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Plant Some Veggie Boxes This Year!
A veggie box on stilts can make it easier to plant and harvest crops and is portable to move as needed around the yard for prime growing conditions. Learn how to start a veggie box in the garden with seeds and a small container to grow the plants.
Getting Started
The first step to getting started with a veggie box is the seed tray. Tomatoes, peppers and greens are best planted in seed trays or small plastic pots. Fill each pot or tray with soil, tamp down and lightly water. Make an indentation to put seedlings in. Cover up the hole with a little bit of soil and pat gently into place. Label each tray with the plant name and date. Label by row if planting many kinds of plants. Use a tray to place the seedling containers into for a better way of keeping soil moist.
Transplanting
When leaves first emerge are actually cotyledons, which provide food for seedlings. True leaves have a different appearance than cotyledons. Once the actual leaves come in, it is fine to transfer plants to temporary 4-inch pots, directly to a planting box or container.
Making the Box
Lettuces, greens, radishes, beets, strawberries and herbs are best suited to a 16-by-24 inch planting box. Beginners should work with an experienced woodworker the first few times to ensure safety while using equipment such as saws and drills. The following will be needed to get started:
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1-by-4-inch redwood, cedar or other untreated wood planks cut into various sizes
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Six planks 16 inches long (to make short sides of the box)
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Six planks 24 inches long (to make long sides of the box)
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Five planks 23 inches long (to make base of the box)
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2-by-2-inch redwood, cedar, other untreated wood cut into various sizes
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Four pieces 24 inches long (for the legs)
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Two pieces 12 inches long (to reinforce base of the box)
Tools
Having some tools of the trade will help in construction of the boxes. It may be helpful to work with a friend who already has the tools to save money and have fun making the boxes together.
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Tape measure
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Carpenter's Square
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Pencil
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Saw
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Power drill
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⅛ inch drill bit
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Screwdriver
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1 ⅝ inch outdoor deck screws (24-30)
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Work gloves and eye safety goggles
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Clamps, power screwdriver, jigsaw and chop saw are optional
Constructing the box can take some skill and practice but once it is done, the box will be a great way to get the veggie garden started.
Planting
Buy six-packs of seedlings or grow at home. Either way, the best way to begin is filling the box with potting soil. Water until damp, then lift baby plant from seed tray using a fork or spoon. Hold the plant carefully by the root ball and avoid mishandling the leaves or stem. Place plants in a new container, press soil firmly around. Watch the veggies grow before harvesting!
Get more advice on veggie planting this summer!
Contact one of our agents today.
