Planting in an Earthbox

 

This year I set up my tomatoes in an Earthbox. I have grown vegetables in containers now for about five years, mostly in five gallon buckets from the home improvement stores. I have a new condo with a patio and I wanted a more elegant looking container garden. I admit that I bought the Earthbox thinking that it would save me a couple of days from the task of watering. I now know that in the heat of the summer I can expect to be watering daily still. Not pleased with that as setting up an automatic watering system is not an option for me.

I read a lot about growing in an Earthbox, after I had made the purchase, and despite everybody’s advice to simply follow the instructions, I decided to do my own thing still in keeping, somewhat, with the principle of self-watering planter gardening.

My usual homemade container mix recipe is

3 parts peat or coir or mix of both

2 parts vermiculite

1 part perlite

1 part compost (mix of bagged brands including Black Kow)

Then for each five gallon container, I add 1 cup lime, 1 cup rock dust, and 1 cup organic fertilizer. In the planting hole I put Mycorrhizae, a quarter-cup of organic fertilizer, and a handful of earthworm castings.

I decided to not do that for my Earthbox.

Instead I used Espoma Potting Mix. A 2 cubic foot bag per Earthbox.

Following the instructions I added some water to the reservoir and pre-moistened the potting mix.

I created compact wicking towers at the corners then covered the rest of the grill. I did not like that some soil got through the grill into the water below.

I filled the Earthbox to two inches from the top. Then I added 1 pound dolomite, 1 cup fertilizer, and 1 cup rock dust evenly to the surface and mixed it all well.

To the remaining potting mix in the bag I added 3 cups of earthworm castings before topping off the Earthbox.

In my trench/trough I placed 1.5 pounds Espoma Tomato-Tone organic fertilizer.

Then I topped off the container again this time creating a mound, like a loaf of bread. I secured the mulch cover over the Earthbox with the white side up. My patio garden is on a roof-deck in Zone 7a and the deck is made of composite so it gets warm.

I’ve always planted indeterminate tomatoes. So I was weary of planting two of them per Earthbox. I think the instructions to plant two tomatoes per Earthbox are referring to indeterminate tomatoes. So, I ended up planting my Sunsugar and Sugary cherry tomatoes one per Earthbox. However, I planted a Creole tomato with a San Marzano tomato, both indeterminate, so we shall see how that goes. If the yield is not to my liking I will plant those one to an Earthbox next year too.

Out of a force of habit, I planted a marigold and a basil in with the tomato. We shall see if that is a faux pas. For support I use a bamboo cane and a regular tomato cage. My tomato plants have always outgrown these but still do well. I have the blessing to have the porch railing to which I tie the cage for extra support.

Feeding My Plants

The plan will be to add 1 tsp calcium nitrate and 1/3 tsp Epsom salt down the reservoir weekly with a watering session.

I will also foliar spray with Neptunes Harvest Fish-Seaweed blend every two weeks as I normally do with my other container vegetables. Normally when I foliar feed my container plants, I also soak the soil (though not thoroughly). This is not a priority for me, but since I do still have regular container plants that need the boost, I know I would probably end up spraying the Earthbox plants as well since they are right there.

Yes I know that the fertilizer strip should be more than enough. But I’m not taking any chances.

Wish me luck and a bountiful harvest of tasty tomatoes!