Are The DIY earthboxes Working for You? ?????

Well, I planted 3 zucchini and 3 spaghetti squash plants in one box. I had set it up as 3 on one side, 3 on the other. I think that next year I may either put the spaghetti squash into it's own box, or at least alternate them. The reason I say this is because 2 of my spaghetti squash don't seem to be doing anything - they're dormant or something. I think it's because the leaves from the zucchini squash kept shading the two plants. The spaghetti squash seems to grow differently, too. Maybe I'll grow some yellow squash next year, and put that in with the zucchini.

Here's a picture of a couple zucchini growing on my plant. I cut them after taking this picture. I had transplanted this zucchini plant on 5/28. I had started it inside from seed. I think I waited too long to transplant it though, because it took a while to actually 'take'. The others were transplanted on 6/12, and were newer plants.

I can't believe how much water my squash sucks in! I have to add quite a bit of water to my DIY EB every other day. Most of my boxes don't really require any water to be added for very long periods of time. Then again, this box is the most mature of all my plants.

I also planted radishes in one box - since EB directions don't say how many of these can be put into a box, I experimented. I actually put 32 radish plants in a box. Here's an early picture, so you can see how I did it. My radishes turned out terriffic! They have a nice cool taste when you first eat them, but then they have a little zing that kind of sneaks up on you. Yum!

I had placed them in a zig-zag formation, with 16 on each side.

dmd1120: Don't know the dimensions of your DIY but I have found that in a standard EB, I plant no more than 3 Zucchini and still have to water it twice a day during hot weather. With those large leaves they transpire a lot of water. If you are getting plant counts from the EB webside or flyer, you have to take some of their counts with a grain of salt. I have 4 Grape Tomato plants in 2 EB's that I am now watering 3 times a day during hot weather and twice during normal summer temps.

Rich

Linda--- Another idea might be to paint your DIY EBs. I bought Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 an exterior water-based primer ($13.00/GL) after rebate and exterior water-based latex paint (UV protection) from Menards. HD sells a similar primer called, "The Gripper"- both primers cover plastic, PVC, laminate and metal without having to sand or roughen the surface-just remember to use a bristle brush to apply the primer and buy a satin paint if you decide to pstencil a design on the EB after you paint. I hope this helps.LOL

Bernie

Hi guys--- I planted bare root strawberries in one EB and Garden Patch Box on b 07-01 so I could do a side by side analysis of the GPB. Needless to say, nothing has sproutted in either box yet.
1. Has anyone else succefully started bare root plants in an EB?
2. Is it too late to start another crop like Blue Lake bush beans .

Bernie

Bernie,
Could you post a pic of your painted EB? Thanks!

Hi everyone, I'm enjoying the pictures and exchange of information especially about leveling "soil-wicking planters". I had the same situation as Big Red and solved it after reading postings here.

Linda--- I haven't planted or painted a DIY EB because I've been working on my own self-watering bucket project and a family reunion in ATL. However, I will be posting pictures of my 6 planted EBs and 1 Garden Patch Box soon with project detail. I've never posted pictures before so it to will be another learning experence.

My 3- and 5-GL buckets are white and I'm only painting to get UV protection, of course DW may add color (you think). I plan to use them to vertically grow cantaloupes and sugar baby melons.
Thanks guys, I look forward to new pictures and knowledge updates.
Bernie

here's a pic of my DIY - 2nd year.
i kept most of the soil that was in it from last year, but removed all that was attached to the roots and also the old line of osmocote. to it i added a cup of worm compost, a cup of dolomite lime, and enough soil dome the top. now i'm just waiting for my maters to ripen up!

Mail some to me? I won't have my own till November -- Hurricanes permitting!

Well, lookee here!....Howdy Toby/HandHelpers! Nice to see you again!

('Bout merry ol time you showed up!)

By the way, can you find the post that shows the construction of your DIY EB's? I betcha people will want to see it.

(Been thinking about ya. Hope you and yours are doing well!)

Shoe.

hi shoe and everyone - haha - wish i were doin well. so much for takin care of my hands thru all my therapy.....i unfortunately broke my ankle at the beginning of the month, had surgery a week ago and look forward to 12 weeks of no weight-bearing on my left leg. but, that at least gives me loads of time to catch up on everything i wish i coulda been doin for so so long! and boy oh boy, it sure gives me a new perspective from a wheelchair point of view....but enough about that. there's been so many posts about diy boxes. here are some of the old posts:
homemade vs real : http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/510311/
directions and pics from the ones we made:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/492482/
one thing i've found interesting is that the mater in my homemade box drinks a lot more than the mater in the real box. this year i have the same type mater growing in both so i'll be keeping track of the harvest as best i can. [unfortunately dh is taking care of the area with the real eb - while i'm still able to take care of the homemade box....that doesn't keep the variables quite equal]

Good grief...broken ankle? No fun there. Hope the hands are "up and running' though so you can peruse DG and do some serious catchin' up!

Thanks for the links. (Believe it or not, I bought two EB's last year and never put them to use. Due to my frustration of having too many irons in the fire I'm thinking of making a few as well as putting the real ones to work for a Fall crop. Hopefully it'll free up some time to do my greenhouse work/sales, etc.)

Hope to see you around the site. Let us know how your experiments work out!

Shoe.

Hey guys,
two questions:

What size rubbermade tubs do you use, and when is growing season over for the veggies?

I'm in Houston, with approximately 2 months left before the temps will get anywhere near really, really cold (by mid to late October we should hit average daily temps somewhere around 50 degrees, MAYBE)...