How to Make a Greenhouse Plant Table (Mittleider Gardening)

My greenhouse was incomplete without the addition of plant tables to fully utilize the space. Now I am ready for spring. This particular design for the greenhouse table came from the Mittleider Gardening Coursebook. I did a few modifications like adding a little trim, as well as, a lower shelf but the base idea was theirs.

Plant Table Supplies

2″ x 4″ x 30″ table legs (4)

2″ x 4″ x 31.5″ side braces (4)

2.5″ decking screws (for base)

2″ x 4″ x 46.5″ front/back braces (4)

0.5″ x 1.5″ x 47.5″ front/back trim (2) (I like to measure these exactly before I cut to check for variances.)

0.5″ x 1.5″ x 34.5″ side trim (2)

2″ x 4″ x 2.5″ spacer board (optional)

2″ x 4″ x 1″ spacer board (2-22 your choice)

3/4″ old pallet boards cut 34.5″ long (16-24 depending on width)

oil-based exterior paint

Thompson’s Waterseal

sander

drill

screwdriver bits

measuring tape

miter saw

table saw

pneumatic finishing nailer

2″ decking screws (for pallet boards)

1.5″ finishing nails

Greenhouse Plant Table Base Directions

create base sides

The first step is to make the base of the table. You do this by creating the sides first. Connect the side brace to 2 of the legs flush with the top. Then connect another side brace at 2.5″ up from the bottom of the legs. I use my spacer board for this. Repeat this step for the other side.

add front/back bracers

Then, connect the two sides with the front and back bracers. Like the side bracers, one will be flush with the top and the other 2.5″ from the bottom. Flip over the table and repeat it on the other side. When putting these bracers on I like to place the screws so that these are connected to both the legs and the side bracers.

The next step is to give the base a good coat of paint. Because I am going for the rustic look, I don’t worry about making it perfect. I really like the use of the oil-based exterior paint. It gets absorbed at different rates on the wood which gives it almost a whitewashed look. Plus, it protects the wood well from water.

Pallet Board Tops for our Plant Table

Next, is my favorite part. The pallet board tops. Pallet boards are great. They have so much character and you can often find them for free. The downside is that you have to pull the pallet apart to get them. I highly recommend a pallet buster for this. My husband can pull apart a pallet in less than 3 minutes. It’s amazing.

The pallet boards all need to be cut to size and any nails removed. It looks best if you get different widths and colors of pallet wood for this. I made a stop block for cutting since I had so many to make.

After all the cuts were made, I sanded all of the edges and the top surface. The key with pallet boards is to remove all the splinters but leave the character. The more aged the pallet is, the better it will look but you can make a new pallet board look old if you need to with stain. Take a look at my video on how to do that if you want to try it.

create pallet board top

I then used 2″ decking screws and the 1-inch spacers to attach the boards to the top of the table and the shelf below. Each board has a 1-inch gap between it to allow for drainage.

Trim the Table

trim the top

I like to trim out the top as I feel like it not only gives it a more finished look but it reduces the likelihood of getting slivers as the top ages. I place the side trim on first using a finishing nail gun. Then I place on the front and back trim. I usually wait to cut them until I can get an exact measurement or sometimes it can be a little off. I really like my trim to fit well. Connect with one nail for each plank. I finish off the trim by attaching a screw on each corner and one in the center of the front and back.

waterproof the top and shelf

The final step for the top and shelf was using Thompson’s Waterseal to waterproof the pallet boards. The water will bead up on the surface if you have applied enough. This works best with dry porous wood so it is perfect for use with pallet boards.

Finished Greenhouse Table

Greenhouse Tables

That is all there is to it. This is a relatively easy construction project that is a fabulous addition to my greenhouse. I love all the space I have, both for plant trays and for storage.

For our building a greenhouse videos, check out our Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLK9x5hXg84Fw28T33e_gnggOsk0QTQsCt

For other gardening tips follow this link: https://wisdompreserved.life/category/garden-tips/