Hello to the SCBG folks!
I've been lurking for a long time, since last September when I first started to get interested in growing things other than all the plants that make up the jungle I call a living room. Since my thumb has proved itself to be green, I'm going to try container gardening on the balcony of my apartment. I wish I had more space but maybe it's a good thing since it forces me to start small.
I'm sorry in advance if I'm asking common questions, but there is SO much good info on this forum that I don't know if I'll ever be able to read it all. I am going to try two homemade EB's for the first time. I plan on tomatoes in one and possibly corn in the other, or maybe just more tomatoes 'cause I love 'em. This is what I've been wondering about: I bought a huge bag of Miracle Gro potting soil which advertises that it contains 3 months' worth of fertilizer. Do I still need to add another strip of fertilizer? If so, is Osmacote the right kind? Has anyone else tried the water retention crystals in their boxes/bags either?
I talked it over with my handyman and he thinks my balcony will probably max out at 1000 lbs but I don't want to push it. I'm going to have marigolds and impatiens out there too as well as most of my houseplant jungle. How much would a full, happily growing EB weigh? I wonder if my renter's insurance covers massive structural damage....
Thanks so much! I've really enjoyed reading this forum and I feel like I know you all already. Nice to officially meet you all!
Deirdre
This message was edited Mar 26, 2009 1:17 AM
Newbie hello and question on fertilizer
I guess I answered one of my own questions. I called Scott's and asked the rep about Miracle Gro potting soil and the slow release fertilizer in it. She said it's 21-7-14 so maybe not the best thing for tomatoes!
Deirdre welcome officially to the thread! I'm sorry I haven't answered you, but I don't really know all the answers you need. Hoping someone helpful will see your post.....
TigerLily, Welcome to DG...
As for using EB's, they recommend certain brands of potting mix because they have been proven to properly absorb and transfer water via proper wicking action. I think they have a list of recommended brands that came w/your EB's. As for the 3 months of fert in the M-Grow potting soil, they really don't put very much in there to begin with and it (time-released) is more dependent on moisture and temperature for the release of its nutrients. So yes, I think you should go by the EB instructions, especially your first time using them. All too often people have not followed the instructions to a T and then wonder why they had no success.
And no, Osmocote is not a good one for EB's, best to go with a standard 10-10-10 fertilizer or if you are choosing to go organic then use a brand that is organic, I think EB folks recommend using twice as much as standard fert but check your instructions or their website to be certain.
Hope this is helpful and gets you off to a good start!
See you around the site!
Shoe
Tigerlilly09 -- For all the info you need you can refer to www.earthbox.com for the best results. Potting soil is not good for EBs. If you can afford to buy the real thing than do so. An EB when full weighs approx 60 lbs. I know I have twenty of them, the real ones not homemade. Container MIX not soil is the thing to use. Jungle Growth in the blue bag is excellent but also coco coir.
This message was edited Mar 29, 2009 1:43 PM