aviva from baltimore

[agoldman]

Hi All,

I recently moved into a house after over 12 years in apartments. I recently learned about the earthbox and decided it was a way I could grow my own food, since plot gardening seems way to overwhelming. Plus I like containers...I like things contained. So I got an earthbox, set it up while my demanding 6 year old son spent the day with my sister, and planted transplant spinach. It worked like a charm and we all enjoyed the first crop last week. The second crop already looks inviting and now I am addicted. Tomorrow is my birthday and I plan to treat myself to earthbox excess.  I plan to plant beets and carrots (my son is much more decisive than I and chose these) ...not sure why I am so into root vegetable right now. And just today I began to dream about baby watermelons I saw on an earthbox educational video about combining crops in one box. Oh and I desperately want to plant the sunflower seeds the nursery is handing out to kids this year.

Aviva
As a child I wanted to be a farmer when I grew up.

[alwayslearning]

Welcome, happy birthday, and happy gardening.

[Deb]

I hope everyone you know gives you another EarthBox for your birthday.  That would make it a very happy day!

Be sure you look for short carrots.  The pictures on the seed packs look so good with the nice long carrots, but there isn't enough depth to grow carrots longer than about 6-8".

It sounds like your spinach is through already?  I haven't even planted yet.  I usually can prolong the season by just picking a few leaves at a time off of each plant.  No reason to harvest the whole plant of most leafy greens until they bolt (send up a flower stalk).

Have fun with your EarthBox(s) and be glad you have a whole yard to fill with 'contained garden'.  It will be much more fun to fill than the space afforded in an apartment.  Get the little one involved.  It's been proven that children that help in the garden are more willing to eat more vegetables, and while you watch your collection of EarthBoxes grow, it will be nice to have trained help close at hand.  ;>

Deb

[agoldman]

I decided to harvest the whole spinach bunch 2 inches from the soil line and expect a second crop. The yield was so small with the whole bunches in the one box that I can't imagine just pulling the outer leaves. But now that you mention it will keep the crop going longer, I see the wisdom in it. And thanks for mentioning the flower; I was wondering how I was going to know if it bolted. I assume bolted means the same as "gone to seed?"

I was thinking of rotating the crop in that box to something different for late summer (beans?), then back to spinach in the fall. We'll see. I bought a second box already.

I got seeds for 'half-long' carrots. The label says they'll be 7 1/2 inches. Too bad I couldn't find the 'finger length' (or something like that) in seed, only transplant.

By the way I am loving Valley View Farms, my local garden center extraordinaire!

[kathy]

Valley View Farms, is one of our best retailers. I was just there about 3 weeks ago to train the employees (the new seasonal staff) Great folks, great displays, I wish they were closer! I love their selection of stuff. Get to know Carrie there, she is excellent with EarthBoxes and gardening in general.

[agoldman]

I first heard about Earthbox from Carrie when she gave a lunch hour vegetable gardening class at my place of work downtown a few months ago! I just sent her an email asking if I got the right media for EB on my last Valley View Farms visit....Dr. Earth home grown premium potting soil, which also says potting mix on the label but neither peat based, perlite or vermiculite are on the label. Might you know, Kathy?

[kathy]

I don't know, when I was there, there choice for Earthbox this year was an Espoma product, (that's what I planted a box with, it was a high peat content)  you could call Carrie and ask her, I am not that familar with all the Dr Earth choices.