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EARTH
BOXES AND OTHER CONTAINERS
POSTED
FEBRUARY 16, 2009
I was wondering what vegetables
(besides tomatoes) you grow in your Earth Boxes? I have recently
purchased 3 of them, because of your blog, and am really excited to
try them out.
-- Thanks, Eric.
Destin, FL
I noticed in the picture of your Sweet Zuke Zucchini squash you had
them growing in some type of container. What containers do you use
and what is your soil made from? Are you using coffee filters or
rocks to aid in drainage?
-- Brenda
Niceville, FL
Hi Brenda. Thanks to you and Eric for
the questions. The Sweet Zuke squash is
pictured growing in an Earth Box, a self-contained growing system.
Water is conducted up from a reservoir in the bottom of the
container. The container is filled with potting mix. Fertilizer is
added only once and a plastic cover keeps down evaporation. It’s the
system Eric from Destin has purchased.
I’ve had great success with my Earth Boxes. I have 9 of them.
Currently, they are home to 54 thriving Sweet Charlie Strawberry
plants.
Strawberries growing in
Earth Boxes
in my Niceville garden Feb. 16, 2009.
In my Earth Boxes I have grown lettuce, bell peppers, Brussels
sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, watermelons, cantaloupes,
artichokes, summer and winter squash – even sweet corn – in addition
to tomatoes.
I especially like Earth Boxes for
growing tomatoes, strawberries and sweet corn – 12 full size corn
stalks per container!
A couple of tips for you, Eric, and anyone else using an Earth Box
or similar container system: First, I found that using starter
plants works better than trying to start seeds. And second, blossom
end rot is a real problem with Earth Boxes in north Florida during
warm weather, particularly with peppers, squash and tomatoes. To
avoid the problem, mix in some garden lime, crushed eggshells or
other source of calcium with the potting mix. Also, use a fertilizer
where Ammonium nitrogen is only a minor component because excess
ammonium ions reduce calcium uptake.
You’ll find more information about
Earth Boxes here.
Before you buy, search “earth box’ using my custom search engine and
check out the special offers in the sponsored links, you may save
money. Also search “self watering planters.”
When I use other containers for vegetables, such as Brenda is doing,
I use a good potting mix and add calcium, just as I do with my Earth
Boxes. I don’t use anything to aid in drainage other than ample
holes in the bottom and along the bottom sides of the container.
Keep your containers well watered; vegetables don’t like to dry out
between watering.
CONTACT THE FRONT-YARD
FARMER
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