Planting without fertilizer and plastic cover

[dehrlich]

I have met a new neighbor who grows organically. He insists I shoudl try planting in my EB without fertilizer and the cover. He claims that a high quality organic soil, and weekly feeding will be more than sufficient. He espouses using Neem Oil and dish soap in a diluted form as a natural past control. Does anyone have any input on the potential of this?

[dancing lemons]

With due respect to your neighbor's organic gardening tradition - there are a few problems here.  First -- in the EB potting mix is used - not soil.  Potting mix does not usually have fertilizer as an ingredient.  The potting mixes with 3, 6, 9 month fertilizers included do not have enough fertilizer to grow vegetables.  You can not use any soil in an EarthBox - high quality or not.  As far as not using the cover - that is not something I would recommend if you are a first time EB gardener -or- a first time gardener of any sort.  Use the EB exactly as the instructions dictate the first time around and then you will have more of an understanding of how the EB works.  As for the Neem oil and dish soap - it works for some insects but not for all.  Neem oil will also burn your plants if used when temps are above 90 degrees (some say 85 degrees). 

DL

[gardendoc]

Essentially your neighbor is suggesting using your EB like one of the many inexpensive containers that have a deep saucer attached.  You water from the top and as the water moves through the potting substrate profile it fills the saucer and eventually the excess drains out.  Add MG once a week and you can have veggies.  You can do this with a 46 cent plastic nursery pot.   As far as the pest control advice, remember what P.T. Barnham said........

[Deb]

The EarthBox is not like other containers.  It is a self irrigating planter (SIP) and uses a peat based, soil-less planting medium, which is sterile and wicks the water from below up to the roots - soil won't wick and the plants will drown in the bog it will create in an EarthBox.  If you don't add fertilizer in the recommended amounts your plants won't have any nutrition and won't grow or fruit.  If you don't use the cover (shower cap) your fertilizer will wash out with every rain and every weed seed the wind blows or the birds drop will set root in your box.

Follow the EarthBox directions and the tips and hints from the experience of the forum members.  Challenge your neighbor to a test of which method grows best with the least amount of work.  Both types of gardening have their pros and cons.

Deb

[John]

You should not use dish soap; most are detergents and meant to disolve grease and will destroy the cuticle of the plant.  If you want to grab something from under the sink reach for the Murphy's oil soap instead; it has a long fatty acid chain whereas most dish soaps have shorter fatty acid chains which are associated with herbicidal properties.
* Mix a teaspoon to a gallon of water and mix well and don't spray during the heat of the day!

[gardendoc]

I have to admit I cringe every time I read about using products for what are clearly non-label uses on food crops.  I agree that using the oil soap is much better than a detergent dish soap for the well being of the plant.  But consider what the oil soap label recommends for use, to clean the following:  wood floors, cabinets, tables and chairs, wood paneling, laminate floors, and bookcases.  Now if you were a termite I guess there is not a problem.  But I do not see tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, beans, or any other food crop use on the label.  I can hear the argument that it is made from vegetable oil, how can that be bad?  Well biodiesel is made from vegetable oil also, would you spray that on your veggies?

[John]

gardendoc,

I couldn't agree with you more. I hear about this all the time.  However, since most people seem to be grabing that detergent diswashing liquid soap to use on their plants I was suggesting reaching for a better household solution instead. Murphy's is a true soap; I'm sure it still contains fragrances etc.  I have found that a lint tape roller alone gently rolled over the bottom of the leaves instantly picks up thousands of aphids!
People will always search for and try to create their own home remedies!

[PeteFrame]

I would think you could still replace a salty fertilizer strip with organic fertilizer as long as it's balanced.  You may have to use more organic though.  Keep the cover on and let the potting mix do the wicking thing. 

[icedragon]

I like the making it a contest idea... I am pretty sure (in Colorado at least) that to leave the cover off would cause the top of the soil to dry out, and possibly less or even no fertilizer would be absorbed, which would most likely decrease plant productivity

[Vincerama]

I like the making it a contest idea... I am pretty sure (in Colorado at least) that to leave the cover off would cause the top of the soil to dry out, and possibly less or even no fertilizer would be absorbed, which would most likely decrease plant productivity

I agree. I think the top would dry up and thus wick up more water from the reservoir, thus wasting water.

wrt the neighbours suggestions, it would be easy enough to pick up a cheap (ie; cheaper than a $30,$40,$50 EB) container and try his method alongside the EB. For me, the whole purpose of getting the EB and the AWS was so that I could prep/plant the veggies once and just enjoy the fruits of the EB's labours over the season.

V

[PeteFrame]

I agree.  Set it and forget it.  No cover means more work for you.  If you're not going to use fertilizer in the potting mix I'd suggest growing venus fly traps.  To cope with a lack of fertilizer in their natural soil environment, they've evolved to eat insects.  There's only so much photosynthesis can do.  The seeds have enough energy to make a sprout but the rest requires nurture.   

[Tania]

I have found that a lint tape roller alone gently rolled over the bottom of the leaves instantly picks up thousands of aphids!

What a great idea!  I am trying this tomorrow!

I have Blackberries in EBs without a cover...I have to top water them everyday! The wicking isn't at it's full potential this way.  Obviously your neighbor doesn't know anything about EBs....Tell him to buy his own EB and give his method a try.  Stray away from SOIL, and do keep the cover on!