flat wall indoor garden?

[chris1980]

Is there any kind of indoor garden design that can be set vertical and flat against a wall? I'm thinking like a book-shelf type with lights under each shelf and rows of plants on each. So you can fit a bunch of different herbs (maybe even veggies?!?) without taking up much space in the kitchen.

Also what kind of lights are needed, do they need to run 24/7? I'd be a bit concerned with using so much electricity BUT, do you think such a setup would work if it were against a window and the shelves were exposed to daily sunlight?

[Free Rider]

Originally Posted by chris1980

Is there any kind of indoor garden design that can be set vertical and flat against a wall? I'm thinking like a book-shelf type with lights under each shelf and rows of plants on each. So you can fit a bunch of different herbs (maybe even veggies?!?) without taking up much space in the kitchen.

Also what kind of lights are needed, do they need to run 24/7? I'd be a bit concerned with using so much electricity BUT, do you think such a setup would work if it were against a window and the shelves were exposed to daily sunlight?

I saw something with shelves and built-in grow light in the Burpee catalog. My bet is that you can get such things in lots of places.

[Botanique]

thought this might interest you:

http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newar...2006pg48.shtml

[Rhueless]

I was shopping at Walmart the other day and noticed window sill greenhouses. They are the length of a window and designed to sit on widow ledges, as well as stack. It would be possible to stack 4 or 5 in a empty window and grow as many herbs as you could possibly want. (If you don't mind losing the use of a window.

Your shelf idea is interesting, but it would take a lot of money to implement. The sort of greenhouse lights you'd need usually cost around $25 - $40.

Another thing you can purchase at most greenhouse's are plant bags. They are green, usually about a foot long, with three or four holes punched into the bag. The bags are meant to be filled with dirt or a growing medium. You then plant a different plant in each hole. So put 4 or 5 of these bags on one of your walls, and hang a greenhouse light above and a little to the front of the bags.
Thyme has a trailing habit so put it in the bottom of one of the bags. I would put parsley near the top since it grows upright pretty good. Good Luck!

[KYHeirloomer]

Full spectrum grow lights are not necessary for growing herbs, because, most of the time, we're not interested in flowers. Plants need red light to ripen. But they do not need it for greenery. So, for starters, regular cold-light florescent bulbs are just fine.

Having priced commercial grow stands, and having built more than one of my own, I would say, do-it-yourself! I've never seen a commercial version that was worth the money.

Check the archives at the Mother Earth News website. They've had several versions of these stands through the years.

If you're not particularly handy with tools, then buy a bookcase with adjustible shelves from an unpainted furniture place. Mount a shoplight under each shelf, and you're good to go.

Lights should burn 16 hours. This is easiest to accomplish with an inexpensive timer, and all the lights plugged into a strip plug.