How to Make a Wagon Container Garden

Creative Container Gardening

Forget long, boring rows of lettuce. Add a whimsical touch of fun to your garden this year. This little red wagon is re-purposed as a container garden perfect for growing lettuce plants, spinach and herbs.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• An old toy wagon
• Drill and 1/4" metal drill bit
• All natural or organic potting soil
• Lettuce seeds
• Peat moss

1. Clean the wagon, and allow to dry. With a 1/4" metal drill bit, drill three rows of drainage holes every three or four inches.

2. Fill the wagon with a good quality, all natural or organic potting soil to 1/2" from the top. Water the soil well, and allow to drain before seeding.

3. Plant your seeds of lettuce, spinach or herbs in four rows, leaving the seeds on top of the soil. The wagon pictured has two rows of butter leaf lettuce, and two rows of romaine. Or, use starter plants from your home and garden center.

4. Sprinkle a thin layer of peat moss over the seeded soil and water. Use a watering can or hose sprayer with a light spray to avoid disturbing the seeds. Keep the soil moist to ensure germination.

5. As your lettuce grows, thin the plants if necessary, according to directions on the seed packets. Rather than harvesting entire heads of lettuce, pull off leaves as needed. Your plants will continue to grow for some time.

6. Hot summer weather can be hard on lettuce. Moving the lettuce bed to a cooler, somewhat shady spot on hot days will help protect the leaves from burning in the sun.