Growing lettuce in a wheelbarrow

[c oliver]

Years ago I read in Sunset probably about growing lettuce in a wheelbarrow. That way you can move it around if you need to get it into and then out of the sun. I've never done that (actually have never grown lettuce at all) but always thought it sounded like a good idea. Just another FYI and FWIW.

[purple goddess]

All you have to do is bore a couple of holes in the wheelbarrow for drainage, and then fill it with hay.

You can grow pretty much anything in it, and it's a great space saver.

[c oliver]

Oops, I forgot about the drain holes! So you can grow alot of things in just hay? Grass hat? Alfalfa? ??? And, in case you're wondering, when we lived in the country and had horses, we always had one wheelbarrow that was on its last legs - so to speak.

[purple goddess]

pretty much anything. I used it for herbs and lettuces. Obviously vine products like pumpkins and zucc's would kinda be difficult, but for herbs it was great. Tomato vines, too.

I used mine when I lived in a tiny unit with a postage-stamp back yard. I'd wheel ma barra up and down the communal drive way, getting the most of the sun.
I only ever used grass hay. it's more about how quickly it breaks down, and how much insulation it provides, rather than the "type" of hay used. I just poked holes on the bale and planted iceberg, cos, rocket, parsley, coriander and basil.

[c oliver]

That just fascinates me. I could just put a bale of hay in and grow things. How cool is that? And it would be lighter than soil. Very cool.

[purple goddess]

And the soil retains moisture, so you have to water it less. I used to up end a plastic bottle (Coke 1.75ltr) with the bottom cut off and just fill that as required.