Wednesday 3 October 2012

How to make hot boxes / window boxes ...

I meant to write this post earlier in the year, but being the flake I am I never got round to it.

So here it is, a short how to make hot boxes or window boxes if you prefer type post.

My wife recently wrote a post about the 'Hot Boxes' as we've come to call them, you can read the post here (opens in new window)

These are easy to make, and are a good use of a sunny wall in your garden, or indeed on a window sill, especially good if you don't have much space.

You will need a few tools, tape measure, square, drill & screws or a hammer & nails, a saw & a pencil.

Basically you need to make a box with the wood you choose, I've used pallets (I seem to have loads lying about) having strips of wood like you get from pallets makes life a lot easier.


This is what ours turned out like -


Complete with radishes.

Okay so grab some wood - 


I'm going for the rustic look.

It's up to you how big you make yours, the one I'm making is 18inches long, so what you need is 5 pieces of wood, 2 cut to the same length, these 2 bits will make up the back and the bottom of the box, 2 side pieces and a front piece.


Fix them together like so - 


If you have an 'L' shape you're on the right track.


Next the sides, these fit onto each end of the 'L' shape - 


Almost done, that didn't take long.

You could fit the sides into the box, which may make things neater looking, but for ease of fitting this to a wall I've made it so the front can be removed easily by just undoing a few screws, obviously if you use nails then you won't be able to get the front off.

Then you just need to add the front section and add some holes for drainage, and it's done, the choice of finish is a preference thing, you can leave them rough as I have or sand them smooth before you paint them, the world is your lobster.


Front on and done - 


One 'Hot Box'

Simple really, and an easy way to use a wall or window sill, obviously growing large things isn't really an option, but we managed radishes and some small carrots, but herbs would do just as well or some spring onions, and if you manage to find some pallets they cost nothing, just a little time.


Thanks for reading.


5 comments:

  1. Saw this on the Mrs's blog :D - can I ask where you get/find all of these pallets or is it a secret?

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    Replies
    1. No secret, I still have a load of wood left over from building the chicken coop and greenhouse, I got them from a warehouse that was being renovated, they had loads of pallets left over from a delivery of insulation boards, I asked if I could have the pallets and the chap in charge said yes as they were only going to be thrown out, he even gave me a lift with them :-)

      Most places that get regular deliveries of large items will have pallets, just ask, most will say yes as it saves them from having to get rid of them, I have a regular supply from a Sheffield Insulation depot not far from us.

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  2. Half way through a great insightful comment and for some unknown reason the page refreshed and it all disappeared. The short version:

    These look great. Wish I was better with a hammer.

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  3. I saw another way of making a hanging garden on Gardens World a few years back that I've been meaning to try but just never got round to.

    It involves either batoning a wall or screwing a large piece of heavy mesh curtain to a wall and hanging pots or tubs off of it. We've never quite got round to doing that or making hanging troughs :)

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  4. Hi Just hopping around the blogring and saying hello.

    I am going to bookmark this post to show DH, think we will give these a go next year.
    Carol(Welcome to Our World)

    ReplyDelete