Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with windowbox

Help me design a tall skinny flat window box fan

Aquaman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 14:50:56 -0800

Help me design a tall skinny flat window box fan! I've got an idea for a box fan that consists of about a half dozen small PC-type fan enclosures mounted into a tall (3'-4' high), skinny (4" wide), flat (thickness of the fan enclosures) window box.

This insert would go into a side-sliding Milgard window, opened to the security stop (about 4" to the left). I'd like to put an in-line switch on the wire, and run it to a nearby outlet.

Here's where I need help: any suggestions for make and model of fan? And how can I wire these all together to run off of a standard 110v AC outlet? Thanks for your advice!

Window Garden of Eden, Baby, Don't You Know That I Love You?

Parasite Unseen — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 12:02:10 -0800

Help me make my window garden a success. I've recently moved into a new apartment, and one of the things that drew me to it was the large, beautiful windows. I leave them open around the clock, and they're a great source of natural light, but I've decided that they can be of even greater use to me. I'd like to put in a set of window box gardens to provide me with some fresh produce. This is my first time attempting anything of this nature, however, so I figured I'd come here to ask for some help.

My windows face south, and (at least this time of year) they get light throughout the majority of the day. My floor is taller than the surrounding buildings, so the only shade that the window boxes would get would come from my own building. I live in Los Angeles, so the Southern California climate should be taken into account.

What I'm looking to get here is advice on what sorts of things can be easily grown my beginners given the factors mentioned above. Please note that I do not like onions, and although I know from past experience that mint is ridiculously easy to grow, I'm not looking to grow any more of it at the moment. Also, and tips or tricks that you've found useful in maintaining window box gardens of your own would be greatly appreciated.

Hydroponic and/or solar-powered container gardening?

allterrainbrain — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 01:26:04 -0800

Solar-powered and/or hydroponic apartment gardening: have you done it or something like it? Do you like or dislike any commercial solar kits or hydroponics kits, or suppliers of seeds & equipment for container gardening? I'm good with plants, but I haven't gardened with a focus on producing food since I was a kid. I've started doing research on container gardening, minimal solar systems, and hydroponics -- both on mefi & elsewhere. I'm looking to set up a system that will pay for itself within a couple of years (cost of all the gear vs. what I'd pay for the amount of organic produce it produces), so we're probably talking under $1000.

So this question is about putting those three elements together with budget as a big factor, and about specific crops to try. I'm thinking cherry tomatoes, strawberries, basil, mint -- generally, any stuff I like that's both expensive to buy organic and decently efficient to grow in a container.

Have you done this or anything like it?? What were your successes & failures? Do you recommend any particular suppliers of hydroponic kits, solar kits, or seeds?

For reference: I'm in NYC, facing south-by-southwest with sun all day; I pay for my own electricity; and I have only a fire escape (no balcony), so I can only put very minimal amounts of stuff outside -- we're talking shallow windowboxes plus hydroponic containers just inside the windows with additional (artificial) lighting. Thanks for all thoughts!

What are good plants to put in a window box?

greycap — Sat, 29 Oct 2005 10:54:32 -0800

Help me pick some plants to go in a window box. My new flat has several window boxes. At the moment they just have soil in them, but I'm looking to buy some plants for them. Can anyone recommend some interesting plants to put in them that will look nice, but require a low level of maintenance? Bonus points for any hardy herbs that I can put in the kitchen window box.