This project is an elevated vegetable planter box sized for balcony gardening. The finished dimensions are 33" tall, 64" long, and 18" deep.
Materials and preparation
We used pine 1" x 6" boards from a local home improvement store. Cedar is the ideal choice for planter boxes, but we went with pine for its availability and price. After cutting all the boards to length, we cleaned them up with 120-grit sandpaper.
Constructing the legs
Two boards were joined with pocket holes to form an "L"-shaped leg structure, reinforced with wood glue.
Assembly
- Sides were assembled to the legs with exterior screws and predrilled holes
- Longitudinal runners were attached the same way
- A 1" x 1" support was drilled along the runners at a slight angle to help with water drainage
Adding mobility
We went with 2" casters for portability, though in hindsight the attachment method and caster diameter weren't ideal for this design.
Lessons learned: box in the bottom of the legs with pocket holes and glue, then attach larger 3" casters using all four mounting holes.
Creating the floor and drainage
We ripped a 1" x 6" plank lengthwise to create 1" x 2" runners for shelf supports, lined the bottom floor with planks fastened by exterior screws, and glued a 1" PVC elbow into a hole drilled in the lowest slat with five-minute epoxy to serve as a drain.
Finishing touches
The box was sealed with boiled linseed oil and lined with plastic sheeting to extend its lifespan.
Planting
We filled the finished box with soil and planted lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, and green onions.