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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
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  1. Home
  2. DIY

Melissa makes a lettuce table planter

Turn old furniture into a useful and quirky vegie plot. - by Melissa King
  • 19 Mar 2021

Don’t let a lack of space put you off growing your own greens. You can create a vegie plot out of anything – even a piece of old furniture. So have a bit of fun with your tools and re-purpose a lovely old desk as a mini vegie plot. Then all you need is sunshine and regular watering for your own handy salad bowl.

Gather your supplies

  • Old table or desk
  • Steamer trays (2)
  • Exterior paint in two colours
  • Outdoor furniture wax
  • Quality vegetable potting mix
  • Assorted salad greens, marigolds, nasturtiums

You’ll also need

Pencil; tape measure; ruler; drill; 10mm bit; jigsaw; 120-grit sandpaper; sanding block; paint roller and tray; fine steel wool; soft lint-free cloth; trowel.

lettuce table
Brent Wilson

Here’s how

Step 1

step 1

Step 1

Brent Wilson

Lay steamer trays upside down on table top, making sure there is equal distance between them and the table edges. Trace around trays in pencil.

Step 2 

drilling

Step 2

Brent Wilson

Measure width of tray lips. Transfer these measurements at 8 points inside marked shapes. Draw inner shapes using a ruler, then drill starter holes in corners of inner shapes.

Step 3 

step 3

Step 3

Brent Wilson

Use a jigsaw to cut out inner shapes in tabletop.

Step 4 

sanding

Step 4

Brent Wilson

Sand the top, sides and legs of table. Wipe clean of dust.

Step 5

painitng

Step 5

Brent Wilson

Using a roller, apply 2 coats of paint to tabletop. Remove handle and apply 2 coats of paint in a different colour to drawer face, leaving to dry after each coat.

Step 6

paint

Step 6

Brent Wilson

Rub edge of table with steel wool to expose timber for a distressed look.

Step 7

Apply wax to table legs, using a lint-free cloth.

Step 8

Half-fill trays with potting mix. Arrange greens and flowers on top, add more mix and firm down gently.

Step 9

fill basin

Step 9

Brent Wilson

Water trays, then sit in tabletop. Replace drawer handle. Put table in a sunny spot.

Tip! Use edible marigolds and nasturtiums as a bright form of natural pest control.

table
Brent Wilson

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Melissa King
Melissa King
Melissa King is one of Australia’s most popular and respected garden experts and television presenters. Melissa joins the Better Homes and Gardens team as its respected garden expert. “For a gardening presenter, this is the pinnacle and I’m beyond excited to be working alongside people I have admired for years,” says Melissa.

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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to weave your own baskets

How to weave your own baskets

Melissa makes colourful colander hanging baskets

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How to bring rusty tools back to life

How to bring rusty tools back to life

Adam makes a burnt wood coffee table

Adam makes a burnt wood coffee table

{headline}

{headline}

How to build an outdoor bar table

How to build an outdoor bar table

5 ways to upcycle glass jars

5 ways to upcycle glass jars

Adam fixes two common kitchen problems

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{headline}

{headline}

How to hang a towel rail

How to hang a towel rail

Adam makes a bunny ear shelf

Adam makes a bunny ear shelf

How to make a surfboard rack

How to make a surfboard rack

Charlie makes a frame for climbing plants

Charlie makes a frame for climbing plants

How to install skirting boards

How to install skirting boards

How to make a tool caddy

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How to build a designer bench

How to build a designer bench

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