Trying Burlap instead of Knee High

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 22, 2013.

Background:
As a way to ease cleanup after spills, animal damage and replanting for the following year. Some took up a practice of placing the fertilizer in pantyhose before putting it in the box. A very cheap source is Walmart, the "queen" size for $0.33 a pair. I loved the idea that I did that in my first earthbox and did again the following year. Worked great! I had a couple of boxes saved by the nylons because those made it easy to replace the strip after a tip-over and animal exploration. I am reluctant to plant a box without it.

New Findings:
I've seen many have said they don't like Walmart special of using pantyhose knee highs. Lower crop yield have been noted, and people guess that not enough nutrients are passing through the very fine mesh.

Experiment:
I ma trying some burlap in the box this year instead. I found a roll of the stuff in the garden center with a fairly wide nap. One was large, too big because the granules would just pass through. Also, one was too small, the kind you would use to make a planting pot of burlap. This one is just right; I hope.

I cut some long strips and put it in the through before pouring on the fertilizer. Next, I folded over the edges like a burrito and put dirt on top.

It'll be a year til I know the results.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer : This post was originally posted by Full Member, linear249. This was originally posted on April 23, 2013.

Id like to know the results, because I found that the fertilizer was still intact when using the knee high pantyhose. 

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Sun City Linda. This user is located in SoCal Inland 9A. This was originally posted on April 23, 2013.

Yeah those knee highs were one of those things that sounded great but many of us did end up having some problems with them.  They do seem to work for some so maybe it  has to do with the brand of fert.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, BronxBaby. This user is located in Bronx, NY Zone 7a. This was originally posted on April 23, 2013.

I use weed blocker, water gets in and nutrients go out but the fertilizer stays in the fold.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 23, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, BronxBaby. This user is located in Bronx, NY Zone 7a. This was originally posted on April 23, 2013.

I use weed blocker, water gets in and nutrients go out but the fertilizer stays in the fold.

Oh, there's an idea.

Hoe do you shape it?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Sun City Linda. This user is located in SoCal Inland 9A. This was originally posted on April 23, 2013.

Yes! I have some weed blocker here.  Bet I could just staple it closed too.  I still have 4 boxes to plant ill give it a try!

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, baileyj. This user is located in Zone 7A---Annapolis, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 23, 2013.

Maybe I should try the weed block method..I have about 15 boxes ready to add fertilizer and go....

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 23, 2013.

Judi

if you have two boxes planting the same thing/variety, why not do one with weed block and another with just trench--same fertilizer amount in each.  See if there is a difference.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 24, 2013.

I am thinking two boxes of tomatoes this year.  I am debating between planting the nylon hose or just a trench as a comparison.  I kinda already know how the hose will work as Ive had two seasons using it.  I have never used just a trench.  Any thoughts?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, BronxBaby. This user is located in Bronx, NY Zone 7a. This was originally posted on April 29, 2013.

Sorry, I've been traveling for a while.  I usually just shape it into a roll and tuck the ends under.  When I take it out at the end of the season, I make sure to dig it up so that I can the entire roll.  I never have a problem with it falling out I make sure I put just enough paper to fold and tuck all open ends.  I've been using this method for over 8 years now with lots of success.  I didn't see any difference in my plants when I tested with/without stocking and then weed barrier.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 30, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, BronxBaby. This user is located in Bronx, NY Zone 7a. This was originally posted on April 29, 2013.

Sorry, I've been traveling for a while.  I usually just shape it into a roll and tuck the ends under.  When I take it out at the end of the season, I make sure to dig it up so that I can the entire roll.  I never have a problem with it falling out I make sure I put just enough paper to fold and tuck all open ends.  I've been using this method for over 8 years now with lots of success.  I didn't see any difference in my plants when I tested with/without stocking and then weed barrier.

Why use weed barrier over stockings?

My comparison so far is the stockings are easier to use.  The burlap-I imagine weed blocker is the same-needs to be cut so takes longer.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 30, 2013.

psyche, the reason for talk about tulle, burlap, and weed cloth is because some people have had problems with boxes using hosiery for fertilizer.

A few have said they worked OK.  The hypothesis is that some hosiery material may not allow the nutrients "easy exit".  To me, it is still an open issue, but personally, I had bad results when using them, so I strongly lean to there probably being a problem with some of them.  However, I cannot prove the bad results were due totally or in part due to them.  They are very convenient though, for sure.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Psyche. This user is located in Zone 7a, Maryland. This was originally posted on April 30, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 30, 2013.

psyche, the reason for talk about tulle, burlap, and weed cloth is because some people have had problems with boxes using hosiery for fertilizer.

A few have said they worked OK.  The hypothesis is that some hosiery material may not allow the nutrients "easy exit".  To me, it is still an open issue, but personally, I had bad results when using them, so I strongly lean to there probably being a problem with some of them.  However, I cannot prove the bad results were due totally or in part due to them.  They are very convenient though, for sure.

Those reports are the reason Im doing the experiment.  I was asking BronxBaby about the lack of difference with/without stockings and with weed barrier.  Also, if no difference, what is the benefit to the weed barrier?  So far, its just more work.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, cushman350. This user is located in Tomato Hell, Wichita Falls, TX Zone 7b. This was originally posted on April 30, 2013.

Burlap being fibrous and organic should bring the water right into the fert. Weed barrier passes water. Sounds good to me.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, bdank. This user is located in Zone 7 - Northern Virginia (Fredericksburg). This was originally posted on May 2, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 30, 2013.

psyche, the reason for talk about tulle, burlap, and weed cloth is because some people have had problems with boxes using hosiery for fertilizer.

A few have said they worked OK.  The hypothesis is that some hosiery material may not allow the nutrients "easy exit".  To me, it is still an open issue, but personally, I had bad results when using them, so I strongly lean to there probably being a problem with some of them.  However, I cannot prove the bad results were due totally or in part due to them.  They are very convenient though, for sure.

My stuff does well and I use the panty hose. I buy the cheap 10 packs of sheer knee-highs at Walmart. I would be interested in seeing a side by side experiment though. If I have the room to plant two boxes of the same variety, I might try this experiment myself. One thing I have noticed, there is always fertilizer left in the hose at the end of the season. Do you guys reuse this leftover fertilizer or toss it? Since I cant buy 10-10-10 anymore, I wonder if I should start conserving what I have by reusing the leftovers.