How do I construct grow-boxes?

To build grow-boxes, you can use lumber, cement, bricks, or other suitable building materials. This lesson will illustrate how to construct a lumber grow-box.

Step 1: Level the Ground Level enough ground for each box area.

Step 2: Stake Out the Dimensions Establish the location of the corners of the grow-box with a cord. Tie the cord securely to the stakes.

NOTE: Corners should be square (90°) unless the area is an irregular shape.

Step 3: Drive Stakes Along One Side Nine inches from a corner, along one side, drive the first stake into the ground, to a depth of about nine inches. Always drive stakes on the outside edges of the grow-box, never on the inside edges.

Drive the stakes about 30 inches apart along the cord line for one side of the box. When nailed securely to the leveled 1” x 8” boards, the top edges of the boards and stakes should be level (flush).

Step 4: Nail Side Board to First Stake Nail a 1” x 8” side board flush with the top of the stake nearest the box end. Drive the stake and side board deeper together until the bottom edge of the side board touches the ground. Proceed to the second stake.

Step 5: Attach Additional Stakes To attach the second stake to the side board, place a level on the top edge of the side board and raise or lower the board to a level position. Then drive the second stake deeper until flush with the leveled board. Nail the board to the stake with two nails. Repeat this procedure for each stake until reaching the other end of the box.

Step 6: Splice Side Boards Side boards require splicing. Here are two kinds of splice:

For one kind, take a 12-inch-long 1” x 8” board and nail it across the joint where the side board ends meet.
For another kind of splice, drive a 1” x 2” x 18” long stake, centered where the boards butt together. Nail the board ends to the stake.

Step 7: Attach End-Pieces Nail an end-piece to each end of the leveled side.

Step 8: Level End-Pieces Drive a stake near the center of both end-pieces in line with the cord. Place the level like a triangle across the tops of both side and end-boards. Level the end-board, drive the stake to the proper depth, and nail to the end-piece. Repeat the same procedure for the opposite end of the box.

Step 9: Attach Last Side Board To level the opposite side board, place the level again like a triangle across the end-piece and the top of the 1”x 8” side board. Level the side board to match the end piece. Drive the stake to the proper depth and nail the board to the stake. Repeat the procedure to attach the board to the other stakes as with the first side board.

Garden Genius

Here are the tools you will need to construct grow-boxes. Which do you need to get?

Regular claw hammer
Three-pound hammer or mall
A level at least two feet long
100 feet of strong cord

You need the following materials to construct one 18” x 30’ x 8” grow box.

63 feet of 1”x 8” redwood or cedar
24—1”x 2”x 18” long pointed redwood or cedar stakes

How much lumber (in board feet) will you need to construct your grow-boxes?

1” x 8” redwood or cedar

1”x 2”x 18” pointed redwood or cedar stakes

This information will be included in the Tools and Materials List in the Garden Genius. Be sure to print out this list before exiting this site.

Tips

Construction Hints for Building Many Grow-Boxes More Food From Your Garden (p. 39)
Tools and Materials for Building Mini Grow-Boxes Gardening by the Foot (pp. 37-39)
Building 5’ by 30’ Grow-Boxes More Food From Your Garden

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Tip of the Day

It's Spring Planting Time! For those of you in the Northern hemisphere who have winters, March and early April are the time you need to be preparing your soil and planting the hardy vegetable crops such as radishes, peas, cabbage and broccoli.

The freeze/thaw cycles of winter have broken up and loosened most soils, so as soon as it's not muddy, go in and give everything a good weeding with the 2-way hoe (see Tools). Weeding thoroughly this early gives you the upper hand, and is very important.

If you grew a Mittleider garden last year, your beds will be easy to re-make. Just apply Pre-Plant and Weekly Feed to the bed area, then till them in, place strings on your stakes, and re-make the beds.

Be sure to re-check the level of each bed accurately, since they may have changed a little. Do not be satisfied with anything more than 1" fall in a 30'-long soil-bed. Good Gardening!

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