I want to start growing my own cooking herbs, but my townhouse gets little to no sunlight.

Has anyone had any success or experience doing their own grow light indoor system?

3/3/2008 4:13:31 PM

I'm not sure how the cost compares, but I've heard a lot of good things about the AeroGarden.

3/3/2008 4:20:39 PM

i got 2 gro-lights from wally world...they are like 10 a piece....they put out like 17 watts but the light is like 75 watts

3/3/2008 4:25:53 PM

I tried that in my old house. I hung 2 fluorescent light fixtures and put grow lights from Lowes in each one.. Didn't have my luck getting anything to live to long. I had the lights on a timer so that they got 12 hours of light a day and I don't know.. I could've done a million things wrong so hope you have better luck than I did.

3/3/2008 4:34:25 PM

We got some good ones from Home Depot whenever we tried to grow poppies, I forget the brand tho

They were like 80 for 2 lights

3/3/2008 4:34:54 PM

depends on how much you are willing to spend (time/money) to make it right.

3/3/2008 8:50:28 PM

I was looking at some of the setups, and I had no idea this could get so expensive. I figure I'll get something between $200-300 for this project and check out a garden center.

Are the lights used in reef tanks the same lights as garden grow lights?

3/3/2008 9:39:57 PM

Quote :

"I want to start growing my own cooking herbs"

BULLSHIT!

3/3/2008 9:40:27 PM

oh shit if you got 200-300 to spend you might as well grow some reefer

[Edited on March 3, 2008 at 9:44 PM. Reason : oh i thought this was a dude...]

3/3/2008 9:41:49 PM

Haha...uhh..no. Not growing weed...more like basil and lavender.

3/3/2008 9:56:43 PM

This is hardly cost effective.

3/3/2008 10:37:00 PM

how else is she gonna get fresh herbs?

3/3/2008 10:44:37 PM

If you still reside in raleigh, there is a really good hydro/light shop at the intersection of hillsborough and western. Its called Garden Waves/Works http://www.gardenwaves.com

As stated above, its not really cost effective unless you grow ganja something more profitable. In all honesty if you are serious about it, grow some tomatos, peppers, fruits, along with your herbs. I hope to take on a indoor hydro garden one day.

Be sure to ask the people in the store what you are trying to do, and ask for suggestions, they are helpful.

Good luck!

3/3/2008 10:44:55 PM

If your townhouse has a balcony that should be enough...rosemary by the way can stay outside all winter. Just picked some to eat w/ red-skinned potatoes mmm.

3/3/2008 11:44:14 PM

/message_topic.aspx?topic=507657

post any pics here

[Edited on March 3, 2008 at 11:48 PM. Reason : .]

3/3/2008 11:47:40 PM

$200-$300? on herbs? really?


surely you must mean herb.

3/3/2008 11:57:37 PM

You should get you a couple 1000 Watt high pressure sodium bulbs. They are sure to make your "cooking herbs" flourish.

3/4/2008 12:07:58 AM

also, get a timer from wally world...its like 5.38 before tax

3/4/2008 12:25:29 AM

just be careful how much juice your growing lights use - law enforcement can tell by your electricity usage if you are 'growing' something you shouldn't, based on past usage of the residence before you got there. far fetched, i know, but being paranoid has always served my best interests.

3/4/2008 1:31:33 AM

that aerogarden thing is $150, so if you're really just wanting to grow basil and whatnot, i'd go with that.

3/4/2008 8:07:49 AM

Quote :

"You should get you a couple 1000 Watt high pressure sodium bulbs. They are sure to make your "cooking herbs" flourish. "

3/4/2008 8:48:07 AM

i've grown my own herbs outside, but my friend has that aerogarden and i really want one. her herbs are growing in very thick and healthy. they seem kind of pricey (~$150), but i saw them at bed, bath, and beyond, so it would be cheaper if one used one of those 20% of coupons they send out all the time.

3/4/2008 8:55:38 AM

I'm not really interested in the Aero garden due to its size and how you have to keep using their seeds, their pods, and their mineral stuff. I want to grow a huge variety of herbs, and I've seen one of the Aerogardens in person, and it's a little bigger than a textbook.

I got a 3 story metal shelf, and I figure I'll just hook up some high output florescent lights on height adjustable cords. My house simply gets no direct light, only shade from the other houses around us and the woods

Thanks for the link to the hydroponics store. I definitely am going to check that out.

3/4/2008 9:26:11 AM