GardenDoc Tips

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Global Moderator Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a- near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 17, 2013.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_%28chemistry%29

is interesting, but doesnt really shed light on what would interest us

-which kind of salts develop in the EarthBox
(it certainly is not sodium chloride, NaCl--the salt we normally think of)
-how do they affect plants

I assume they would come from either Ca or Mg as the cation and maybe nitrate or nitrite (nitrogen) as the anion--but that is pure guess.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, Rondini. This user is located in Zone 5 more like 4 mid Michigan. This was originally posted on April 17, 2013.

Thank you for getting back with me on this so quickly Gardendoc.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, BDumler2. This user is located in Meridian, ID Zone 6 or 7. This was originally posted on April 18, 2013.

Great video.  I'm going to go get some flashing tomorrow.  I have a question...  I think I started my plants way too early and they are now 12" or more in height.  I have them in a 2 pint container and our frost date is apprx. May 10th.  Are my plants too big to transplant into an earthbox or should I start over with new seeds?  I also have squash plants of equal or larger in size.  I just couldn't help my self.  My house and garage looks like a forest.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on April 18, 2013.

Those are going to be really big holding them another 3+ weeks. I know folks have transplanted this size in their EBS. I like to transplant seedlings are about 8 weeks old. BW will transplant much smaller plugs. There are lots of options

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Global Moderator Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a- near Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on April 18, 2013.

Bdumler, if you have any way to cover them in event of a predicted frost, you could consider going ahead with the planting...but with another 3 weeks, that leaves a pretty significant possibility of cold.

Frost you could probably protect from; a hard freeze would be deadly though.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, BDumler2. This user is located in Meridian, ID Zone 6 or 7. This was originally posted on April 19, 2013.

I may try to plant some and leave them in the garage. I could probably move them with a dolly. I just had eye surgery so I can't lift anything over 10 lbs. Just trying to figure out if I can do this and stake them at the same time.

Got the flashing yesterday. Now I'm trying to bend it to size. This will make mixing up the mix sooooo much easier. Thank you Gardendoc!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was the best idea ever. If you happen to read this, I would be interested in how you snack your tomatoes. I had a bad problem with BSR last year and I followed all instructions to the tee. I added the one time treatment to the pour hole but it didn't help. Hopefully this will be a better year.

Thanks everyone who answers all of our questions. I have learned so much from everyone!!!

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, gardendoc. This user is located in Ocean Springs, MS Zone 9a. This was originally posted on April 19, 2013.

Try using calcium nitrate as a "snack", 1 tsp in the reservoir about once per week will help with BER.

[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 by April 19, 2013.

BDumler - In addition to the Snack Doc mentions which many of us use, new boxes are more likely to have BER also.  I had it on many of my tomatoes in first year but have not had it since.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, cushman350. This was originally posted on April 19, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, BDumler2. This user is located in Meridian, ID Zone 6 or 7. This was originally posted on April 19, 2013.

I may try to plant some and leave them in the garage. I could probably move them with a dolly. I just had eye surgery so I can't lift anything over 10 lbs. Just trying to figure out if I can do this and stake them at the same time.

Got the flashing yesterday. Now I'm trying to bend it to size. This will make mixing up the mix sooooo much easier. Thank you Gardendoc!!!!!!!!!!!!! That was the best idea ever. If you happen to read this, I would be interested in how you snack your tomatoes. I had a bad problem with BSR last year and I followed all instructions to the tee. I added the one time treatment to the pour hole but it didn't help. Hopefully this will be a better year.

Thanks everyone who answers all of our questions. I have learned so much from everyone!!!

I did that my first year with EBs. Rolled them out in the morning and back in at night when the 30s were predicted. Harbor Freight has carpet covered moving dollies. I started with 2 EBs and 2 dollies. They are handy and last forever.

http://www.harborfreight.com/movers-dolly-93888.html

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, BDumler2. This user is located in Meridian, ID Zone 6 or 7. This was originally posted on April 19, 2013.

Cushman,
I've seen these.  I shop at Harbor Freight a lot.  Do you think they would be easy to move them from the front yard to the back yard  going over loose rocks?  Eventually they need to go into the back yard.  Did you secure them to the dolly with anything or did you just sit them on top and hold on to both while rolling them? 

Its raining right now and thunder and lighting.  Love it!

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, BDumler2. This user is located in Meridian, ID Zone 6 or 7. This was originally posted on April 19, 2013.

Is Calcium Nitrate  a powder or liquid and do I get it at a gardening store like Zamzoes,  Home Depot, etc. or a pharmacy?

When you said that BSR is better in 2nd and 3rd yr boxes does that mean you planted tomatoes in the same box each year rather than rotating the crops?   This will be my 3rd year and I was going to put a different crop in each box.  I started with 2 boxes when I lived in Los Angeles and now have 14 here in ID.  I may not have enough for everything and will have to resort to a few buckets.

Got the flashing and got it bent together and taped together.  Tried it out and it works great!!!!

Now, I will have to go to Harbor Freight and get the dollys.

Thanks again to everyone here for your advice and all of your knowledge!

[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 April 20, 2013.

BDumler2-- calcium nitrate is not commonly found locally. You MIGHT find it at a feed store, but most of us get it on line. The best source I've found is www.kelp4less.com  they are reasonably priced, and the shipping is free. Calcium nitrate comes in granules, is fairly heavy, so order enough (a small amount really wont last you).

If you get the dollies from Harbor Freight, tie a rope to one end so you can pull it instead of trying to push it while hanging onto the EB.

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, cushman350. This was originally posted on April 20, 2013.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, BDumler2. This user is located in Meridian, ID Zone 6 or 7. This was originally posted on April 19, 2013.

Cushman,
I've seen these.  I shop at Harbor Freight a lot.  Do you think they would be easy to move them from the front yard to the back yard  going over loose rocks?  Eventually they need to go into the back yard.  Did you secure them to the dolly with anything or did you just sit them on top and hold on to both while rolling them? 

Its raining right now and thunder and lighting.  Love it!

During the threat of freezing, I just rolled them from garage to driveway. Loose gravel would surely be a problem. As Mickie said, pulling will be easier than pushing. The narrow wheels will dig into the gravel. I would just keep them near a protected location until temps are not a danger, then place them permanently.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, BDumler2. This user is located in Meridian, ID Zone 6 or 7. This was originally posted on April 20, 2013.

Kathy,
Is there a way to make sure we don't have salt build up if were not sure.  I was using non-organic fertilizer but have switched to organic.  Can the potting mix be flushed out some way or do I need to start completely over?  This will be my 3rd year and I have always dug out the fertilizer strip and surrounding area. 
Thanking you in advance for all and everyone's help.

Barbara

[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 by April 20, 2013.

Bdumler - Crop rotation is not an issue in EBs where are we growing in soiless mix and adding new ferts each season.