Homemade Growing Boxes for Seeds
- A salad tray works for more than just salad crops --- you can start any type of seed in the tray. Use 2-inch by 4-inch wood planks to make a square or rectangular frame for the tray. Staple mesh hardware cloth to the bottom of the frame, or use metal window screen material. The tray requires elevation by either attached legs or by setting it on top of sawhorses. Once the tray is filled with soil, the excess water drains through the mesh bottom, so the soil doesn't become overly wet as the seeds germinate and grow. Salad trays work best outdoors or in a greenhouse where the draining water won't create a mess.
- Basic wooden flats are low-cost and reusable. Use new or scrap 2-inch by 4-inch wood planks to construct the flat walls in the desired size; 1- to ½-foot-square frames are small enough to move and store easily while providing space for multiple seedlings. Cover the bottom of the flat with plywood. These flats don't have bottom drainage, so it's necessary to drill small ¼-inch-diameter holes in the plywood to prevent soggy soil. Set the flat on top of a large tray to catch the moisture as it drains out.
- Repurpose other items for use as a seed-growing box. Disposable aluminum pans, especially those with clear covers, are just the right size for use as a grow box. Poke holes in the bottom of the pan for drainage, and cover the pan with a clear lid after seeds have been sown to create a greenhouse effect. Another option is to poke holes in the bottom of yogurt or butter containers and plant the seeds in these. Set the containers inside the aluminum pan so the pan catches the draining water. The bottoms of plastic milk jugs or wax-covered milk and juice cartons also make suitable pots for use in the grow box.
- A light box provides a tray for growing the seeds in and a stand for a fluorescent light fixture after the seeds have sprouted. Light boxes are especially useful if you don't have a natural light source for growing plants indoors. Turn a heavy-duty cardboard box on its side. Attach a small fluorescent light fixture, such as an under-cabinet light, to the inside of the box on top, using screws or wire. Set an aluminum pan or other flat item on the bottom side of the box, directly beneath the light. Once the seedlings sprout, turn the light on for 14 to 16 hours a day, and turn it back off at night.