How to Build a Grow Room in a Shed for Seed Gathering Season

Trees are incredibly important. They reduce pollution, store carbon, prevent flooding, provide vital habitats for a multitude of organisms, and also help to enhance our health. By gathering seeds and growing them into trees, we can all help ensure that our tree population thrives.

It is really easy to get involved in seed gathering and then go on to plant and nurture new trees. The Tree Council has put together this useful guide to seed gathering, together with a guide to growing trees from seed.

As well as growing trees, you might also think about growing other types of plants. Growing your own food crops is incredibly satisfying, but if you are thinking about growing them in the great outdoors the traditional way, you may well have quite a challenge on your hands. The alternative is hydroponics. This is the science of growing plants without using soil, by feeding them on mineral nutrient salts dissolved in water. This way, you are not at the mercy of external threats such as the weather and natural predators.

One way to grow hydroponic or organic plant is under grow lights in a garden shed. The likes of cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes are ideal crops for this type of gardening. If the thought of producing your own food appeals, read on for tips on how to build a grow room in a shed.

Step 1: Weather proof your shed

Your shed will need to be perfectly watertight if you are going to go down the route of hydroponics. This is because you will be installing electrical equipment in your shed, and also because you will need to create the ideal indoor growing climate.

Check the roof is sound, the door and windows form good seals, that there are no leaks anywhere and that your shed has been regularly treated with a weather protective coating. You may wish to consider buying a new garden shed if you are not confident that your existing one is waterproof enough for your growing venture.

Step 2: Install a power supply

You will need a dedicated power supply to your shed to support your grow room and grow lights. It is not recommended to run a domestic extension lead from the house. Not only would this be unsuitable for the job, it would be dangerous too.

Engage a qualified electrician to install a dedicated power supply using an armoured external cable which is preferably fitted below ground. This should run directly from the mains supply, with mains sockets installed within the shed.

Step 3: Ensure the shed is well-insulated

You are looking to create a warm environment in which to grow your crops. For this reason, your shed will need to be well-insulated.

If your shed is newly purchased and is constructed from Western Red Cedar, a naturally insulating material, then you should be ready to go. But if it’s an older shed, it may be necessary to line it with insulated boarding or sheeting. This will help promote a healthy growing temperature year-round, as well as boosting the efficiency of your grown room heating system.

Step 4: Make sure your shed is adequately ventilated

You will need to ensure that your grow room has adequate ventilation. Airflow is vital to the success of hydroponics systems. It will allow your plants to breathe in carbon dioxide and move the oxygen out from the growing area.

In a garden shed grow room, to create consistent air movement, you can use designed-for-purpose air exchange systems such as air blowers or can fans. You may also wish to invest in a fan speed controller which will automatically adjust the speed of the cooling fans depending on the temperature. Do consider noise pollution when choosing your airflow solution.

Hopefully these steps will help you better understand how to build a grow room in your shed.

Need a new garden shed to support your new found love of growing your own? Talk to Surrey Hills Garden Buildings.

At Surrey Hills Garden Buildings, we have become the trusted name in Surrey for all types of garden buildings, including garden sheds.

Why not pay a visit one of our dedicated show sites to view our extensive range of sheds? Our family run team is on hand to provide you with friendly, expert advice on choosing the right shed for your needs, with guidance on connecting it up with all the power you need for your grow room needs.

You are also welcome to get in touch for tailored advice. We look forward to speaking to you.