How to assemble an Earth Box
I have been wanting to start container gardening for the past 2-3 years, but I never made it a priority until this year. Spring arrives as early as mid-February here on the Texas Gulf coast so if you want to get a garden started, you have to start early and work quickly to get your seedlings planted and established before the weather gets too hot.
Last year, my sweet friends and next-door neighbors, Allie and Brian gave me a lovely potted herb garden for my birthday, into which they planted a variety of herbs that I enjoyed throughout the summer. This year, I am using that same pot to grow a beautiful rosemary bush. Six other smaller pots are planted with my favorite herbs. I'm growing all of my herbs in organic soil, watering religiously and feeding each plant with plant food on a regular basis. So far, so good...I may have a green thumb after all! The herbs are growing like gangbusters and I couldn't be happier or more excited.
In addition to herbs, I wanted to try my hand at growing tomatoes this year. Since we do not have any raised beds in our back yard (yet), I knew I needed to do my tomato-growing on a smaller scale. Enter the Earth Box. I first saw Earth Boxes when I traveled up to Buffalo, NY in the summer of 2009 to visit a family friend. They had several on their patio filled with a variety of vegetables, all of which were growing and thriving. I had all but forgotten about Earth Boxes until I went to Cornelius, my favorite local nursery, to buy my herb seedlings. They had stacks of Earth Boxes and I promptly picked one up along with two different tomato seedlings: Green Zebra and Grape Tomatoes.
As I read the instructions, I thought it would be fun to write a blog post and take pictures to show you how to assemble an Earth Box--it's incredibly easy and fun. If you have kids, I encourage you to make this a family project because it is a wonderful learning experience for children. There are so many great lessons that they will learn; among them: following instructions, patience, caring for living things, responsibility, and where food comes from. Plus, what kid doesn't love playing in the dirt?
For many of you, Spring has yet to arrive in your area of the country, so you still have time to plan your gardens. If you've never assembled an Earth Box before, allow me to show you how!
Inside the Earth Box on top of a perforated plastic draining platform is a large sticker with an illustration of all the different components of the Earth Box. There is also a list of fruits and vegetables that can be grown in the Earth Box and how many seedlings you will need per Earth Box. Take a moment to read this at the garden center so you know how many seedlings to buy for your Earth Box.
To grow tomatoes, you only need 2 seedlings. It won't look like much once you plant them, but remember that once they grow into full size plants, your Earth Box will fill out. Once you have read the instructions on this sticker thoroughly, remove it and discard it before assembling the Earth Box.
You will need 2 cubic feet of garden soil. You will use all of it. I actually used a little more than 2 bags, so you may want to get some extra just to be on the safe side.
The Earth Box comes with the following items: 4 casters, 1 bag of pre-measured fertilizer, 1 bag of pre-measured dolomite, 3 plastic covers, a plastic fill tube (used to fill the Earth Box with water--*not pictured*), and an instruction sheet. Garden soil is not included.
I can't stress this enough: Before you begin assembling your Earth Box, stage and organize all of your supplies in a spacious area close to where you will keep your Earth Box (it's heavy once it's filled with dirt). You will also need scissors, a garden hose and a pair of gardening gloves (gotta protect the manicure!).
Remove the large sticker from the draining platform and make sure it is secured into place by pressing down firmly on it.
Turn the Earth Box over and insert the casters.
Insert the plastic fill tube through the round hole in the draining platform.
Pack both corners of the Earth Box with some garden soil.
Fill the Earth Box with garden soil, leaving 2 inches of head space.
Spread the dolomite onto the soil in an even layer.
Top off with more garden soil, making it level with the top of the Earth Box.
Next, using a small trowel, dig a 2-inch deep trough.
The instruction sheet that comes with the Earth Box will have a Plant & Fertilizer Placement Chart on it. Refer to this to determine where you should dig the trough--there is a different placement depending on how many seedlings you are planting. I wasn't paying attention and dug my trough in the middle instead of closer to one of the long edges. But don't worry about being too exact. My tomatoes are growing fine and don't know the difference!
Pour the fertilizer into the trough in an even layer.
Cover the fertilizer-filled trough with the garden soil you pushed aside and then top off the Earth Box with more garden soil so that you have a rounded mound of dirt.
Place the cover on black side up. If you live in a desert climate, you will place the cover on white side up.
Refer to the Plant and Fertilizer Placement Chart on the instruction sheet to determine how far apart to space your seedlings. Tomato plants need to be spaced far apart (1 in each corner). Cut holes in the plastic cover the same size as the root ball of your plant. I shouldn't have cut away the plastic entirely. The correct way to do it is to cut slits in the shape of an "X" instead.
Plant your seedlings. Isn't this tomato seedling cute?
If you are growing tomatoes, you will need some kind of staking system so the plants can climb straight. Aren't these yellow stakes fabulous?! I just poked them straight through the plastic cover and pushed them down until they were securely in place.
My tomato seedlings before planting :: Green Zebra and Grape Tomatoes. I can't wait until they start to fruit!
All my potted herb plants on our back patio :: Italian Parsley, Sweet Basil, Lemon Thyme, Italian Oregano, Dill, and Mint (Spearmint).
A few tips on maintaining your seedlings in the Earth Box
- Use only the plastic watering tube to fill your Earth Box with water. The Earth Box has an overflow hole on one side and any excess water will flow out if you add too much water.
- Do not try regulating the water level of your Earth Box. Add water every few days when your seedlings are young, and at least once every day once your plants are mature.
For more information and tips on the Earth Box, or to buy accessories, visit www.earthbox.com
Happy Gardening!
Disclaimer: Unless otherwise specified, I do not accept monetary compensation for reviewing or writing about products. I only review products that I have personally tested and used in my own kitchen and home. Earth Box, Cornelius, Miracle Grow and Chef Jeff's do not know who I am and did not compensate me for featuring their products on Flavia's Flavors. All products were purchased with my own monies and all opinions expressed are my own.
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You gave such a great walkthrough I really want one now! I already have containers for my tomatoes though. Maybe I'll upgrade when they're ready for replacing :)