Hi and welcome to our forum
Please put your location and zone, if known, in your profile. That way, it will show up in your posts... it helps when diagnosing problems and we won't have to keep asking you where you are. This post tells you how:
http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=283.msg1673#msg1673A better source for zones, updated for global warming:
http://arborday.org/treeinfo/zonelookup.cfmThe earthBox is really a simple yet effective system when allowed to 'Do it's thing'. From experience, please read and reread ALL of the information shipped with the Earthbox until you understand what you are supposed to do. Do not carry over ANY of your previous gardening experience/practices during the first year of EarthBox usage. Just do what the instructions state.
My advice is to get on the internet and do a little reading as to the requirements and growing habits for the plants you want to grow. Then visit a nursery/garden center and buy seedlings all ready for transplanting. Keep things simple the first time. Go to the Earthbox instructions and follow them to the letter. Read the FAQ's and Tips and Tricks in this forum also. Use the search tool for posts about any issues that concern you (go to the home page for the broadest search).
Be sure you use potting MIX and not potting SOIL. Potting mix without fertilizer is becoming harder and harder to find. Potting mixes with 3-month's fertilizer are ok to use... just add the normal amount of fertilizer as in the EB instructions. The only fertilizer your plants need is the strip. Don't go adding anything else, such as liquid fertilizers.
Dolomite is actually dolomitic lime, or also called agricultural lime. As long as it's finely pulverized (not pelleted) and the label ingredient list says calcium and magnesium, it's ok. It will come in large bags, very inexpensive (dirt cheap), and is available in just about any nursery or farm supply. In smaller quantities there is Garden Lime by Espoma, but it's too coarse as is; you'll need to grind it up finer (a sacrificial coffee grinder or blender works well). If pelleted is all that's available, then you must grind it yourself. Pelleted lime just dissolves too slowly to be of much benefit. Powdered will be more readily available to your plants.
If you are using an organic fertilizer that has animal by-products, such as that supplied by Earthbox, you need to cover it with 2-4" of potting mix to prevent critters and flies getting to it.
If you want to use a regular fertilizer, look for something around 5-10-10. Earthbox supplies 7-7-7 with their standard kits. Avoid anything that you dilute with water... it has to be granular. 10-10-10 is kinda heavy on the nitrogen, which is fine for leafy type crops (spinach, lettuce, kale etc). For fruiting veggies I prefer a lower first number (nitrogen), thus my recommendation of 5-10-10. All these should be stocked by most nurseries and farm suppliers.
The roots don't 'suck up water from the reservoir"... the science of the EB is that the soil sucks up the water, and the cover keeps it from evaporating, so there is always a supply available for whatever size plant you have. Seeds and seedlings only need a little moistening when you plant them. Don't be tempted to leave the cover off or do your watering from the top.
This is the EB link to what you can plant.
http://www.earthbox.com/consumer/grow.htmlTo mix plants, cut the quantities in half. Example....
Instead of the (2) tomatoes or (6) peppers, putting them together you would have (1) tomato and (3) peppers. Experiment with what sounds right to you, but stick close to the guide in the beginning. Consider also the growth habits of the plants your mixing. Cukes are a vine and may well choke out the peppers. You want to mix plants with similar habits and requirements. For that, search the web and read up on your plants.
All melons are heavy feeders, and EB folks recommend 4 plants, and this is their revised listing. I personally put only 3, and they grew just fine. don't let the size of the fruit deceive you.... it's the plant that counts, and they're all similar (squash/melons/cukes).
If you are in an area that is hot and humid. That invites a host of fungus-type diseases. Just read the posts from other folks in a similar climate... You must take some measures to protect or rescue your plants. There are many products that are organic and can be used right up to harvest with no ill effects.
Gardens Alive has several suitable products such as Soap Shield fungicide and Pyola insecticide to name a couple.
http://www.gardensalive.com/If you want to grow anything at all in that climate, I'd suggest keeping both of these on hand.
Nearly all your questions can be answered by contacting your county extension agent... that's what he's there for. see this link for help:
http://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=661.0Good luck,
Mickie
