If you’re short on space but want to grow a variety of fresh greens, a vertical salad tower is the perfect solution. It’s an affordable, efficient way to grow more in a smaller area, and building one is surprisingly simple.
Materials Needed:
- Food-grade plastic bucket (25 liters or 6.6 US gallons recommended)
- Chicken wire (for creating the central structure)
- Potting mix
- Lettuce plug plants (varieties for diverse shapes and textures)
- Tools: Sharp serrated knife, drill, ruler, marker pen, heat gun or hairdryer
Step 1: Preparing the Bucket
Start with a tall bucket (around 16 inches high). This will give you enough space for multiple rows of planting pockets.
- Mark your planting slits on the sides of the bucket. Space the slits 5 inches apart horizontally, leaving 6 inches between each row. You’ll have three rows of slits: one near the bottom, one near the top, and one in the middle, staggered between the top and bottom rows for optimal space.
Step 2: Cutting the Slits
Using a sharp serrated knife, cut slits along the marked lines. Start by drilling small holes at the ends of each slit to make cutting easier. Keep the bucket’s lid on during this step to maintain its shape.
Once the slits are cut, use a heat gun or a powerful hairdryer on its highest setting to soften the plastic around each slit. After softening the plastic, wedge something like a wine bottle into the slit to open it up and hold it in place while it cools. This forms the planting pocket’s lip.
Step 3: Adding Drainage
To prevent water from collecting at the bottom, drill several drainage holes in the base of the bucket. This allows excess water to escape, preventing root rot and ensuring healthy growth.
Step 4: Prepare the Central Tube
Cut a piece of chicken wire large enough to form a tube that fits snugly inside the bucket. The tube should be about half the bucket’s diameter and will serve two purposes:
- To keep the tower’s interior aerated.
- To house kitchen scraps, which will naturally decompose and feed the plants.
Step 5: Assembling the Tower
Fill the bottom of the bucket with a handful of damp potting mix, then position the chicken wire tube. Continue filling with more potting mix, pressing it down gently as you go. Be sure to keep the chicken wire upright and centered as you fill.
Step 6: Planting Your Greens
In each planting pocket, create a small hole in the soil and insert a lettuce plug plant. Firm the soil around it to secure the plant. Choose a variety of lettuce with different leaf shapes and textures for visual appeal. At the top of the tower, plant five more lettuce plugs, spaced to align with the middle row of pockets.
Step 7: Watering and Feeding
Once planted, give your tower a thorough watering, ensuring that each planting pocket receives moisture. The lips of the pockets will hold water, giving the plants time to absorb it.
For feeding, use the central chicken wire tube to store compostable kitchen scraps (like vegetable peels, fruit cores, and carrot tops). As the scraps decompose, they’ll release nutrients into the surrounding potting mix. If worried about odor, place a plastic plant pot over the top of the tube to contain smells and pests.
Step 8: Maintenance and Harvesting
Water your salad tower regularly, especially during hot weather. Rotate the tower occasionally to ensure even sun exposure.
For harvesting, cut outer leaves from each plant to encourage new growth from the center. Harvesting in this way will allow the plants to continue producing for weeks or even months.
Conclusion
A vertical salad tower is an excellent way to grow fresh, healthy greens in a small space. It’s easy to build, cost-effective, and sustainable, especially with the added benefit of using kitchen scraps to feed your plants. With regular care, your salad tower can provide you with fresh lettuce and other leafy greens for months.