Foam Box Gardens

Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive.

Some people are put off growing their own veggies because they think the initial outlay of materials will outweigh the cost saving of home grown produce. But there are many ways that you can save if you think creatively. Growing veggies in foam boxes from the green grocer is just the ticket. Most green grocers will delight in you taking the boxes to save them having to dispose of the boxes themselves. And it’s just so easy for you to grow food in them.

Foam boxes have the benefit of being free, being light weight and easy to move, providing insulation against extreme conditions for your plants and providing you with the opportunity to do your bit for the planet by recycling. You get two types: short open boxes with holes already in the base and taller enclosed broccoli boxes usually with a lid but no holes.

The short ones make a great container for growing herbs and lettuce mixes. Simply fill them with good quality organic potting mix suitable for herb and vegetables (or better still make your own compost and use that instead). Sow a few seeds on top and gently cover with sand. Keep this moist until seeds germinate and then watch them grow. Make sure you give them regular water especially in hot or windy conditions. You’ll be able to harvest your first lettuce leaves within a couple of months. Just pick the outer leaves so the plant will keep producing more.

Taller broccoli boxes will need to have holes carefully punched (or burnt with a heated metal skewer) into the base for drainage. Don’t make them too big otherwise you’ll lose all the soil! These pots are big enough for growing tomatoes, capsicum, eggplant (aubergine) and zucchinis. Simply transplant seedlings into the pots and give them a nice sunny position to grow in.

If you want to know what to plant then join The Veggie Club and you can see exactly what seeds to sow each month. It’s all free information and I’ll give you other tips on growing organic produce for your backyard.