Soil Wicking Question for Second Year EB's

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist The EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in The mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on June 1, 2009.

I leave my boxes out all winter and can get temps at minus 10 below. I just tip them  to get most of the water out of them, then I cut the stems off at soil level. Then add new cover over the entire box. This spring I uncovered them and removed covers and old roots, old fertilizer fluffed up the potting mix...and got ready to plant.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Newbie, csleung. This was originally posted June 4, 2009.

I always add a shovelful of homemade compost each year as well as greensand (for tomatoes), bone meal, dolomite, ground granite, and chelated iron. I'm on my 5th year of using the same soil mix. My earthboxes are now full of earthworms (from the homemade compost)--I think they like it in there--they take care of getting rid of old roots and leaves for me. Supposedly I think the 5 years is the max for using the original soil mix, but my veggies are still producing so well that I'm wondering if I can keep on going before dumping for a few years...As far as wicking goes, I've never had an issue with that...

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MacSmiley. This user is located in Zone 4b in South Dakota. This was originally posted on June 24, 2009.

@kathy

Do you think that would fly in South Dakota winters, where ?25?F is not unheard of?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, cdc9778. This was originally posted on June 27, 2009.

Some replies make me wonder about the "old farmers rule" of not planting tomatoes in the same area two years in a row.  I "trust" the rule hence dump and restart each year.  Maybe I"m wasting time and $$$.  Any ideas ?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on June 27, 2009.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MacSmiley. This user is located in Zone 4b in South Dakota. This was originally posted on June 24, 2009.

@kathy

Do you think that would fly in South Dakota winters, where ?25?F is not unheard of?

There's not much difference, if any, of -25*f or -10*F... frozen is frozen once the temps go below 32*F. As Kathy said, drain the water and cover the mix to keep new rain/snow out...the boxes held just fine.

I alternate years between my cucurbit and tomato plantings. The mix is way too expensive to just dump every year. Unless you had a devastating disease that contaminated the mix, save your time and $$$. In fact, new mix every time leaves you vulnerable to more incidents of BER. Tomatoes planted in "seasoned" mixes are less prone to it.

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist The EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in The mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on June 30, 2009.

I agree Mickie  frozen is frozen and I say yes they will hold up. I have not rotated my crops in the boxes, no problems so far.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MacSmiley. This user is located in Zone 4b in South Dakota. This was originally posted on July 2, 2009.

Ahhh, but you guys have never had plastic and metal items (like car door handles) snap in your hands in sub-zero temps, especially when you needed to open that door to fix a flat tire!! That sort of thing just doesn't happen in 0 to 30 degree weather.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist The EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in The mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on July 27, 2009.


True, but as long as you are not handling the boxes they should be fine, we have boxes in very, very cold climates, like Iowa with prolonged -18 degree weather.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MacSmiley. This user is located in Zone 4b in South Dakota. This was originally posted on July 27, 2009.

Well, I'm glad I wont have to empty the boxes out. Most of my other containers over-winter with the same soil.

Do you put new EB brand shower caps on your boxes for the winter, or home made plastic covers?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on July 28, 2009.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MacSmiley. This user is located in Zone 4b in South Dakota. This was originally posted on July 27, 2009.

Well, I'm glad I wont have to empty the boxes out. Most of my other containers over-winter with the same soil.

Do you put new EB brand shower caps on your boxes for the winter, or home made plastic covers?

Thats a project Ive been working on... in the past, I just left the used covers on, but the elastic is shot, and they just blow off eventually. Next winter, Im going to use large trash bags  held down with either tape or heavy rubber bands if I can get them cheap.

We need some good, durable winter covers that will last several many seasons. Kathy 

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, azure247. This user is located in Zone 9 - 10, Suisun City, CA. This was originally posted on July 28, 2009.

Thats what I plan on using too, even at 1$ per cover (if you buy enough), I think trash bags are more affordable at less than 10 cents each. 

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MaryB. This user is located in Zone 7, North Central AR. This was originally posted July 28, 2009.

Last winter we slid each EB into a large trash bag and sealed the end so the entire box was inside the bag.  After removing the boxes this spring, we reused the trash bags in the garbage can. That worked for us and plan to do that again this fall.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on July 28, 2009.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, azure247. This user is located in Zone 9 - 10, Suisun City, CA. This was originally posted on July 28, 2009.

Thats what I plan on using too, even at 1$ per cover (if you buy enough), I think trash bags are more affordable at less than 10 cents each.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MaryB. This user is located in Zone 7, North Central AR. This was originally posted July 28, 2009.

Last winter we slid each EB into a large trash bag and sealed the end so the entire box was inside the bag.  After removing the boxes this spring, we reused the trash bags in the garbage can. That worked for us and plan to do that again this fall.

As of this weeks sale, Ill have 81 EBs, and with a bad back, cant lift them into the trash bags. After the boxes are emptied (with help), Ill leisurely winterize each one. I envision myself sitting on my scooter, bottle of alcohol in hand with cleaning rags, exterior duct tape, and super-sized box of trash bags.

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, MacSmiley. This user is located in Zone 4b in South Dakota. This was originally posted on July 28, 2009.

That makes a lot more sense to me, having 3 EBs on a balcony. What size trash bags do you need to contain the entire EB? And is that with or without the staking kit outriggers and casters?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist The EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in The mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on July 28, 2009.

Mickie: Drinking alcohol or rubbing alcohol or both?