How to Grow a Patio Lettuce Garden

Do you have a small patio and would love to have fresh salad greens? Early red leaf lettuce can be grown easily this spring with a few simple supplies.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• All purpose mixing tub
• Potting soil
• Lettuce plants or seeds
• Heavy duty stand
• Drill with small bit
• Gravel

1. 
   Mixing tub

   Go to your neighborhood supply store and find an all-purpose heavy duty plastic mixing tub. Good dimensions are 26 gal, 36x24x8 inches.

2. It is helpful to find a folding stand or table that will hold your mixing tub so that is at an easy work height. We found one that folds and holds up to 750 lbs at our local Home Depot. It was near the saw horse area.

3. Drill through the storage bin to create a few drainage holes -- one in each corner and one in the middle. Then line the storage bin with gravel to help with drainage.

4. Place your prepared planter in a location that receives about 6 hours of sunlight.

5. 
   Potting soil for vegetables.

   Add your potting soil and plant your seeds or seedlings. Butterleaf and romaine need about eight inches between each plant; crisp lettuce needs about 12-14 inches.

6. Water your plants lightly and often and enjoy!

Tips & Warnings

• Water your lettuce plants lightly.
• Trim leaves and enjoy them in salads and sandwiches -- the plant will keep giving you lettuce until mid to late summer depending on your location. (I am in the mid-atlantic area.)
• Be sure of your planting site before you add soil -- it will be heavy.
• Don't water your plants too heavily.

Resources

• eHow Spring Guide