I tried earthboxes for the first time last year with mixed results. Certainly my own issues in many ways. However, when I was hauling them out this year, I noticed that all the fertilizer I used was still on top in a strip. Is that right? I thought it was supposed to have dissolved over the season.
I used Miracle Gro pelleted stuff that feeds for 3 months. But it looks like it never dissolved. Any suggestions on what brand of fertilizer I should switch to this year? I'd really prefer to go organic if possible.
Fertilizer for Earthboxes?
This year I'm using Scott's. Try to find some 10-10-10. And make sure to read the bag label. If it says "Not Recommended for Containers" pick something else that has all the numbers below 15. And don't forget to dig out the old fertilizer strip. If you grow tomatoes in your EB, you'll need to sprinkle 2 cups of Dolomitic or Hydrated Lime into the top 3-5 inches of potting MIX. Remember -- don't use any kind of potting soil -- only potting MIX.
I'm a relative newbie who went through my first EB season last year, too. I had GREAT results (I managed to keep up with the production of all the other Houston growers -- who all suffered because of the unusually high amount of rain the area received last year). Hopefully, this will be a dryer Spring/summer. Cause you KNOW we can control our own water issue with those wonderful water reservoirs!
Hope this helps. I'm not an organic grower, so I don't know which organic products to suggest to you...
I grew tomatoes and peppers in earthboxes last year, and although I was rather skeptical at first, I ended up really liking them and had a great harvest. I hope you have great success with them this year :-). Check out the earthbox faqs below:
http://www.earthbox.com/consumer/faqs.php
About midway through they have this info on organic fertilizers:
Can I use organic fertilizer?
Many EarthBox gardeners prefer growing their plants organically. There are several brands of dry granulated organic fertilizer (Plant Right, Fertrell, etc.) that can be used by replacing the 2 cups of chemical fertilizer with 3 cups of organic fertilizer. We have added a 5-6-6 OMRI listed organic fertilizer to our product list.
chatnoir --- Your fertilizer did not do its job because it was a time release fertilizer. Next time just use 10-10-10 or organic as stated by gymgirl and you will have excellent results like us but never a time release or liquid fertilizer added to the resevoir. Just follow the directions for best results. We are happy to help you.....
Thanks everyone. I'm encouraged to see you all had great success. I look forward to doing it better this year and joining you!
Tplant - reading your posts led me to try EB's in the first place! I very much appreciate the advice.
I'm growing melons in my EBs at this time of year as it gets to hot here for tomatos during the summer months but melons love the heat. Also strawberries. Both are posted in the "Fruit & Nuts" forum if you want to see the results as we go. My EBs are never idle except for cleaning every three years or so! The only fertilizer that I ever use is 10-10-10.
Tplant
I got 2 more earthboxes because my first ones did real well.
This morning I went to three different stores including Lowes and Home depot to get the potting mix, everything labeled poting mix had fertilizer in it. Doesn't anyone make the plain stuff anymore. I thought that if it had fert added it was no longer potting mix. Have you seen this problem.
Annie
Annie ----- Yes I have had the same experience but it is safe to use their mix as the fertilizer amount is only a trace. Use it and still follow the same instructions for the set up as it will not interfere with production.
Thanks. Got any suggestion on what to use for citris plants in a container.
We have been busy with work and family responsibilitis that were very stressful. But over the last 2 years things have changed and we are relatively stress free and I went crazy with the gardening I couldn't do before. Now I have a whole bunch of plants sitting on my back patio and don't really know what to do with some of them. I have always had tomatoes and peppers but that is about my experience.
You, as I, will find that all plants have the same basic needs. They all have everything in common to some extent. For my citrus plants I use Vigoro Citrus fertilizer. It is also available at the above mentioned stores. It works for me.