Craig Wallace, 31, was snared after police searched his former home in Birch Walk, Hartlepool, and discovered the stash of plants that were at different stages of development.
Stephen Hill, prosecuting at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court, said: "Poli
ce went around to his house, searched it and found 17 plants in the out-house and 51 they described as small saplings growing in the kitchen cupboard."
He said experts described the 51 as "poor specimens" in plastic cups.
Mr Hill said officers were concerned with 14 plants described as being of "decent quality" and the court heard there was a potential street value of £250 a plant.
Mr Hill said Wallace, now of Northgate, on Hartlepool's Headland, said the cannabis was for his own use to help him relax.
The court heard there was no suggestion that Wallace was selling it or had the intention to do so.
John Relton, mitigating, said: "I think an average can produce £250. We are not saying these plants were in this state.
"This was an amateurish attempt at growing cannabis."
He said Wallace had recently lost his employment and there was "not a great deal going on" as he was suffering from a broken leg.
"It's a situation where he has been caught and a lesson has been learned," Mr Relton added.
Wallace, pleaded guilty to being concerned in the production of a quantity of cannabis, a class B drug, on November 6.
He was fined £65 and ordered to pay £172 costs and £15 victim surcharge.
Magistrates ordered that the plants be destroyed.
