A salad tower is an excellent way to grow fresh greens in a compact space. It’s easy to make, cost-effective, and ideal for small patios or balconies. Follow these simple steps to create your very own vertical salad garden.
What You’ll Need
- A tall food-grade plastic bucket (25 liters/6.6 gallons recommended).
- Chicken wire.
- All-purpose potting mix.
- Lettuce plug plants or seeds.
- Basic tools: marker, drill, knife, ruler, heat gun (or hairdryer).
Step 1: Create Planting Pockets
- Mark the Bucket:
- Measure the bucket height (e.g., 40 cm/16 in).
- Plan three rows of planting pockets: bottom (5 cm/2 in from base), middle (staggered between top and bottom rows), and top (10 cm/4 in from the rim).
- Space slits 15 cm/6 in apart, with each slit 13 cm/5 in long.
- Cut the Pockets:
- Drill holes at the ends of each slit for easy cutting.
- Use a serrated knife to cut the slits.
- Form the Pockets:
- Heat the plastic around each slit using a heat gun or hairdryer until pliable.
- Insert a wine bottle or wooden batten into each slit and press gently to create a lip. Hold for 20-30 seconds until the plastic cools and sets.
- Add Drainage Holes:
- Drill several holes in the bucket’s base to prevent waterlogging.
Step 2: Prepare the Central Tube
- Cut chicken wire to form a tube half the diameter of the bucket.
- Secure the tube with ties or fold the edges to hold its shape.
- This tube will improve airflow and hold compostable kitchen scraps to feed your plants.
Step 3: Fill the Tower
- Dampen the potting mix.
- Add a layer of potting mix to the bucket base.
- Position the chicken wire tube in the center and fill around it with potting mix, pressing it down as you go.
Step 4: Plant Your Salad Tower
- Use your fingers or a stick to make holes in the planting pockets.
- Insert lettuce plugs or sow seeds into each hole. Firm the mix around the roots.
- Alternate planting positions in each row to maximize space.
- Add five lettuce plugs to the top of the tower.
Step 5: Care for Your Salad Tower
- Watering:
- Water thoroughly from the top and into each pocket.
- In hot weather, water daily to ensure consistent moisture.
- Feeding:
- Fill the central tube with compostable scraps like vegetable peelings and fruit cores.
- Top up the tube as scraps decompose to release nutrients into the soil.
- Use a plant pot to cap the tube if odors or flies are a concern.
Step 6: Harvesting
- Pick one or two outer leaves from each plant at a time to encourage continued growth.
- Rotate the tower occasionally for even sunlight exposure.
Why Build a Salad Tower?
- Saves space and eliminates weeds.
- Repels slugs and pests when placed on patios.
- Recycles kitchen scraps into plant nutrients.
- Provides fresh, homegrown salads for months!
With minimal effort and resources, you’ll have a thriving vertical garden producing delicious greens all season long.