Grow tables

[putthehamsterbackinitscage]

My DH bought me grow tables with lids for Christmas (my suggestion) and I'm intending to put them on a south facing patio, to grow a mix of veg/salad to add to the raised beds we put in last year (new garden / new build house).

I can't find much info on line about how they differ (or not) from planting in a raised bed or other containers in terms of temperatures and how early or late to start planting.

Has anyone got experience of them and what would work/ when to plant versus the raised beds?

They look like fun. Hadn’t seen them before, they’ll save a lot of bending. I think the only thing to watch out for is the depth, you will be fine with shallow rooted leafy salad crops, like various leafy lettuces, chard, spinach, radish, mizuma,etc etc which will do fine, though you will need to be vigilant with watering. But anything needing deeper root length will need to be chosen carefully, so small beetroot, round carrots etc. Things like tomatoes , courgettes, French and runner beans, peas etc I don’t think would do well, and potatoes are a real nono!

Herbs will be fine, and something rampant like mint you could contain in a sunken pot so it doesn’t take over the whole table, or go for it and grow as many different sorts and scents of mints as you can get your hands on. Other herbaceous herbs like thymes, marjoram, oreganos will do well I think, and annual herbs like parsley and basil and tarragon.

Thanks - they're the more cheap versions ( Ehlo rather than Vegepod) - the kids are ventilated but will need watering regularly, and a reasonable depth for soil/ compost but as you say not great for larger plants...

I was thinking spring onions, lettuce, small variety carrots, radish etc mainly - but interested in anything else that might work and add some extra variety to cooking as well.

What I'm also trying to understand is that as they're around 30 inches off the ground and covered - will they cope better with cool weather or do I need to be extra cautious in sowing seed and leave it extra time - last frosts here are early May.

The good thing is they'll fit in on the patio so they'll be within easy reach of the house whatever the weather.

I think wait until your area is safe for frosts before sowing outside. I don’t think the height will make much difference either way.

I’m not sure what you mean by covered, is this a permanent cover or something you can remove. I think the problem with covers is that they restrict light, which is what plants need, and if you reduce the light they tend to grow leggy trying to reach it.

Glad to hear your kids are ventilated, makes all the difference IMO.

Ooops ... just spotted "kids". I wish DS was ventilated... he's past teenage now but still has that teen boy smell emanating from his room...