How to Garden in an EarthBox

Tomatoes, peppers and greens can easily be grown in EarthBoxes.

The EarthBox gardening system allows anyone with a sunny spot outdoors to grow vegetables and flowers. An EarthBox garden can be on a patio, balcony or porch, or in your yard. The plants you grow in your EarthBox will be as large as plants growing in a regular garden but will save water and be low maintenance and weed free. A few tips and tricks can help you successfully grow plants in your EarthBox garden.

Things You'll Need

• EarthBox
• Potting mix suitable for containers or hanging pots, 2 cubic feet
• Dolomite, 1 pound
• Fertilizer, general all-purpose (no water soluble or time release)
• Black trash bag or plastic
• String
• Sharp knife or scissors
• Seedling plants
• Water

Instructions

1. Construct your EarthBox per the directions, placing the screen securely in the box and inserting the water fill tube through the hole in the screen, then pushing the screen to the bottom of the box.

2. Pack the open corners of the the screen with moist potting mix. These packed potting mix corners ensure the water in the bottom of your EarthBox will wick up to the rest of the potting mix in the box.

3. Fill the EarthBox with moistened potting mix up to 2 inches from the top of the box.

4. Spread evenly one pound of dolomite over the potting mix. The dolomite will provide the needed calcium and magnesium for your plants.

5. Add another layer of moist potting mix on top of the dolomite layer, to the top of the EarthBox.

6. Make a 2-inch-deep trough, lengthwise, in the center of the potting soil. The trough should be 4-5 inches wide.

7. Pour fertilizer evenly into the trough. If you are using a synthetic fertilizer, use 2 cups, or use 3 cups for organic fertilizer. The formula for your fertilizer should be an equal balance, but no greater than 15-15-15.

8. Add more moist potting mix until the mix is a mound, 2 inches above the top of your EarthBox.

9. Cover the potting mix mound with the included cover, black side up, or use a black trash bag. If you use a trash bag, cut an opening for the fill tube, then secure the plastic by wrapping string over the plastic, around the outside of the EarthBox and tie it.

10. Cut "X" slits in the plastic where you intend to plant your starter plants. Carefully open up the slit holes and plant your plants. Plant your seedlings along each edge of the box if your trough with fertilizer is in the center of the box.

11. Fill the bottom of your EarthBox with water by using the fill tube you inserted when you assembled the EarthBox. Continue to add water until you see water running out of the overflow hole, located on one side, toward the bottom of the box.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure you have the potting mix moist when you fill the EarthBox. The moist mix will help start the wicking process to draw the water up, into the mix.

• Continue to check and add water throughout the growing season.

• Your EarthBox will need to be placed in a location that receives at least six to eight hours of sun a day for best results.

• The fertilizer you added when planting your EarthBox is all you need for the entire growing season. Be sure you do not use a water-soluble or time-release fertilizer.

References

• EarthBox: EarthBox Gardening Tips
• Tomato Tips: Earthbox Garden -- How Well Does the Earthbox Planter System Work?
• How To Garden Guide: Earth Box Garden Conainer - Stands Reviewed
• Buddy Garden: Earthbox Planting Instructions

Resources

• Josho: Homemade Self-Contained Gardening Systems