Ok folks, I got my new Gardener's Supply Mag for Holiday 2008 and on page 42, item number 34-381 they have a Grow Bed, it's only $49.95 and is 3 ft X 3 ft. Also, I was double checking as I have both garden patch boxes and earth boxes, I haven't used the earth boxes yet; will this Spring/Summer but here are some interesting discoveries and maybe TPlant or an owner of an earth box can help me out here. The garden patch boxes, even though they don't have watering tubes, have a larger reservoir of water I believe, the boxes are also bigger. The Garden Patch has a 4 gallon water well, TPlant how big is earth boxes water well? The Garden Patch is 30" L x 15" W x 12" H compared to the earth boxes being 29" L x 13.5" W x 11" high. Now the earth boxes hold 2 cubic feet of mix, while the Garden Patch holds 38 qts. I went to the earthbox website and read some of the comments, seems the watering tubes get plugged with roots sometimes, has anyone else had this problem. They seem to highly suggest Pro mix for the mix to use also.
I was going to buy some more earth boxes; but, now will wait til after this Spring/Summer and experiment a little bit with both boxes and see what happens and let everyone know what I discover ok?
Boca Bob: They also list coconut coir as one of the products in Pro mix, does Jungle Growth have that in it also?
Does anyone have a bag of Jungle Growth to list the ingredients so I can compare it with Pro mix?
joy112854
New Grow Bed
I have never had the root problem. Pro mix is pretty pricey.
I received my coir. Love it to work with ,not sure I can afford to fill as much as I would like, but Im looking forward to seeing how things do. I even planted some daylily seeds since I was out of sponges.
Anything soiless in the earthboxes will work. I have the most beautiful broccoli ever in a EB right now. You can ask questions all day, but go plant one, its the best teacher. I mean ask away, but until you try one, it sometimes just doesnt fit altogether in your head. Well thats how it was for me.
You can still plant anything in the cabbage family, and if your eb is close to someplace you can push it in when it freezes, you can grow snow peas thru the winter too.
Im dying for you to get going so we can compare and see some pictures. You are much closer to my zone than Mr. T.
Joy -- I answered your question on raised beds on the prior site but I have never had roots plug up my fill tube?/ Just make sure your tube is down all the way past the screen by pushing it to the bottom and even if roots did grow in the fill tube they still won't block the water? The new EBs hold 2 1/2 gal of water. I forget the formula for cu.ft versus qts but I believe a two cu ft bag holds 54 qts. They do this on their advertising to confuse people and make it sound like you are getting more for your money!
I wonder if you push it down the 'wrong' side, if that has anything to do with the root problem. Seems that would be more of a problem if you didt keep it full at all times and the roots were all growing to the water source. Or if it wasnt level?
TPlant: I'm just experimenting on my own this Spring and Summer and thought perhaps I could get feedback from those that have already tried the earthbox. I will have help putting them together and will follow the directions. I was a little amprehensive when I read on the earth box site that people seemed to be having problem with the watering tube, and that might be because, they are not inserting it right. Something we all will have to make sure we do right. I believe Boca Bob has both types. I'm stirring towards trying coconut coir out myself, as I'm impressed with how well Bob's plants are doing; I was planning on putting the coir in some of the boxes, some of the earth boxes and some of the garden patch boxes and then using something else in the others, it will be a toss up now between Jungle Growth and Pro Mix. Like you said, Pro Mix is expensive and I'm not sure I can even get it here in this area. I know I can get Jungle Growth, was wondering what the ingredients are on the Jungle Growth, as I'm not growing and don't have any bags on hand at the time.
The main reason I was looking at the coconut coir, in the self-watering boxes is A. I have a tendency to overwater my plants - not good. B. I don't have to worry about soil problems or what could be harmful in other things getting into the mix. C. It's lighter and easier to work with, from what you have said.
I had thought about an above ground garden before, so I could avoid so much work in amending, amending and amending my soil, so a raised garden might be in the future; but, right now no. So; this Spring and Summer I will be doing some experimenting myself and have a camera so will be taking pics then, for now, I'll watch what happens with you and Bob.
joy112854
I just came in from filling my first EB with the coir. packing the corners first and them putting it in and not packing as much.
Im putting some daylily seedling in some, Im worried its almost to airy, they like to pull down towards the water and they wont bloom if they get deep.
Joy..you will like the coir, its fluffy and clean. I put some miralce grow in the water I puffed the brick in I fretted and fretted with my first EB, should I mlund the fertilizer, should it lay flat, does it need to be covered does it not, you name it, I worried about it. I put the veggies in and thought they looked horrible, them magic happens. You pretty much cant do it wrong as long as you put no soil in and get that tube all the way down.. Those plastic keg tubs are just the perfect size for one brick. I bet that is the cemet tub Bob was speaking of.
When I got all out of the tub that I could, I just dumped it and my daylily bed and gave it a little clawing in,
I know bob strains his, I can use it in the sand
This message was edited Nov 14, 2008 10:15 AM
Gardenglory: I wonder if because you are in zone 9a and I'm in zone 8b has something to do with why I can't plant (and I hate it, sniffles). I will be going to south Florida though, as I've got 42 plant startings that I'm smuggling down there to Mike's house, he lives close to TPlant and BocaBob, so can grow year round (he's been rubbing that in too). Anyways, he has 10 of Bob's lay flat bags and 10 of the 5 gallon ones, the thing is though, Mike can garden, it's in his blood, I got some mistakes I keep making, like overwatering for one thing. I'm having to pretty much hold my hands tight behind my back to keep from overwatering the peat pellets growing the startings, some of them are getting that droopy look plants get when they get too much water. The one reason I like this self-watering container concept. LOL And of course, another reason I think I will like working with the coconut coir, as it retains the water, so you can't overwater, from what I'm reading anyways. LOL
joy112854
joy, that made me check the water reservoir of gardener's TSK.
water reservoir:
4 gallon - TSK
4 gallon - Garden Patch
3 gallon - EB
potting mix capacity:
40 quarts - TSK
51.43 quarts - EB
i have both EB and TSK, and so far i love them both. however, to save time and money, i will grow my tomatoes in TSKs so i don't have to fuss around tomato cages. although, i also want to try gardener's Tomato Ladders.
Moonglow: I got gardeners square footers for my tomatoes, and topsy turvys and gardener's revolutionary planters for them also. Will use the EBS and others for cukes, corn, okra and watermelon and stuff. I want a variety; but I also want to test out the coconut coir. I've been following Ted's advice and waiting for 3 days to water my peat pellets again. On the 23rd of October, I planted eggplant, artichoke, cabbage and cauliflower seeds in huge peat pellets. I got a little carried away and watered them too much I think as they are getting weepy looking now. I can't really transplant them until early December, I'm smuggling them down to south Florida in my suitcase to plant at Mike's. Remember last year? I bought all my seedlings just at Spring time, so this is my first attempt to grow veggies from seeds myself. Do all I do is water them until December? And just with water? Or should I be using some of the Miracle Grow quick start planting and starting solution in the spray bottle I'm using to water them with? I'm wondering if they are getting enough nutrition with just water? They are getting bigger but the stems sure look awful thin on them. Should I add a little epsom salts to the water? I'm a beginner and don't know the answers here, that's why I'm asking. I will not water for two more days; but, what then?
joy112854
The experts will take care of your technical questions =).
I love SF Success Kits. I called Gardener's Supply today, and looks like some of the products we no longer see online are being redesigned.
Another thing I love about their Success Kits is the COVERED water level indicator.
I definitely need at least 10 EBs though. I super like EBs, too.
Groan, was hoping someone that started their own veggie seedlings at home would answer the question for me.
Thanks though. Yes, I love Gardener's Supply, buy a lot of things from there myself and have a lot of things I would love to buy but can't also from there. LOL
joy112854
Joy -- You don't use a spray on veggies as you are asking for trouble? Now and here on water only from the bottom and never, ever wet the leaves. That job is for the rain and rain only. Through that spray bottle away! Pour water into the bottom of the tray or container but don't drown them. Let them dry out a bit.
Ted, thanks for confirming that. I'm finally doing something right! (Planted Napa cabbages in EB today).
Hope you remembered the lime and fertilizer?