Planter Containers for the Backyard Greenhouse: Grow Lettuce, Radishes and More

In an earlier article, I gave you a working description of how to construct a small greenhouse in the back yard. Now, I want to take a couple of minutes and discuss planting containers for your newly constructed greenhouse. Like anything else, you have the choice of going very expensive or being a bit more frugal. There are main varieties of planters available on the commercial market, and most of them will do an adequate job of growing your plants. However, if you want to plant 20 to 30 tomato plants, a dozen pepper plants, etc., the cost of containers can easily surpass what you paid to construct your greenhouse. I want to offer a few options for you to consider.

The items I will be offering for your consideration are all things that I have used in my greenhouses in the past. Like anything else I have had a varying degree of success with my experiments. Some years a planter works great and the next year the same produce will not grow in it. So I offer no guarantees, but all have worked for my purposes at one time.

Six quart ice cream containers can be used as planters for leaf lettuce, like Black Seeded Simpson, radishes, midget carrots, to name just a few. Smaller plastic ice containers can be used as window planters for lettuce or herbs! With all containers it is important to drill several small holes in the lower sides or bottom to allow access water to drain. Also you must watch closely the moisture in the smaller planters to assure that they do not dry out. Remember a greenhouse will get twenty to thirty degrees hotter than the outside temperature. If you have planted roses or other larger potted plants I hope you retained those containers. These will work well for large plants, like peppers and tomatoes.

A method that we used to grow lettuce, radishes, and carrots was to build a table approximately thirty six inches in total height. We made this out of a ¾ inch piece of 4' x 8' plywood and used 4 x4 treated posts for legs. First we built a frame out of 2x4's. Each side was 8 foot long and the ends were 4 foot. You can lay this out on your sheet of plywood to make sure that the measurements are correct. Than every two foot we screwed, using 3 inch wood screws, a cross piece into the frame. This frame is screwed on the legs so that when you place the sheet of plywood on it is approximately 7 inches lower than the tops of the legs. You will than need to cut a ¾ inch piece of plywood to make the sides and ends for your growing bed. While it doesn't have to be perfectly level the closer it is the easier it will be for you. I than take a piece of 6 mil black plastic and line the bed. Make sure not to punch any holes in the plastic. Fit to corners as well as you can, leaving 3-4 inches overlap on each side. Fill bed with top soil and if you would like you can mix Miracle Grow into this mixture. While initial cost of this bed is high properly cared for you can use it for several years. After each planting loosen soil and add nutrients of some type. I have also placed night crawlers in the bed to aid in fertilization, plus I have fishing bait! You can grow lettuce, carrots, radishes, and a variety of herbs in this bed. And you don't have to bend over to plant, water, or harvest! Happy growing!