No Garden Space? Try a Washtub Salad Garden

Container gardening works wonders in small spaces. I usually think of flowers growing in containers, but vegetables work great in containers too. Veggies just need to be watered and fertilized a bit more frequently than when they’re planted in the ground, but since you can keep containers closer to the door or patio, it probably won’t be a problem to water and feed your plants more often. Anything that can be grown in the ground can also be grown in containers — even trees! You’ll just need bigger pots for the bigger plants. 

If you have an old washtub lying around your garage or attic — or you run across something of a similar size and shape during your weekend yard sale rounds – these old tubs make wonderful containers for small salad gardens. 

Drill drainage holes in the bottom of the tub, add a couple of inches of sand or gravel to the bottom, fill with potting soil, stir in some compost and vegetable fertilizer, water thoroughly, wait a week or so, and then plant with a variety of salad fixings. 

You can include in your washtub salad garden: 

Cucumber vines and cherry tomatoes. A trellis near the back of the washtub can be used for training these vegetables to grow up and out of the washtub.Leaf lettuce. Plant in the middle of the tub in front of the trellis.Radishes and green onions. A ring of small radishes and onions can grow around the edge of the tub.Marigolds or nasturtiums. These add a spot of color and really move your garden from the world of “practical” into the realm of “decorative.” 

Keep your washtub salad garden in a sunny spot near the kitchen door and you’ll be ready at a moment’s notice to throw together a tasty treat for yourself or your family. Even just adding one homegrown salad each week to your family’s diet is an inexpensive and healthy change of pace. I’ve seen these salad gardens on sunny front porches, and they add a cute, rustic touch to the front entry.