Hi all, first time grower, at least with this crop, experienced organic high-yield square-foot-gardener.
This is a hobby project I've decided to undertake as a proof of concept and to fill my days during the winter.
Some rules I've set for myself in this project :
-as organic as physically possible
-keep total startup cost under $300
-free-cycle as much material as possible
-total stealth from neighbors etc (focusing on general odor and specifically exhaust control)
Total out of pocket cost so far on this project :
$65 5-pack of seeds
$117 various Home Depot purchases (lumber, blower fan, activated carbon filter materials, some lights)
(does not include materials I already had such as growth medium, containers, some lights, some build materials. Alot of these were originally donated from construction site waste, some were otherwise scavenged or free-cycled)
So, let's start with my growth medium :
I am using a customized variation of Mel's Mix, (%33 peat moss, %33 vermiculite, %33 organic compost blend composed of 8 different composts incl chicken, sheep, cow and deer manure, mushroom compost, worm castings, shrimp fish and seaweed compost and a homemade general veg matter compost) so nutrient wise I'm set from seedling to at least 2-3 weeks in, probably longer but will be reading the plants. My starting nutrient levels are nitrogen heavy but not unreasonable. I have had alot of ridiculous tomato yields with this blend and look forward to seeing what it can do with this crop.
My box is 4ft wide, 3ft deep, and 5ft high total, with about 4.25 total usable vertical feet allowing space for containers, some gear, and lights. I intend to use this space for no more than 2 LST and scrog'ed plants, but i did make it a bit bigger than needed in case that changes in future, i suspect with strict training and clever use of space i could support 4-5. The box is currently a work in progress to be completed over next couple weeks as time, and materials allow. Will eventually be painted flat white on all interior surfaces for reflection purposes, currently unpainted wood interior.
Currently using 1 x 4ft 2tube T8 fitted with 2 x 32w 6500k tube (I plan to add 2 more of these fixtures with 4 more tubes totaling 6 x t8 tubes, just out of stock for a week) as well as 1 x t5 2ft single-tube fitted with 1 x 24w 6400k mounted vertically between the 2 grow spaces. To bridge the light deficit until i get more units I've added a few 7w 2700k CFL's I have kicking around. All lights save the vertical t5 are fully height adjustable in a 4.5 foot range in order to keep the T8's within 1-2 inches of canopy (this has worked well for me with my indoor vegetable crops, the heat these things put out is negligible and as my ambient temperature is 22-23C any extra heat they give will be welcome I think.
Box will be exhausted via dual DIY activated carbon filter powered by 4inch 700+ CFM blower, and will double as drying and curing area between crops after initial startup and supply building, I don't plan on continuous grows, just as needed based on supply and yields. Have fresh air inlet to room via Hvac Combustion Air supply, so at least on paper entire box air volume will be exhausted and replaced 10x /minute, which may be a little much but i don't believe in half-measures when it comes to stealth. I'm debating whether or not I want to go with powered intake or stick with passive, if I go powered it will be with max 2 x 2inch PC fans to maintain negative box pressure and filter system integrity.
Currently have 2 NL fem auto seeds germinating, started them about 30 hours ago, took a bit longer than I expected to sink but they eventually both did. I'm guessing the lower than ideal temperature in the house contributed while they were soaking. Transferred to plate and paper towel after 14 hrs, had to leave and wasn't going to be back before 18 hour CKS recommended limit.
Checked them a few minutes before starting to type out this wall of text, 1 is visibly popped with tap root out, root <1mm atm so letting it go a bit more, other looks like it's about to pop but it seems to be fighting the wakeup call, will give it a few more days before i start worrying.
Will add pics of my work in progress box shortly.
Any and all comments, advice, etc welcome of course, but I pretty much intend to stick to my current grow-plan and box design with little to no modification until these plants die or are harvested, I know there are likely to be a good many methods/techniques/designs that would be more ideal or "better", and if this fails I will be trying again with whatever changes seem appropriate, but my primary goal is to see if THIS methodology and THESE materials will work, and if so how well.
Wish me luck!
Regards,
EndItAll
This is a hobby project I've decided to undertake as a proof of concept and to fill my days during the winter.
Some rules I've set for myself in this project :
-as organic as physically possible
-keep total startup cost under $300
-free-cycle as much material as possible
-total stealth from neighbors etc (focusing on general odor and specifically exhaust control)
Total out of pocket cost so far on this project :
$65 5-pack of seeds
$117 various Home Depot purchases (lumber, blower fan, activated carbon filter materials, some lights)
(does not include materials I already had such as growth medium, containers, some lights, some build materials. Alot of these were originally donated from construction site waste, some were otherwise scavenged or free-cycled)
So, let's start with my growth medium :
I am using a customized variation of Mel's Mix, (%33 peat moss, %33 vermiculite, %33 organic compost blend composed of 8 different composts incl chicken, sheep, cow and deer manure, mushroom compost, worm castings, shrimp fish and seaweed compost and a homemade general veg matter compost) so nutrient wise I'm set from seedling to at least 2-3 weeks in, probably longer but will be reading the plants. My starting nutrient levels are nitrogen heavy but not unreasonable. I have had alot of ridiculous tomato yields with this blend and look forward to seeing what it can do with this crop.
My box is 4ft wide, 3ft deep, and 5ft high total, with about 4.25 total usable vertical feet allowing space for containers, some gear, and lights. I intend to use this space for no more than 2 LST and scrog'ed plants, but i did make it a bit bigger than needed in case that changes in future, i suspect with strict training and clever use of space i could support 4-5. The box is currently a work in progress to be completed over next couple weeks as time, and materials allow. Will eventually be painted flat white on all interior surfaces for reflection purposes, currently unpainted wood interior.
Currently using 1 x 4ft 2tube T8 fitted with 2 x 32w 6500k tube (I plan to add 2 more of these fixtures with 4 more tubes totaling 6 x t8 tubes, just out of stock for a week) as well as 1 x t5 2ft single-tube fitted with 1 x 24w 6400k mounted vertically between the 2 grow spaces. To bridge the light deficit until i get more units I've added a few 7w 2700k CFL's I have kicking around. All lights save the vertical t5 are fully height adjustable in a 4.5 foot range in order to keep the T8's within 1-2 inches of canopy (this has worked well for me with my indoor vegetable crops, the heat these things put out is negligible and as my ambient temperature is 22-23C any extra heat they give will be welcome I think.
Box will be exhausted via dual DIY activated carbon filter powered by 4inch 700+ CFM blower, and will double as drying and curing area between crops after initial startup and supply building, I don't plan on continuous grows, just as needed based on supply and yields. Have fresh air inlet to room via Hvac Combustion Air supply, so at least on paper entire box air volume will be exhausted and replaced 10x /minute, which may be a little much but i don't believe in half-measures when it comes to stealth. I'm debating whether or not I want to go with powered intake or stick with passive, if I go powered it will be with max 2 x 2inch PC fans to maintain negative box pressure and filter system integrity.
Currently have 2 NL fem auto seeds germinating, started them about 30 hours ago, took a bit longer than I expected to sink but they eventually both did. I'm guessing the lower than ideal temperature in the house contributed while they were soaking. Transferred to plate and paper towel after 14 hrs, had to leave and wasn't going to be back before 18 hour CKS recommended limit.
Checked them a few minutes before starting to type out this wall of text, 1 is visibly popped with tap root out, root <1mm atm so letting it go a bit more, other looks like it's about to pop but it seems to be fighting the wakeup call, will give it a few more days before i start worrying.
Will add pics of my work in progress box shortly.
Any and all comments, advice, etc welcome of course, but I pretty much intend to stick to my current grow-plan and box design with little to no modification until these plants die or are harvested, I know there are likely to be a good many methods/techniques/designs that would be more ideal or "better", and if this fails I will be trying again with whatever changes seem appropriate, but my primary goal is to see if THIS methodology and THESE materials will work, and if so how well.
Wish me luck!
Regards,
EndItAll
You might want to cover walls with either white mat paint/ car window shields or any other silvery material (dull not shiny)
need a canna cookie 
so now it is patience until they pop up. Don't water to much, just mist on top.
