Grow a Garden in a Container for Continual Supply of Salad Greens

Grow salad greens in a container. Any old tub or basket or wooden crate will do. Even a distressed dresser or bureau drawer has been used. An old five gallon bucket is said to be one of the most useful tools on earth. In poorer countries a multitude has been grown within it.

Salad Greens have Shallow Roots Ideal for Container Gardening

There are only a few requirements for successful container gardening: space, sunlight, a container, soil and seedlings. Just add water and fertilizer-as simple as baking a cake. Before long, salad leaves and nasturtiums will provide a continuous supply of home-grown greens and edible flowers. Most salad greens have shallow roots which make them ideal for containers. Lettuces, rocket, even mustards will thrive in just three inches of soil. Other shallow-rooted varieties like Oakleaf lettuce and spring onions and baby carrots would also be suitable vegetables. Add some basil and parsley for salads all summer long.

Cut-and-Come Again

Generally, lettuce-like greens sprout soon after planting. Thinnings will be ready in about four weeks. A special mix of cut-and-come-again salad leaves can be cut like flowers. The leaves will continue to grow from the base for a second and third helping. Sow some annuals, especially edible flowers like calendula, chives, pansy, nasturtiums and borage and create what the French call a ‘potager’, a combination of edibles and flowers. Use shallow, large-mouthed containers with large surface areas.

A Salad Table

A ‘salad table’ is a new take on container vegetable gardening. Making one from scratch is not difficult and is an excellent way to engage any teenager interested in woodworking. ‘The Salad Table’ was originated by the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension. Essentially, it is a shallow wooden frame-like box with large surface and a mesh bottom which allows water to drain. If it is built waist high (which will need legs) it can be used by anybody challenged with physical impairment. Children love it.

Suggested Materials to Make a Salad Table

Untreated framing timbers, galvanized wood screws, staples, roofing nails and some ½ inch wire mesh are needed. Legs are optional.

1. Build a box frame, using cross pieces to make three roughly similar sections.
2. Center the mesh on the outside bottom of the frame using a staple gun or simple picture tacks.
3. Wrap the leftover mesh up and along the sides of the frame and staple them.

Once built, fill the frame with soil-less compost. This is important. Soil directly from the garden will be too heavy and will hold too much water. Any commercial potting compost will do. A liquid fertilizer with nitrogen is also required. Apply it twice a month. Keep the ‘Salad Table’ in semi-shade to ensure the plants won’t dry out. For more complete directions on constructing a ‘Salad Table’ visit University of Maryland’s website.