BrittneyT2's first Earthbox Garden - 2016

[BrittneyT2]

I planted my first Earthbox garden in 2016 and was hooked after just a couple of weeks.  I posted all of these on the old forum, but I cannot find them so I wanted to post again.  I had 6 boxes that first year.  I loved it, so I ordered 6 more and an AWS.  I was not able to plant in 2017, but I am counting the days to start my 2018 garden!  I still cannot believe how fast the tomatoes grew!  The peppers did great as well.  They grew very slowly for quite a while, but then all of a sudden took off and got huge!  Most delicious sweet peppers I've ever grown - I grew 2 varieties, and my favorite was Marconi Red.

I grew 2 boxes of tomatoes, 1 box lettuce, 1 box spinach, 1 box sweet peppers, and 1 box with cucumbers in the back and bush beans in the front.  I have a few regular containers with herbs & hot peppers, but they did not do well at all compared to the Earthboxes (hence why I ordered 6 more for the next one!)

I had 1 cherry-type tomatoe and 1 standard tomato plant in each of the 2 tomato boxes.  I think I will only plant 1 cherry tomato plant per box next time - they grew so big they drowned out the standard tomato plants.  I did have some problems with blossom end rot, so I will need to remember to supplement calcium this next season.  I grow organic, so I'm not sure what I can use for the calcium - will need to do some research.

[BrittneyT2]

[BrittneyT2]

[linear249]

I was wondering where you were with the sun shining so brightly and a really nice garden.  Then I read this was 2016 and your zone. 

I think we are all having nasty, cold weather.  Have to go out and cover the young cauliflower and broccoli plants.  Lows in the 20's forecast for tonight and later in the week.  Our norms are in the 40 to 60 or higher range.

I hope you have a great 2018 growing season.

[Seansmum]

Nice garden Brittany!

[BigE]

Hi Brittney,

I'm a new EB user which is why I didn't comment on this post earlier. I would REALLY like to know what sort of support cage you have in those photos, specifically the wire.  The support posts look like rebar.  You've managed to do an impressive job of making a rectangular cage using fairly thick gauge wire.  Is it hog pen wire or something related to larger farm animals?

[BrittneyT2]

Welcome BigE!   The cages are made using pea fences - I believe Park Seed and Gurney’s both sell them, but can’t remember which I bought from.  I can’t take credit for the idea- I got it from others on the forum.  Below is a link to a post I made last year about the setup that I think you’ll find helpful.  I wrote it almost 2 years after doing it the first time, so don’t have all the details on where I got the materials.   The wire clamps I bought in bulk online, but they also sell them individually at the big box hardware stores.  Hope you have fun with your first EarthBox garden!  I’m headed outside shortly to finish prepping my boxes so I can plant within the week!

https://forum.earthbox.com/index.php?topic=237.msg1955#msg1955

[Texas.Micky]

I remember seeing these on the forum back in 2016.

I will have to post some of my old garden pictures too, once I have met the 10 post limit again on this new forum.

[sharonlendon]

That's beautiful, Brittney!  Now I'm inspired.  I bought two Earth Boxes, but I was kind of sad because I wanted to plant Tomatoes, Basil and Marigolds together, and I thought the plastic top looked kind of ugly.  But I am going to stick to the instructions!  I hope I get beautiful plants like you have.

Your setup is so very tidy too.  I like things to be neat. 

Take care!
Sharon

[CathyM]

I know this is a very old post, but I just wanted to say, "Great job, Brittney!"