Hello from Land O' Lakes Wisconsin

Hello from Land O' Lakes Wisconsin,
I'm a retired 66 year old, enjoying my later years, doing mostly the things that I enjoy. My wife, of 37 years, Mimi, and our 2 good and loyal friends Deputy, a 13 1/2 year old Yellow Lab, and Patch a mostly black, 12 year old, Heinz 57 type cat, live in a newly remodeled home on a lake in far northern Wisconsin.
I am going to try to get a vegetable garden going this spring. Because of arthritis in my knees and feet, working on my knees is out, so I'm going to try container gardening on shallow tables, or beds built right onto the tables. It is here that I need advice, as I haven't done anything like this in the past. How do I set up the containers, holes for drainage, stones, soil, is it different for different plants, is watering the same as an in ground garden, is lake water good to use, ????? Where do I get the best quality seeds ??? Is it better to start seeds in hot beds, or in the basement under lighting ???? And, anything else that may be helpful getting started.

 

Welcome Calomaar, from New Orleans. I have spent much time in your part of the world and it's gorgeous there. A tad cold, but so pretty.
Before I retired, I did some building of raised tables for nursing home inmates so they could do some gardening. My biggest problem was keeping the plants watered being planted in soil on the table. I made the base of the table out of a lexan with tiny holes drilled in it. The holes were too big and to close together, so the soil drained daily.

 

Hi Calomaar
Welcome to gardenstew from southern Ontario!
I'm afraid I can't give much advice about raised beds, but I'm sure that someone else will be along soon.

 

Welcome. While you need good drainage, too much would be a problem. You don't want to have to water these daily.