Warnings

• You can construct many grow boxes for different plants and rotate them outside on warm sunny days. This design is very portable and can be used to harden off plants by removing the plastic wrap from the top and placing the grow box in full sunshine a little each day. You should check the plants every day and be careful not to over-water, as the plastic wrap will make a tight seal against moisture escaping the grow box.