Police who spotted a "nervous" looking driver found he had drugs in his car and at his flat.
Officers spotted Barry George driving in Bristol in the early hours of February 24 last year.
When they pulled him over he was found to have cannabis in his car boot and a cannabis growing set-up at his rented home in Knowle West.
George, 43, formerly of Leinster Avenue in Knowle West but now of Blackthorn Road in Hartcliffe, pleaded guilty to cultivating cannabis.
Judge Martin Picton imposed a 12-month prison sentence suspended for 12 months.
He told George to perform 150 hours' unpaid work and ordered him to pay £200 costs and a victim surcharge.
He told George: "You decided to grow some cannabis clearly for a financial benefit.
"Do not come back to court."
Julian Howells, prosecuting, told Bristol Crown Court police found 18.4g of cannabis in the boot of George's car.
Mr Howells told the court: "He said he found it on a park bench in Hartcliffe.
"A search of his home revealed quite a significant set up, with 24 plants in pots and a bucket containing 354g of cannabis material."
Mr Howells said the likely yield of George's cannabis crop was some 960g.
Clare Fear, defending, said a factor which contributed to her client's offending was the end of an 18 year relationship.
Miss Fear said her client had potentially got a job.
She said: "He wants to put this matter behind him and get on with his life."
