This is a WIP of my milk crate vegetable garden. I live in a rental and wanted to create a garden that could be easily moved to a new location without much effort – and I also wanted to create something using the *checks notes* approximately 1 billion milk crates I've amassed over the years (as well as other materials I have lying around).

This is 4 EPAL pallets sitting on a flattish garden bed, lined underneath with paper shopping bags as a weed barrier. The bottom row of milk crates has been cable-tied to the pallets for stability, then the PVC pipe has been cable-tied to those crates each with a single screw (into the pallet) at the bottom to keep them in place. Everything else is loose, allowing me to reconfigure or adjust at any time:

The "plot" crates are lined with geotextile fabric, cable-tied at the top, then "wrapped" with hessian for a bit of temperature control and to protect from the wind, as well as looking a bit more cottagecore. They are then filled to the brim with quality soil and planted before watering down, which sinks the surface to a nice level. They are then sat upon the "cradle" crates, the weight of the soil being enough to hold them in place no matter how heavy the wind. They sit high enough to catch the sun over the top of my 2 story house, as well as keeping our of reach of the bandicoots at night.

The protection is simply four hardwood stakes cut to size then draped with bird netting that is screwed in place, to the stakes. One side is left loose so it can be lifted up, clothes pegs hold the flap in place, Australian milk crates usually have a little ridge on the crossbars that make it very secure. I can just lift those stakes up and out of the pipes if I need to.

In the middle is a potato crate tower, I think I can get away with another two crates once my Sebago chits. The floor is very stable and a great workspace except when I drop a peg or trowel and have to rummage around between the planks for it.

On the open plots I have two types of parsley with coriander that I'm tempted to bolt for pest deterrence (but I am also thinking of "hanging" herb pots off the side of the cradle crates) and the other plot has a rosemary cutting in it.

In the low netting I have onions, then lettuces (the cos broke off its roots, the others are oakleaf and mignonette and iceberg) and Tioga strawberries in the last one.

In the tall netting I have rainbow chard/silver wet, then broccoli (which are going amazing) and then the last one has rocket and pak choy.

I am very proud of what I've come up with. Constructive feedback would be welcome, you're all excellent gardeners!

My location is South Coast NSW, Australia.

by Nerje

1 Comment

  1. It’s worth adding that I have a couple of ornamentals around the edge and I’m filling the gaps around them with hay/straw as a mulch/weed cover

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