Specialty Gardening: Earth Boxes, 1 by ritchh

ritchh wrote:
Wow...hi there VirginiaPesto. You must have tired fingers after that post! I have been growing in EB's for 5 years and do it with organic fertilizer. I am assuming that you mixed the fertilizer into the soil and did not place it as a stripe on top. Organic MUST be mixed into the soil. I use 2 cups of Espoma 100% Organic 5-3-3 and ½ cup each of bone meal and kelp meal. It has worked great for me. To answer your specific questions:

1. Dolomite is very important to add for tomatoes only as it supplies calcium to prevent blossom end rot and raise pH. I do find it helps with bell peppers also but don't use it on anything else including the many varities of hot peppers I grow. The gypsum you have added will supply calcium but will not raise soil pH.

2. I use nursery bought transplants for tomatoes, peppers and lettuce and direct seed for cucumbers, squash, and most anything else that doesn't like to have its roots disturbed. I sow my own basil in 6-packs and transplant them at about 2 inches.

3. Here in New Jersey I plant everything black side up and I think that should apply for you also.

4. Have no idea. I buy mine at my local garden center. Espoma sells a full line of organics and my garden center stocks them all.

5. As long as you follow instructions and pack the potting mix tightly into the two corners that form the wicking action you should have no problem. I wouldn't think vermiculite or perlite would be near as efficient as the potting mix in forming the wick and I have never had a problem with mold or rot.

6. If I notice any signs of yellowing or deficiency mid to late season I add a couple of tablespoons of fish emulsion to the water reservoir when I fill it maybe once or twice. Other than that most plants make it through the entire season without adding a thing except water.

Hope you enjoy your EB's. Basil by the way grows like a weed in them and I've posted a pic of one of my basil EB's so you can see. I've posted this pic before but in case you haven't seen it I'm doing it again.

Rich