Earthbox without the cover???

[thewhitelotus]

I recently, acquired a few earth boxes from a friend but the boxes were the only things he had.

I live in Northern Nevada, Reno to be exact, and its not unusual for our temps to hit over 100 during the day.  I was wondering with temps so high do i still need to use a "cover" for the earthbox.  If so, would a white trash bag be better than solid black?  I am planning on putting 4 pepper plants in each one.  How would not using a cover effect the growth of the plants?

Since i dont have the fertilizer packs, i was planning on using some local Elite Garden Boost compost, but was unsure if that would be sufficient.  I use it on my raised beds and containers with incredible results.  My plan is to place the compost in a strip down the center and put 4 peppers slightly off the corners.

Thanks in advance! 

[mjb8743]

WHOA!!! Welcome to Earthbox!

You need to fall back and regroup. The Earthbox is a growing system, which means all the components are important. The most important is the potting mix which must be peat-based and contain no compost (unless 5th in the ingredients list), sand, rock, clay or earth. The setup process is critical to getting the system working. The cover is important as well... it keeps external water out of the box and away from the fertilizer strip, prevents evaporation, and keeps out weeds. A white trash bag is better than nothing, but it may transmit light.

It would be worth your while to read the updated instructions, growing guide, FAQ, and the lists of approved growing media and fertilizers. These are all located here:  http://www.earthbox.com/   at the bottom of the page under HELP and RESOURCES headings.

Another good read is the New to Earthbox?...Start Here thread pinned at the beginning of the Q & A section.

Good luck,
Mickie

[BPFSU]

Everything Mickie said.  Also, compost cannot be used to replace fertilizer in the box.  You can use organic or synthetic, but it has to be fertilizer.  Compost is not fertilizer.

[movrshakr]

Also, you said all he had was the box.  Does that mean you do not have the perforated shelf that holds the media/mix above the water reservoir?

If you do not have that, you have nothing more than an ordinary container--not an Earthbox.  As stated by Mickie, all of the components are critical.

Can you clarify what you really have?

Also, when you get around to setting up a true EB, you can and should certainly use a cover and use the white side up in your zone.

[potatohead]

Also make sure your friend gave you the fill tubes.

[thewhitelotus]

I have the fill tubes, the grates, and the boxes.  the only things i do not have is the cover and fertilizer.  there is a mix already in the box, which appears to be rather old.  not sure if i should just enhance it or get new stuff. 

[mjb8743]

I have the fill tubes, the grates, and the boxes.  the only things i do not have is the cover and fertilizer.  there is a mix already in the box, which appears to be rather old.  not sure if i should just enhance it or get new stuff. 

If you can't identify what the mix is, best to start fresh with new.

[potatohead]

Besides covers and fertilizer, you also need Dolomite (for most things but especially important for tomatoes and other plants that produce fruit like peppers, etc.)

[movrshakr]

Yep, since you don't know what the media is,  I also would suggest getting new.  Read on here about what you need.  Briefly though, high percent of peat moss; no sand, soil, dirt, or compost.  Some composted forest by products (small amount) is OK.

You can order covers from the Earthbox store, but if you want to start "tomorrow", you may, if the media bag is thick enough, cut it to fit, do white side out, and use clips of some sort to fasten it to the box edge.  Some cushman clips made from PVC are described in the forum somewhere.

Remember that the media is to be mounded like a loaf of bread, so the cover has to be big enough for that plus overhang to be clipped.

The dolomite is a type of lime that has calcium AND magnesium--about 2x as much Ca as Mg, and 1 cup is [CORRECTION: 2 cups are] mixed into the media.  Use 2 cups of 5-5-5 to 10-10-10 fertilizer, or 3 cups of organic--placed deeper, and fert goes in a strip as you will see in the videos.


We are throwing lots of stuff at you.  You definitely need to read the getting started stuff, and better,  if you have time, as much as you can before planting.

[mjb8743]

The dolomite is a type of lime that has calcium AND magnesium--about 2x as much Ca as Mg, and 1 cup is  mixed into the media.  Use 2 cups of 5-5-5 to 10-10-10 fertilizer, or 3 cups of organic--placed deeper, and fert goes in a strip as you will see in the videos.

Typo... 2 cups of dolomite is required.

[movrshakr]

Ack.  Thanks...I know that!  Major error.  Will go correct my post.

(Hangs head in shame.)

[thewhitelotus]

thanks for all the help!  i think i am going to give it a whirl with the moisture control miracle grow mix (read that this should be good on another thread in this forum).  Im going to be growing peppers in these so i presume the 10-10-10 will work for that and ill also snag some dolamite.  planning on making a cover out of white trash bags here, as it gets rather hot come summer time.

any thing else you guys can think of offhand that i need to add to the shopping list? 

thanks again....its much appreciated!

[kathy]

A basket to harvest all the peppers in? 

[BPFSU]

The dolomite is a type of lime that has calcium AND magnesium--about 2x as much Ca as Mg, and 1 cup is  mixed into the media.  Use 2 cups of 5-5-5 to 10-10-10 fertilizer, or 3 cups of organic--placed deeper, and fert goes in a strip as you will see in the videos.

Typo... 2 cups of dolomite is required.

It would be more accurate to give poundage.  EB supplies one pound in its planting kit.  The dolomite I have is one pound per one cup and two cups for me would be two pounds....twice as much as is provided by EB themselves.  Two cups would probably be fine with an initial setup, but I think two pounds on subsequent plantings is overkill.

[movrshakr]

It would be more accurate to give poundage.  EB supplies one pound in its planting kit.  The dolomite I have is one pound per one cup and two cups for me would be two pounds....twice as much as is provided by EB themselves.  Two cups would probably be fine with an initial setup, but I think two pounds on subsequent plantings is overkill.

You are right about the poundage--would be more accurate, but it is figured that gardeners are way more likely to have a cup measure around (also used for scooping/dipping) than a scale.

It is surprising that the Earthbox dolomite is twice as dense as the recommended amount though.  They must use a very high quality with high percentages of Ca and Mg.

My perception from all the talk on here is that it is not a critical measurement such as would be for getting the right ratio for dilution of an insecticide concentrate.