Recent Posts

61

Questions and Answers / Container Color question

« Last post by SilverRose on April 17, 2023, 03:04:20 pm »

I just discovered the Earthbox from watching a youtube video from a homesteader. I live in Southern Oklahoma in growing zone 7b-8a. I'm just a couple of miles from the Oklahoma/Texas border so I get really hot summers. I'm ready to place an order today and prefer the black containers but with my hot summers I'm wondering if I need to choose a different color? I'm new to container gardening for veggies and looking for any insite or recomendations from those of you with experience. Thanks

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Tips and Tricks / Re: Soggy soil

« Last post by JessieJim1 on April 17, 2023, 03:28:03 am »

It's possible that the soil in your earthboxes is retaining too much moisture, which can lead to root rot and other issues. Adding sand or other materials to your potting mix could potentially help with drainage and prevent the soil from becoming too soggy.

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Questions and Answers / Re: I bought 100% peat moss free soil

« Last post by gardendoc on April 16, 2023, 06:56:56 pm »

An EarthBox is a container and raised bed mix will not work. Professional peat-based container mix is what you need to be successful.

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Questions and Answers / I bought 100% peat moss free soil

« Last post by GaFreediver on April 16, 2023, 06:27:49 pm »

I have 4 earth boxes filled with soil and all the earth box mixtures.

The organic potting soil I got is near source organic raise bed soil It's 100% peat moss free.

I saw on the earthbox webiste that the soil is supposed to be 75%+ peat moss.

WIth this soil work?  Or do i need to dump everyting out and start over?

Thanks,

Ted

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Questions and Answers / Re: Reuse of planting media

« Last post by gardendoc on March 28, 2023, 01:54:27 pm »

No, use the 2 cups of dolomite.

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Questions and Answers / Reuse of planting media

« Last post by NWP on March 27, 2023, 03:50:15 pm »

When reusing planting media, do I cut down the amount of dolomite?

67

My EarthBox / Re: Thyme suddenly dying

« Last post by Texas.Micky on February 17, 2023, 09:03:53 pm »

I've been successful growing Thyme in an Earthbox Junior that I do NOT have AWS turned on. It only gets water from rain, and whenever I notice the plants looking sad.

68

Questions and Answers / When to start seeds indoors

« Last post by Bluebird on January 29, 2023, 01:43:44 pm »

Happy January all!

Just curious, when do you all prefer to start your seeds indoors for eventual transplanting into the earth box? I’ve always bought plants, but this year I’d like to try starting with seeds. Thanks!
(I’m in Tallahassee, Fl.)

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Questions and Answers / Re: PRO-MIX® Compressed Premium Moisture Potting Mix

« Last post by michelle on January 28, 2023, 10:46:25 am »

A few years ago I compared Pro-mix's compressed premium moisture potting mix to Miracle-Gro potting mix and the cheapest potting mix I could find. I also did a box mixing all 3.

All performed well, but not as well as when I used Earthbox's growing media. (which I foolishly dumped into a raised bed, not realizing how impossible it would be to find one of the recommended replacements in my area)

Pro-mix and miracle-gro were very close in performance. I liked that pro-mix didn't have a strong odor and didn't have as many big chunks (wood/bark?) once I broke it up. The downside was that being so well compressed, it was hard to break apart and make fluffy with my arthritis.

The cheapest potting mix had a very strong odor, more big chunks, and didn't perform quite as well as the others. (It performed WAY better than my raised beds, just not quite as good as the other two.)

I got a couple of new Earthboxes this year and will probably need new growing media in 2 of my old boxes. A family member gifted me their unused garden stuff, so I think this year I will compare Miracle Gro Performance Organics to mixing my own.

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Questions and Answers / Re: Cover crops in Earthboxes

« Last post by gardendoc on January 23, 2023, 08:46:28 am »

That's a really good question, considering the differences in an in-ground soil system versus the container mix EarthBox system. The use of cover crops is fantastic for traditional in-ground garden as this will help to return and building organic matter back to the soil system. We're primarily using (or should be using) a peat-based or coir-based container media in out EarthBoxes and the great benefits of cover crops may not be as important.

That said, I don't see any particular downside to growing a cover crop in an EarthBox, except it would require the cover crop to be grown without using a "shower cap" cover.