Propagation Tables-A Workbench For Plant Production
August 10, 2026
When I first started propagating plants in the early 80’s I realized I needed moisture proof tables that could handle lots of weight. The tops had to be immune to wet acidic soil. I soon found out that the office tables said to take moisture had particle board coated in a linoleum type top which only lasted a year. They could handle spilled coffee but nothing else. I crushed those up but kept the hardware at rebuilt three of them using cedar deck planking. That solved one problem but created another. Cedar is a soft wood and cannot take a lot of weight. From there I went to reinforce everything but with mixed results. They were saggy. Every now and then I would hear a cracking sound from the propagating area and realized someone sat on the table again. From there I went to large and long planks of white oak. The weight and size of the table was immense and it took several people to move it. The gaps between the planks dropped soil and water below to the floor but it did work well and was eventually reinforced with red oak struts. All of it was held up by 4 by 4 inch white oak posts and pine 2 x4 ‘s. It looked hideous but it was effective. It did not crack even when we dropped a 1700 pound bail of soil on it. Zero crackage.
This winter I stripped down all of the tables to their individual planks and took them to the mill to have them cleaned up in planers. They were sanded smooth to perfection with the usually stuff we did on them was kept so they looked vintage but not damaged. I then put all of them back together but this time used new species of wood like honeylocust and hickory to make them even longer lived and able to take weight and moisture. The reapplied marine spar varnish helps preserve the wood but also is easy to clean up between rounds of plants. I switched to different types of metal screws meant for decking too. The only problem was the expense. I think I just made the most expensive work tables ever. But a quick look at commercial tables and frankly this is hard to compare. So for now, six have been made but likely that is the end of me selling my prop tables on my website. At least they are not as heavy as they once were and if you are in the market for a table with ‘known providence’ then these are the ones. I wood burned my initials in each one and attach a copper tag underneath. Why? My dad did this with his wood carvings and I thought this was my art. It is a little lego like in construction but they are great propagation tables. Feel free to schedule a visit to check them out. Use the contact form on the front of the website to make it happen. Enjoy. Ken Asmus
