Mixing Plants

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by The EarthBox Hero Member, Steve. This user is located in Northeast PA, Zone 5. This was originally posted on June 15, 2006.

Several weeks ago an inquiry was made as to what types of plants can be mixed together in an EarthBox.  I indicated that I would try to put together a list, however that has not been possible because we seldom mix plants in our EarthBoxes.  If we want to grow a different plant, we simply plant a new EarthBox.  The general rule of thumb we tell people is if you want to mix plants, try to mix plant types which you would plant the same number of in an EarthBox.  Even more importantly, if a plant is planted on the opposite side of the EarthBox from the fertilizer strip, as with tomatoes, melons, eggplant, and cukes, try to avoid mixing these plants with plants that are planted on both sides of the fertilizer.

Now, to address the development of a plant mixing list, I am turning to all of the forum members to contribute mixing success stories as well as mixing disasters (in the EarthBox only, of course).  I am looking for contributions regarding what you have tried in past seasons, so that you know for sure if it worked or failed.  If you're trying combinations for the first time this season, let us know about your success of failure when you're done with your harvest, please.  Future plans may be to compile this into a single list for future reference. 

Thanks in advance for your contributions

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, vonkamp. This was originally posted on June 16, 2016.

Combo that did not work: Okra & Green beans. I won't get any okra this year. In fact, I will never try to combine anything with green beans again.

I have successfully combined tomatoes & peppers. Two tomatoes in back, two peppers in front. The best way to do this is to have the EB up against a lattice wall and train the tomatoes up the lattice, thus giving the tomatoes growing up a trellis. This did not work as well.
Cheers,
Baron

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by The EarthBox Hero Member, Steve. This user is located in Northeast PA, Zone 5. This was originally posted on August 2, 2006.

I'm trying two butternut squash plants and one eggplant this year. As long I keep the monstrosity of a squash plant from climbing and toppling my eggplant, it seems to be working so far. I've got several large butternuts growing and it looks like my first eggplant is forming.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, Trying2Plant. This was originally posted on August 2, 2006.

Steve, I mixed two bell peppers with one bush type tomato plant.  I also tried a couple of small herbs in that box somewhere along the way, but the herbs didn't thrive.  The peppers and tomato grew really well, but the peppers eventually became totally infested with aphids and had to be removed.  I thought it was interesting that the aphids didn't take over the tomato plant right next door; I was able to control the aphids on the tomato with a soap insecticide.  The tomato plant thrived and has some nice big tomatoes that are just about ready to harvest. 

So I would say that mixing peppers (two plants) and tomatoes (one plant) worked fine--until the aphids ruined the peppers.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Deejo. This user is located in Zone 9b, Brownsville, Texas. This was originally posted on August 2, 2006.

I have tried tomato plant with a couple of bell peppers. I have also tried one tomato with a couple of green beans. These mixtures have all played together nicely.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Active Member, robc. This was originally posted on August 2, 2006.

Steve,
I have green beans and peas in one earthbox.  I also have 2 squash plants and 3 green pepper plants in another.  3 broccoli plants and a couple of cabbage plants in the same box which seems to be working well.  I had cucumbers in one box and added green beans to it.  The green beans didn't make it.  If I'm lucky, I might have one plant to survive. 

Robc

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, joekun. This user is located in Southern California, Zone 10. This was originally posted on August 2, 2006.

A few months ago when I was getting started I bought a book called "Incredible Vegetables From Self-Watering Containers".  Though the book lists EB in the back as a source for self-watering containers, none of the photos appear to show an EB.  Anyway, this book has a section on mixing different plants, as well as succession planting.  I have yet to try any of the combos shown, but it might be a source of some ideas.

So far the info in this thread is very informative, but it would be nice if people could post exactly how they configured their plants and fert strip in the EB when combining plants that use different configurations.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Guest, armymedicmom. This was originally posted on August 20, 2006.

Can peppers and zucchini be combined? If so, what configuration?

Kathy

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Jr. Member, ljjeu. This user is located in Central Ohio - Zone 5. This was originally posted on August 22, 2006.

Kathy, I planted 4 peppers and 2 zucchini in one box - -2 peppers and 1 zucchini on each side. They did fine until the zucchini got vine borers. I pulled out the zucchini weeks ago, and the peppers are still doing well.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Active Member, txstars15. This was originally posted on October 23, 2006.

Being my first season with EBs, I kind of mixed it up a good bit and now know why Earthbox has planting configurations!!

I stuck a yellow squash in a corner, with bell peppers on the opposite side. I had no idea about the monster leaves of a squash plant. Had to cut several leaves off to let light get to the peppers. I don't recommend anything but a couple squash plants per box.

I did a yellow squash in one corner and a cantaloupe on the same side in the opposite corner. Seems to be working out okay as the cantaloupe stays low and trails off while the monster squash leaves tend to be more upright off the box.

Bell peppers on one side and okra on the other also worked out okay.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Newbie, Tracy27. This was originally posted on March 7, 2007.

This winter, I combined broccoli with loose-leaf lettuce - I found that it worked pretty well; the broccoli didn't overwhelm the lettuce, but the loose leaves of the lettuce were forgiving of a little crowding. 

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Newbie, Garden Goddess. This was originally posted on March 19, 2007.

Last year- I planted 3 bell pepper on 1 row- fertilizer strip in the center-
row 2 has 2 jalapeno, and one anaheim pepper.  They are all still producing and seem to be very happy plants.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Newbie, madreinpa. This user is located in Southeastern, PA Zone 6. This was originally posted on March 26, 2007.

Last year I tried EB for the first time. I had only planted tomatoes and peppers in containers in the past and did pretty well. I had heard so much about EB that I decided to try them. I planted two boxes of tomatoes with three plants in a row. I had the best crop of tomatoes ever but because they were crowded it was hard to stake and pick, but I had hundreds. In the third box I planted 4 pepper plants, 1 cucumber and 1 zucchini plant. The zucchini plant overgrew the box and crowded the peppers but I had quite a few of them. The cucumbers, after awhile, did ok, and the peppers did not do well. They were small and many of them were rotten.

This year I am expanding my boxes and thinking of trying pole or bush beans, white small eggplant and corn along with my tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and zucchini.

This forum has been a great help, thanks to all. 

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Newbie, Tracy27. This was originally posted on March 7, 2007.

I did some mixing this winter - broccoli with looseleaf lettuce and brussels sprouts with cauliflower (traditional center-fertilizer config for both).  Both sets did well. 

This spring I initially had bush beans and romaine lettuce in a box together, and I think they would've been OK;  but I got greedy for more bean plants, so I moved the romaine's back out to another planter.  I have a box with two zucchinis (one-sided fertilizer config) and I'm thinking of adding something tall in the center on the planting side - maybe a pepper?

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, BronxBaby. This user is located in Bronx, NY Zone 7b.This was originally posted on April 11, 2007.

Hi All,

Can anyone suggest any books I could purchase that I could read on mixing plants?

Thanks!