Vegetable boxes
Vegetable boxes have become very popular. Whether it's because you rent and would like to take your garden with you, your soil is poor so raised beds are the best option, or you have problems bending and the height allows you to continue to enjoy the garden. Maybe you just like the look of them.
No matter what the reason there are certain things you must know to grow a sucessful boxed garden.
First things first
Firstly make or find a box that suits your needs. The ones we have used at the nursery are apple crates from the local orchard you can usually purchase these used or new. We also have the smaller crates called cherry boxes. To prepare your box to get the most years out of it oil it heavily inside and out. If you want colour you can purchase oils with colour.
We recommend this especially if you are using a preloved box as it has already been weathered.
Next line it with a heavy duty platic and staple it to the sides so it doesn't slip. You can now cap it if you like to finish the look. We used old fence palings where the boxes above were made with higher grade materials which I'm certain will last longer than ours.
Remember......its a large pot
Now you have your box shift it to where you want it as you won't be able to move it once it's full.
Cut holes in the base to make certain it will drain and place some scoria or drainage material on the base to a depth of 30cm for long rooted crops or deeper for more shallow rooted plants. This is a must or your plants will drown.
As this is actually a large pot it must be treated as such so light potting mix is the best you can use. You can buy it by the metre from your local soil yard.
Mix some organic fertilizer through it and you're ready to plant.
Remember to fertilize when the plants are growing as you would your pots. You can also plant in your box, plants that will help feed your other plants. These are nitrogen fixing and mineral accumulating plants.
Come and talk to us or contact us to find out more.