How to Build a Plant Table

Plant tables, or salad tables or salad boxes, are portable garden beds in a wood-and-screen frame. They make gardening easier for those with limited space or mobility by creating a convenient space to use to grow leafy greens, small fruiting plants like strawberries and dwarf peppers and culinary herbs. Plant tables are easy and inexpensive to make and use, and can extend the growing season if used with heavy clear plastic before the last frost date. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Cut the board into two 30-inch lengths and two 18-inch pieces for the table's frame.

2

Attach one 18-inch piece of wood to one 30-inch piece of wood by screwing them together into an L shape. Do the same with the other two pieces of wood. Attach them to form a box shape by screwing them together. Make sure the box form is sturdy by pushing in on opposite corners at the same time. If there is movement, add more screws or use lumber fasteners for reinforcement.

3

Use the wire snips to cut the window screen and hardware cloth to fit the bottom of the box frame. Attach the screen to the bottom inside with the staple gun. Attach the hardware cloth to the bottom, over the screen, with the U-shaped fasteners. The screen and hardware cloth have to support a couple of pounds of soil when the table is filled and planted, so make sure they are both attached firmly, with no gaps.

4

Optionally, add drawer handles on each side if desired, and set on top of saw horses to use at waist height.

5

Fill the planting table with potting soil and plant with seeds or seedlings. Plant lettuces and herbs or small plants such as strawberries. Add compost and organic matter for heavy feeding plants.