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Several years ago, I saw a picture of a lettuce table in a magazine and knew it was something that I wanted to eventually make for myself. The idea appealed to both my green thumb and my crafty side. When I started writing my book, Raised Bed Revolution, I decided that this project had been lingering on my garden wish list for long enough. And a new book project provided the perfect opportunity to get my act in gear and finally build it.
The lettuce table has been a very popular DIY project. In my raised bed talks and interviews, I love describing how easy it was to make. When I started to write Gardening Your Front Yard, my second gardening book, I knew I wanted to include some type of lettuce table. I ended up designing a lettuce side table that you could display between a couple of chairs with an edge wide enough for a cup of tea. Despite being smaller, that one is definitely more complicated to put together.
What’s so special about this particular lettuce table?
Rather than just build a table from brand new lumber, like the original I saw, I wanted to add a little style to this DIY. Originally I was on the hunt for vintage legs (I was going to build a box to sit on top of them separately), but as I was strolling through an antique market not far from my home, I came across this lovely little vintage find. The vendor apologized and explained that the table’s top was not nailed down, but could easily be reattached.
I suspect the top and bottom were not originally a true pair, but I wasn’t bothered because the lack of a top was actually a bonus! It made it easier to come up with a plan to transform the old piece into my lettuce table. I had my vintage legs, but I also had a great frame to work from to make the container part.
Lettuces only need about four to six inches to grow, so this old table frame created the perfect depth for growing greens. I have successfully grown a number of greens in my lettuce table, including radicchio, arugula, lettuces (Red Sails and Lolla Rossa Darkness are favorites!), baby pak choy, kale, and amaranth. I love being able to snip my own salads!
Materials to upcycle a lettuce table
- An old wooden table frame with the top removed
- Work gloves
- Measuring tape
- Hardware cloth (plastic* or metal)
- Wire cutters, tin snips or heavy-duty scissors (depending on whether you’re using plastic or metal hardware cloth)
- Staple gun or small nails and a hammer
- Thin wood strips to reinforce and cover the hardware cloth edges
- Screws and impact or screw driver to secure the wood strips
- A saw to cut the wood strips, if using
Putting your DIY project together
Flip your table, minus the top, upside down. With work gloves on, stretch the hardware cloth the length of the table and cut to size. (Hardware cloth is like chicken wire, but with small square holes instead of bigger round ones.) You want it to overlap the wood so that you can really secure it in place. Gloves are necessary because the edges are sharp!
I used nails to hold metal hardware cloth in place. You could probably use a heavy-duty staple gun.
Thin wood strips not only reinforced the hardware cloth, it also covered the sharp edges. I used screws to secure these pieces to the table.
* A note about plastic hardware cloth: Plastic hardware cloth is great for smaller table projects. It tends to sag under the weight of the soil, so be mindful of this when creating a bigger table. You may want to use two layers to withstand the weight.
Planting your lettuce table
Once whatever type of mesh is in firmly in place, flip your table over and line it with landscape fabric. Fill with potting soil formulated for growing vegetables and you’re ready to plant!
A note on longevity: I created the table in 2015 and it lasted until 2025. Ten years isn’t so bad. This is about the lifespan of a raised bed built from cedar. I did store the table in my shed in winter, but there was probably a lot of dampness compared to if I stored it in my garage. Eventually it started to rot and fall apart.
It is a great idea. I am trying to do the same sort of thing with my wooden drawer. Thanks for this lovely idea.
Ooh, that’s a good idea, too! Good luck with your project. 🙂
love this idea and can NOT wait to create my own! Thanks for this awesome inspo!
What an inspiring idea! I plan to take on this project with the children who live next door. It’s a great intro to gardening for a busy young family!
Thanks, Corinne! You’ll have to send a photo to show me how it turns out!
Tara
Awesome idea. Thank you for your inspiration.
This is a cool project and I have the perfect table. But, I’m disappointed that you have detailed instructions (put on your gloves?! HAHA), but nothing at all about how to finish the table for outdoor use. . . especially because the moist soil will quickly rot the wood from the inside.
Hi Bee,
I mentioned the following to another reader: You could line the sides (not the bottom) with plastic as a layer of protection between wet soil and the wood. I brought my table indoors over the winter to store. As for the outside, if you are looking to add a layer of protective coating to the wood on the outside of the table, I would be sure to use something non-toxic.
Tara
It looks great, but can you be sure the table does not contain any lead paint or other harmful chemicals which may affect the produce?
Hi Donna,
That’s a good question… what I usually recommend is if you’re unsure what the wood has been coated with, then line the inside of your table with plastic!
~Tara
It is now August of 2016, has your book been published and where can I find it?
I’ve been trying to find a book of ideas for DIY projects, and raised garden beds is just the thing, after 25 years behind the wheel, I can no longer bend over to work in a garden and I miss that.
Hi Gerry, my book is available at local bookstores, as well as on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Lowes. In Canada, you can find it at Chapters/Indigo stores, as well as in local bookstores. Here are some links: https://www.quartoknows.com/books/9781591866503/Raised-Bed-Revolution.html?direct=1
Hi Tara
Could I use this in a roundup on my blog with one photo and a link back please?
Thanks
Hi Medina, I will email you!
Thx,
Tara
I was wondering what you put on the bottom of your table. Did you use wood that hale holes in it to allow for drainage or did you line the bottom with something before putting the soil in it?
Hi Christine,
I took the top off the table and attached hardware cloth, which is like chicken wire, but with smaller holes, to the bottom. Then I flipped the table over and lined this “basket” area with landscape fabric and filled with soil. Hope this helps!
Tara
The lettuce table is a great idea. How did you waterproof the inside so the wood won’t deteriorate? I’d like to do something like this for a winter salad bed here in southern Arizona.
Hi Joy, to be honest, I didn’t waterproof the inside. You could line the sides (not the bottom) with plastic as a layer of protection between wet soil and the wood. I brought my table indoors over the winter to store.