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This easy-to-build, inexpensive, and portable salad box was adapted from a design by University of Maryland Cooperative Extension specialist Jon Traunfeld to make growing fresh greens accessible to everyone. Growing salad in a box allows you to move your greens into the sun in early spring, into the shade during the heat of summer, and up onto a table and out of the reach of rabbits! Best of all, the salad that comes from this box is easy to harvest and enjoy.
Check out Traunfeld's plans for a larger salad table at hgic.umd.edu in the free online publications section.
What you'll need:
Hand saw
One 8' pine or cedar 1' 5 4' board
Screwdriver
Eight 1 5/8" galvanized screws
Scissors or wire snips
Window screen
1/4" hardware cloth, or metal lath
Staple gun and 1/2" staples
U-shaped nails
Handles (optional)
Four 3/4" galvanized screws (for handles)
Soilless potting mix
Granulated organic fertilizer
Seeds or seedlings
The Steps
1. Using a hand saw, cut the board into two 18-inch pieces and two 30-inch pieces, which will form the box's frame.
2. Build the first half of the box by screwing one short piece of wood to one long piece to form an L shape. Repeat with the remaining wood pieces. Create the box frame by screwing the two L-shaped halves together. Use two 1 5/8-inch screws at each joint.
3. Cut the window screen and a piece of hardware cloth or lath to fit the box's bottom. Use staples to attach the screen, and U-shaped nails to tack the hardware cloth to the bottom of the box, making sure that the screen is the inside layer. Attach the handles, if using.
4. Fill the box with potting mix to within 1 inch of the top. Mix in organic fertilizer per the label's instructions. Pre-moisten the mix and adjust the soil level if necessary. Plant seeds or starts of lettuce, greens, or herbs. Build two or three boxes so you can plant successive crops of salad.
