How a Grow Box Works for Plants

Materials

• Several companies sell grow boxes in varying designs, but grow boxes are usually rectangular plastic boxes that include a fertilizer strip and water chamber. The boxes use potting mix and dolomite rather than garden soil and may also contain an aeration filter and mulch screen.

Benefits

• Grow boxes provide ideal growing conditions for vegetables and other plants. The growing medium is lightweight, drains well and is disease and weed free. The fertilizer strip and automatic watering system eliminates the guesswork, providing plants with optimal levels of moisture and nutrients at all times. Grow boxes work well for most vegetables, including tomatoes, bush beans, bush summer squash, onions, lettuce and broccoli. They take up little space and require much less maintenance than a traditional garden.

Drawbacks

• The biggest drawback to grow boxes is their cost. For the gardener hoping to grow a few tomato plants and lettuce on a patio, grow boxes are a good investment. Grow boxes are probably too expensive though for a gardener wanting to grow enough produce to feed a family. They may not be deep enough for root vegetables, such as carrots and potatoes, and large plants, such as watermelon and pumpkins, won't have adequate room to spread.

Recommendations

• Consider grow boxes if you live in an apartment or have limited yard space. Grow boxes are also good for those new to gardening, or those with limited time or physical limitations. To grow many vegetables, though, a traditional garden is the least expensive option. Raised beds have many of the benefits of a grow box at a fraction of the cost.