This is useful not only in planting beautiful flowers or herbs, but for shallow-rooted plants like lettuce as well.
Most boxes range from four to 12 inches deep and 12 to 48 inches in length, although you may find some larger than this.
In general, a six- to eight-inch-deep box is perfectly adequate for growing lettuce.
The length and width will depend on the number of plants you wish to grow and the variety that you choose as well as the space you have available.
This 23-inch self-watering box from Gardener’s Supply Company is a good choice for potting two to four average-size heads or eight to 12 leaf types.
Note, however, that it’s made of plastic with a reservoir that holds excess water, so you may need to adapt your watering practices.
4. Raised Beds
The term “raised bed” can be used to describe a box or container that is filled with growing media and raised above ground level.
They’re often constructed from wood or metal, and often only about eight to 12 inches deep, although some can be deeper – these are fully customizable.
For those of us whose spines doth protest from years spent tending the earth below, and gardeners who may have other mobility challenges, this 31.5-inch-high by 40-inch-long by 13-inch-wide raised box from Costway, available via Walmart, is an excellent pick.
This container on legs is constructed from galvanized steel for years of use.
It also has a drainage hole that allows excess water to run off, but you may need to place a piece of mesh over the hole if you plan to fill it with soil rather than placing plants in pots inside it.
Other beds can be built on-site in your yard or garden, with dimensions and materials of your choice.
5. Gutters
While they’re an unconventional choice, gutters make outstanding containers for growing plants like lettuce, with shallow roots.
But I’m referring to the material here, not the ones already attached to your house.
A long gutter can be used to sow a row of heads or many of the leafy varieties, and they can be mounted or hung from a wall, fence, or frame to form a cascading system.
Aluminum or PVC eavestrough gutters can be purchased from most hardware stores and cut to length to be mounted on a frame or hung against a wall or fence.
Because they don’t come with drainage holes, they’ll need to be drilled in, or you can approach the situation from a different angle.
Hanging at a subtle incline to allow excess water to flow off from one end works well, and if there are other gutters below, each can be hung at alternating angles to filter the excess water through from the top down.
Using this type of gravity-fed system is wise if you’ve got moisture-loving specimens such as spinach or peas planted on the bottom tier. Otherwise, make sure excess water is channeled away.
Gutter runoff can be diverted to rain barrels, into garden plots, or onto a downspout splash block to run into the grass.
Head over to Amerimax Home store via Home Depot to find aluminum or vinyl K-style gutter sections in five-inch-deep by 10-foot-long measurements.
6. PVC Pipes
Another budget-conscious choice for growing lettuce plants is polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, piping.
This type of piping is sold at hardware stores and used in plumbing systems in many homes nowadays.
One of the reasons that PVC has become a common building material is because it’s extremely durable – these pipes usually last for decades, even in less than ideal conditions.
This means they’ll hold up outdoors and you may not need to replace them often, or at all.
Just as with gutters, PVC pipes can be purchased and trimmed to the desired length or mounted as-is.
Large planting holes can be cut using a drill and countersink, wood boring, or mandrel bit – just be sure to clamp or tape down the pipe so it doesn’t roll while you’re working.
Be sure to drill some drainage holes at regularly spaced intervals on the underside of the pipe as well. You’ll also want to cap the ends of the pipes to avoid losing soil over time.
I suggest mounting the prepared pipes in their permanent location prior to filling them with soil – trust me, this is advice that comes from experience!
They can become very heavy and difficult to move after they’ve been filled.
A 10-foot-long section of schedule 40 PVC pipe four inches in diameter can be purchased from Charlotte Pipe via Home Depot.
Schedule 40 pipes are robust and designed to last in outdoor applications.
7. Towers
Towers are such a great choice for producing a larger volume of heads or leaves of lettuce within a tiny footprint. Making use of vertical space is like stacking multiple garden beds right on top of one another.
These units may rely on either water or soil as the substrate and can become rather heavy when they’re full.
Just as with grow bags, it’s best to choose a permanent (and sturdy!) location for their placement.
A Mini Garden Stacker from True Leaf Market is exactly right for this job.
Not only can you grow nine heads of lettuce in an 11-by-24-inch space but you can also hang this one!
Bringing the plants up off of the ground can reduce exposure to ground-dwelling pests and soilborne pathogens as well.
8. Hydroponic Systems
Space-saving countertop hydroponics systems like the Aerogarden, which I reviewed, are great when used indoors to create an accessible, easy to maintain salad garden.
Lettuce is ideal for a system such as the Harvest model, available directly from Aerogarden, or any of their other models like the Bounty, Harvest Elite, or Farm 12, which come in various sizes.
Because these units are designed for indoor use and rely solely on soilless substrate, they reduce the likelihood of pest or disease damage.
They’re excellent for gardeners who have physical challenges as well, since they can be placed within arms’ reach and require no weeding, heavy bagged soil, or repotting to maintain.
Producing a greater volume of greens is possible, either for yourself, your family, or for community projects, with a large hydroponic tower system.
Try the Nutraponics hydroponics system, available from Walmart with 46, 64, or 80 pots.
9. Pockets
Pocket gardens are newer kids on the block, a fantastic choice if you have no yard or deck space available whatsoever.
Urban gardeners may find these particularly useful since they can be mounted flat against a wall or fence, or hung on a frame, where they’ll take up very little room.
Pockets work well for producing several types of lettuce in a small area, sort of like hanging a square foot garden on the wall. They’re also perfect for increasing output with little effort, especially with this type of crop.
Be aware, however, that pockets can be made from different types of material, and some are more conducive to indoor, outdoor, or long-term growing than others.
For example, hard plastic pockets generally hold up better over time and against the elements, and create less mess, than those made of fabric.
They can also drip water from pockets on the lower rows, or lead to rotting or mold and mildew growth behind them if they’re hanging directly against a surface.
Avoid hanging them where that’s a concern and keep an eye on the lower pockets to make sure they’re not overwatered.
Plastic Pocket Vertical Planter
This 36-pocket plastic set has pockets hung from a frame that includes a self-watering irrigation system. You can pick one up from the Worth Garden store via Amazon.
Soft-pocket versions usually cost less and include dozens of planting spaces. Try this felt 36-pocket vertical hanging planter available via Amazon.
The Pot Is as Important as the Plant
As you can see, the choice you make can depend heavily upon where you’re growing lettuce and what type of setup is easiest for you to manage.
So, what’s the verdict? Have you found the right planter for your needs among the containers on our list?
We’d love to know which you’ve settled on and see some photos of your potted garden or container-grown lettuce!
Questions are always welcome as well, so please let us know how we can help, and we’ll do our best for you.
Ready to read more about growing lettuce? Check out these articles next:
Kelly Spicer
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