How to Build a Vegetable Planter Box

Gardening in a vegetable planter box provides a number of benefits. Soil in containers warms more easily than ground soil, so your plants will grow more quickly. You can build a planter box using hand tools and materials from your local home improvement store. Boxes that are three feet wide are recommended, since that width makes it easiest to weed and harvest from either side of the bed.

Things You'll Need

• Four 4X4 cedar posts, 1 foot long
• Four 2x6 boards of cedar or redwood, 3 feet long
• Four 2x6 boards of cedar or redwood, 6 feet long
• 4-inch #20 galvanized nails
• Two 8-inch C clamps
• 1/2-inch structural plywood, 4x8 sheet
• Hammer
• Saw
• Drill
• Bricks

Instructions

1. Lie one of the 4x4 posts on the ground on its side and put another 4x4 post three feet away. You will use two of the three-foot 2x6s to form one end of the box. Lay one of the 2x6's on top of the posts and line up the corners.

2. Nail the 2x6 into the 4x4 using two nails. Nail the first nail one and one half inches in from the edge and end of the board. Nail the second nail two and three-fourths inches from the edge and side of the board. Repeat on the other end of the 2x6 with the other 4x4 post. Add the second 2x6 board in the same manner.

3. Repeat Steps 2 and 3 to assemble the opposite end of the box.

4. Lift one end upright and attach one of the 12 foot 2x6's with a C clamp, holding the 2x6 against the 4x4. Nail it into place, putting the nail one and one half inch from the bottom of the board and three inches from the end, to account for the width of the end board. You want your nails to go into the 4x4 post. Put the second nail two and seven-eighths inches from the bottom and five inches from the end of the board. Repeat with the remaining boards.

5. Cut the plywood to fit the bottom of the box and drill eight to ten holes at random intervals, so your container can drain. Nail the plywood bottom onto your garden box. Place bricks or blocks under the box to allow for proper drainage.

References

• Container vegetable gardening
• Vegetable Gardening in Oregon