EarthBox Ready-to-Grow Kit - Gardening How-To Magazine

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ONLINE PRODUCT REVIEWS

Container Gardening

247

EarthBox Ready-to-Grow Kit

MSRP: $47.95

Online Rating: (9.5/10)

Where to find it: EarthBox, www.earthbox.com, or go to www.earthbox.com/dealers/dlr/locator/ for retailers in your area.

What it is: A container gardening system. Includes a container that is 29 inches long, 13½ inches wide, and 11 inches tall; fertilizer; dolomite; two germination covers; and castor wheels for easy movement.

What I thought: I used the EarthBox to grow ‘Early Girl’ and ‘Sugary’ tomatoes on my deck. I planted two tomato plants in each of my two EarthBoxes, and in two weeks the plants tripled in size. Eight weeks later I enjoyed my first harvest, and the ‘Sugary’ plants produced hundreds of tomatoes until October. The EarthBox has a unique water reservoir and overflow drainage hole, so I don’t have to worry about over- or underwatering. I simply pour water into the watering tube—rather than watering the soil directly—until the water runs out of the drainage hole. This gives my plants the perfect amount of water every day. So far I’ve grown only tomatoes in my EarthBox, but I look forward to growing peppers and squash. Although you can purchase a staking system from EarthBox, I used stakes from a home supply store and they worked just fine.

—Gail Johnson, managing editor, Gardening How-To

ONLINE REVIEWS

faerybug

Posted:2/18/2008

Location:rochester, NY

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
Easy to use, plant growth is amazing!

CONS
Expensive to purchase and maintain if you use their soils and fertilizers but the yields you will receive are worth it.

OVERALL
It really lives up to the ads.

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jeancastle

Posted:3/3/2008

Location:candler, NC

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
I now have 3 of these and will add more this year. I find them the best way to get the Hot Hot peppers my husband loves that cannot grow well in our cool summers

CONS
yes they are expensive to buy but they last forever, my oldest one has been used for 8 seasons

OVERALL

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faulkner

Posted:3/14/2008

Location:tully, NY

Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
Great for small area or to make sure you water correctly. Used for two years and I like it. Great for tomatoes and green peppers. Expect to use for tomaotoes this season.

CONS

OVERALL

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joanlong

Posted:3/17/2008

Location:monmouth, OR

Life Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
I have grown rhubarb and strawberries for years in 2 of my boxes. For winter, I turn them up on their sides so they will drain, then in the Spring, I just fluff the soil, add fertilizer, and then water as usual. They plants keep producing and growing year after year! Even after the snow, when I forgot they were out there!!

CONS
Since I do not visit this part of the property daily, watering is hard on the plants. I tried to hook up the sprinkler system to it, but that did not work as well. Really, just my problem. Also, I tried carrots and parsnips, but got no where with them. Must have done something wrong.

OVERALL
I have 4 boxes now, the last 2 grow the tomatoes and squash, etc. each year. I really like them, and they are reuseable, which also helps. They look nice, too.

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dorothian

Posted:3/20/2008

Location:avon park, FL

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
I have 2 Earth Boxes. One in Florida, in which I grow tomatoes for the winter and one in Michigan for tomatoes in the summer. I have installed the self watering system that is made for the Earth Box, so I do not need to water every day, as I am gone from home quite a bit. The tomatoes do very well in the boxes and the yields can be very much earlier than planting in the ground, as I can move my box inside for the night before the weather gets warm enough to leave them out.

CONS
They are expensive, but last a very long time.

OVERALL
I really like it a lot. In Florida where I live for the winter, I could not grow tomatoes in the ground because of the soil, so the Earth Box is a big plus, especially as I take cuttings from the tomatoes and root them. This way I have the same plant every season. I have kept my same plants alive for 2 years.

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snowshoe42003

Posted:4/25/2008

Location:two harbors, MN

Life Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
Bought 5 Earth Boxes before caster kits were available and have used every year since. Held up well. Like the water storage because two large producing tomato plants use a lot more water than I ever expected.

CONS
Seems recharge and fertilizer kits are expensive.

OVERALL
Was a good investment, wish my growing season was longer here in N.E. Mn. so I could use them more.

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EJJ

Posted:5/22/2008

Location:los angeles, CA

Member

Online Rating:

(8/10)

PROS
This is my first season using the Earth Box, so I'm in the middle of growing lots of summer squash, sunflowers, and one cucumber plant. I love that I don't have to worry about rabbits, because I placed the boxes where they can't get to them. But the crows are eyeing the cucumber.

CONS
I had a lot of trouble with the soil. What is considered to be potting soil in one part of the world, or one nursery, for that matter, isn't potting soil according to the Earth Box instructions. So for my first box, I used a potting soil that doesn't retain moisture enough, requiring some sprinkling on top of the plants. The soil I used for the second box is much better. All I have to do is follow the instructions.

OVERALL
I'm very hopeful that I will have delicious vegetables and seeds, and that the rabbits will have to find other food than my garden this summer. It would be useful if the Earth Box manufacturers included a "recipe" for potting soil that we could make, ourselves, so we don't have to rely on a manufacturer's idea of what it should be.

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dycushman

Posted:5/29/2008

Location:portland, OR

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
Great for growing vegetables in a small space. I have a small yard and have 6 boxes. So far we have tomatoes, egg plant, melons and corn. Have ordered 3 more boxes hope they get here soon.

CONS
Expensive but worth it.

OVERALL
Great yields with no weeding what could be better.

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tessie43

Posted:5/29/2008

Location:aliquippa, PA

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
Great for growing vegetable and/or flowers. I have had my boxes for 5 years now and have tried many different items in them, and no matter what I have used them for the plants have performed extraordinarily. The system is so perfect with the soil, fertilizers and watering system anybody can be successful with them. But you must use the appropriate products with them or they will be a bust.

CONS
It is a bit of a problem finding the correct soil for them unless you buy direct from Earth Box. However this year one of our local nurseries is producing and selling the soil which makes it must easier.

OVERALL
No weeding and easy care can't be beat.

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ptkexpres

Posted:6/6/2008

Location:rolla, MO

Life Member

Online Rating:

(8/10)

PROS
The 3 Earth Boxes we purchased assembled easily and had plenty of room for the two heiloom tomato plants per box we purchased to go in them. After only two weeks, our 6 tomato plants are growing even faster than the weeds in the flower beds! We have had to stake them up because they are so tall and full of foliage. I expect any day to start seeing flower buds followed by huge tomatoes!

CONS
Cover top is thin and rips easily. Tore the X opening larger when planting the tomatoes and had to use duct tape to close rip. The very first night we left them outside after planting, some nocturnal critter (opossum, raccoon, armadillo, or neighborhood cat) wanted to see what was in the boxes, so it ripped the covers open with its claws and dug in the dirt. We had to scoop the potting soil back into the boxes and repair the covers with duct tape. Fortunately, the critter has not returned to examine the boxes again.

OVERALL
Except for the design of the cover, we LOVE the Earth Boxes. We are so glad we bought the last 3 they had at our local garden center. Next year we plan to get 3 more to grow something different in addition to our heirloom tomatoes.

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birdiewatcher

Posted:6/12/2008

Location:groveton, NH

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
I now have 5 of them. They work better than my regular garden. I started with 2 at my apartment, got 3 more when I bought a house and have a garden.

CONS
I don't have any complaints.

OVERALL
If you don't have any, you need to get some. Try 1 and you will see the results. Easy, no weeding, just pure enjoyment. I show mine to everyone that asks about them. I also hand out the order forms for them. THERE GREAT!!!!!

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erwbritt2

Posted:6/15/2008

Location:melbourne, FL

Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
I am a new garener and I bought my first one 2 weeks ago. I have peppers and 1 tomato plant in the box and have others in a regular pot all planted the same day and in the same location.I am doing a comparison and the Earth Box is way out in front.I will be buying more in the fall for all my winter veggies.I agree with the person that talked about the covers tearing, I think the trick is to start with very small plants.I live in Florida and the Nursery where I purchased mine is actually growing a lemon tree in one!!! FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!

CONS
I cant grow veggies overnight ( te -he)

OVERALL
They are great for a first time gardener as you cant mess up!!They are expensive but......... so is buying plants , killing them and having to replace them.I am going to get one for my 4 and 6 year old grandchildren. You are never to young (or old) to learn and enjoy a garden. IM HOOKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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dorothian

Posted:6/16/2008

Location:avon park, FL

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
I like the fact that it's portable, so I can grow tomatoes early in the season and wheel the Earthbox in and out of my garage as needed. Also, I can place it close to the house for easy care and picking. The automatic watering system that can be purchased for it is wonderful. I can go away for weeks and not worry about my plants getting watered as needed.

CONS

OVERALL
I think it is a great tool and would recommend it to anyone that asked about it.

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ptkexpres

Posted:6/29/2008

Location:rolla, MO

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
The EarthBoxes are easy to set up, portable and reuseable. I bought three this year (2008) for the first time and planted two heirloom tomato plants in each one. I also planted two heirloom tomato plants in each of three regular tub planters and sat them right along side the EarthBoxes fo comparison. The tomatoes in the EarthBoxes are HUGE and have hundreds of blooms and many green tomatoes on them. The EB plants have grown so much they almost look like a tomato jungle! We have had to stake them three times to keep up with their rapid growth. They are also the most beautiful, healthy tomato plants I believe I have ever grown. The tomatoes in the other pots have all died except two which are only now about 12" tall. There is a dramatic difference in the EarthBox plants and ones grown under the same conditions in regular pots with good planting mix.

CONS
The only con I have found was the first night after planting the EarthBoxes, they were left sitting in their permanent spot on the deck outside. Some critter (probably an armadillo or raccoon)decided to investigate the EB's and clawed the plastic covers and dug in the dirt. The next morning I had to place the dirt back in the box and repair the covers with duct tape. Thankfully the night visitor has not returned, and the repairs to the covers has not hurt the system one bit.

OVERALL
I absolutely LOVE my EarthBoxes and plan to buy more next year to add to my EB garden. It looks like we are going to have a bumper crop of tomatoes this year out of our EB's.... maybe next year I'll try beans or squash.

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susieq777

Posted:7/17/2008

Location:beckley, WV

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
Easy to plant and also care for my plants . No weeds to pull and no need to get on my hands and knees to care for plants.

CONS
This system is a bit pricey, but I have had mine for about 14 years and it is still in great shape. I suppose the only con I can think of is the price.

OVERALL
I love this way of gardening. It is a great way to have a small garden without having to dig, plow and hoe. According to a book I have about self watering containers, plants that are not allowed to experience dry conditions and then too wet conditions grow better because they are not under environmental stress. I have grown tomatos, peppers, various lettuce types and have always had excellent results. I am now looking for a sale so I can obtain more EarthBoxes. This is the only way I will grow vegetables from now on.

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missqueen

Posted:7/31/2008

Location:poplarville, MS

Life Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
easy to use, controlled watering, great crops, tried tomatoes, cukes and had great production

CONS
I wish the covers were handier to obtain and difficult to move when full

OVERALL
I rate these high, I started with two, now have 4, pets don't get into the dirt cuz it's covered, raised design easier on backs

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murrayfr1

Posted:9/6/2008

Location:salt lake cty, UT

Member

Online Rating:

(7/10)

PROS
Easy to use, and takes care of the watering that needs to be used. Great for growing tomatoes, I planted one box with 2 tomato plants in it. It worked great.

CONS
Planted Zuccini, squash, peppers, and strawberries in the second one, and all the plants died. I replanted again and the same thing happened again. they all died. Don't know the reason these plants died.

OVERALL

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jsgriffi1

Posted:9/6/2008

Location:lewisville, NC

Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
No weeding and easy - especially w/the staking system.

CONS
Not cheap!

OVERALL
I used the earthbox to grow romaine, strawberries and tomatoes this past year. I have 3 of them and would buy another if our garage was bigger because we store them in the garage over the winter months. They are easy to maneuver for early spring planting. The strawberries bore only 1 time even though they were "everbearers" a big disappointment. The tomatoes were the bomb! They were much better than any supermarket tomato and I will grow them again next year. The romaine was outstanding but the aphids got them so next year I'm planting peppers and cukes and will get more staking sytems.

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normam44

Posted:1/23/2009

Location:oreland, PA

Life Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
The watering system is great. I planted two tomatoe plants and we enjoyed them well into October. All of my neighbors were amazed how big they got and how simple it is to care for the box. Last season was my first and this season I plan to get another box for peppers. We live in an apartment and couldn't have had a garden like this without "the box".

CONS
Couldn't think of any cons!!

OVERALL
Best investment we made for our garden

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prettywoman04270

Posted:3/8/2009

Location:oxford, ME

Life Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
Versatility - I've used mine for two years now. The very first year it was used for flowers and it worked so well that last summer we planted sweet peppers in it. We had the best peppers in years!!!

CONS
Instructions were difficult to understand and once full it was impossible to move by yourself - two person job

OVERALL
I will be buying more!! We have a very busy scheule in the summer and are need all the gardening help we can get. Not having to water the planter daily was a blessing!

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badcats

Posted:3/8/2009

Location:boscobel, WI

Life Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
I planted my tomatoes in April in one box and continued to get fruit into November. During the cooler months I moved the earth box onto my paved driveway. Even though my dad yelled at me for planting my tomatoes that early in the year in Wisconsin, they did fantastic. My cucumbers also did very well. My bell pepper plants were doing well until the rabbits ate them, the rabbits did leave the hot peppers and they produced well into fall.

CONS
The price.

OVERALL
I just ordered 5 more boxes for this year and hope to do an herb garden in one of the boxes that I want to move into the house for the winter. Hopefully I can keep the plants going.

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LMNaughton

Posted:4/7/2009

Location:minneapolis, MN

Life Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
Works terrific for growing monster-sized tomatoes, peppers, and prolific herbs (stevia in particular). Box is durable and has lasted several years now

CONS
Initial cost is expensive, and ordering online will put you on an eternal mailing list that is about as easy to get out of as a maximum security prison.

OVERALL
The earth box is awesome! Costs can be a bit high, but the yields make it worth it!

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ao13

Posted:5/1/2009

Location:mount laurel, NJ

Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
A great way to get into gardening. Easy to setup. Easy to maintain. No weeds to worry about. Fruits and vegetables are nice and plentiful. Grew Eggplants, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cherry Tomatoes.

CONS
Heavy if you have to move them. Cucumbers didn't grow very well.

OVERALL
A wonderful way to get into gardening. Very low maintenance with great harvests. Great to have. Highly recommended!

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megannz

Posted:5/16/2009

Location:rio rancho, NM

Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
We live in the desert and water is really sacred. This system has allowed us to grow squash, cucumbers, corn, zucchini, peppers. I love the 5 yes 5 that we have and are just finishing setting them up this weekend. Fresh veggies are just around the corner.

CONS
Changing on the dirt each year but I guess cleanup is all part of taking care of your stuff.

OVERALL
Like I said we adore this product. Got our first one as a gift and have 5 now. We love it especially for our heavy water needs vegetables.

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phondo2

Posted:5/17/2009

Location:sugar hill, GA

Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
We live in GA and our yard is all packed clay soil. We bought an earth box 5 years ago. I have grown cukes, peppers, squash, and eggplant VERY successfully ! I can't wait, this year I have planted radishes and can't wait to eat them. This takes guessowrk out of gardening,. You add a row of fertilizer in the middle, and the resivoir in the bottom holds plenty of water, so even if I forget to check it for a week, the plants never dry out. We love it and I may buy more next year.

CONS
Thedirt does have to be replaced each year, but we compost so it is not too bad. The company sells a ground cover (plastic with elastic) that you can put over the box, then plant in holes you make. We got sick of having to replace them every year by buying new ones, so I now use old newspaper for weed control.

OVERALL
I reccomend this to anyone who wants fresh vegetables but does not have a vegetable garden.

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1234dottie

Posted:5/18/2009

Location:morgantown, WV

Member

Online Rating:

(10/10)

PROS
First year of gardening. I bought 12 earthboxes I am enjoying them a lot. There is an earthbox forum that is very helpful. People really like helping one another. I have a heart issue now cannot over do myself. It is possible to piddle in the garden and not get wore out. It is wonderful.

CONS
Start up is expensive but after first year you don't have near the expense.

OVERALL
Really good for someone who wants to garden but can't get down on kness.

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geckley

Posted:5/27/2009

Location:swanton, OH

Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
These boxes really deliver the goods. We started out with one box and grew Red, Yellow and Green bell peppers the size of softballs. Some peppers weighing in over 1 lb. each. Liked them so much we bought more and even got the automatic watering system so we could go on vacation with having someone else come in to fill the water reservoirs.

CONS
While these boxes are initially expensive, especially if you purchase the staking system and automatic watering system, the second year is much less by buying your fertilizer and replacement potting media from you garden center.

OVERALL
The results you get from these boxes versus the time and effort you put into setting them up far outweighs your initial cost outlay. They will pay for themselves with fantastic yields in just a few years.

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hummy_mummy

Posted:7/24/2009

Location:benbrook, TX

Member

Online Rating:

(7/10)

PROS
Self-watering feature is convenient & no blossom end rot on tomatoes due to inconsistent watering. Able to move to protected area when hailstorms are predicted. Planted 2 tomato plants in mine. I like that the Dolomite is included with the box. Didn't use the fertilizer as I garden organically.

CONS
Expensive. Caster wheels not very sturdy-one has broken & I don't know where to get replacements. Also, mine blows over every time we have a strong wind. At least the cover keeps the soil in when that happens... Soil mix hard to get right - need to make sure it's a peat-based potting soil mix, not compost-based or the water doesn't wick correctly.

OVERALL
Overall, I am more pleased than displeased. If the wheels were sturdier & more stable, I'd have rated it a ten.

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madstop83

Posted:8/20/2009

Location:boxford, MA

Member

Online Rating:

(9/10)

PROS
Easy to use, I don't have to drag a hose out to water my boxes. High yields on tomato plants.

CONS
A little expensive initially, but can reuse the potting mix for a few years. The staking system is too short for tomatoes. Better to make your own.

OVERALL
Highly recommend. Easy to grow veggies wherever you want.

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