Another potting mix question

Tomatovator · March 14, 2007

I got a "Garden in a Box" Earthbox kit for Christmas and it came with its own potting mix that according to the label is only peat moss and vermiculite. Are there any other potting mixes that are made from just these ingredients? I can't find any. I built 2 homemade boxes for this year and need to get potting soil for them. The only Jungle Growth mix I can find has some fertilizer in it. What do you think? What mix works best for tomatoes?

feldon30 · March 15, 2007

Might add some perlite and non-dyed, non-treated pine bark mulch to that peat-vermiculite mix. And either the packet of fertilizer that came with it, or a handful of TomatoTone and a handful of Dolomitic Lime.

landarc · March 15, 2007

It is a mediocre potting mix, but, not uncommon as it is cheap to produce that mix. Perlite costs a little more than vermiculite. Compost smells funny to most people. Both will help your mix considerably. I would think that the mix as supplied is gonna be relatively sterile otherwise.

feldon30 · March 15, 2007

In other recent topics of note, I've been advised not to put any compost in my containers.

garaj · March 15, 2007

This is the sixth season that I have been growing in DYI Earth boxes. I've used Jungle Growth, Lambert, Expert Perfect Mix and probably some others I cant recall. They all seem to produce similar results. The tiny bit of fertilizer in Jungle Growth doesn't hurt anything.

Garaj

bydsign · March 16, 2007

Those self-watering container setups are pretty forgiving.

Just make sure you got your fertilizer strip, your lime (Dolomite)
and a potting mix that will wick the moisture upwards.

Do NOT put any compost in your mix.

I'm on my 2nd season of using these types of containers with
great success!

garnetmoth · March 16, 2007

Mr Feldon- please point me in that direction!

I would hate to not use compost, im not a huge fan of buying peat based stuff every year. Im going to try mostly coir chips for a few plants this year as ive got leftovers from my citrus (Long lasting, take about 5 years to break down to unuesable)

Vermicompost is the best stuff for starting seeds, and now that ive got copious ammounts, i was planning on using it in my planters

Thanks for any info!

rzr · March 17, 2007

Someone posted that they have had success with Pro-Mix. I have just started using it and have 4 plants transplanted in my homeade earthboxes.

The Pro-Mix contains peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and even the limestone. They sell it at our HomeDepot for around $11.00 for 4 cu feet compressed to 2 cu feet. Other brands of mix seem to compress their mix as well, but not near as much as the Pro-Mix so when it comes to price, there probably is not a big differnce. I also think its a decent price when you dont have to worry about anything but the fertilizer.

Suze · March 17, 2007

There seem to be two different growing methods being discussed on this thread (ah well, thread drift happens

)

I thought I'd point out that open containers != earthboxes, and the approach that works best in an EB is different.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomatovator

I got a "Garden in a Box" Earthbox kit for Christmas and it came with its own potting mix that according to the label is only peat moss and vermiculite. Are there any other potting mixes that are made from just these ingredients? I can't find any. I built 2 homemade boxes for this year and need to get potting soil for them. The only Jungle Growth mix I can find has some fertilizer in it. What do you think? What mix works best for tomatoes?

Jungle Growth is a quality mix and is fine for EBs; not enough fert in it to hurt anything as garaj pointed out.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bydsign

Just make sure you got your fertilizer strip, your lime (Dolomite) and a potting mix that will wick the moisture upwards.

Do NOT put any compost in your mix.

Agreed. I'll add that putting in bark chips/fines probably wouldn't be a good idea for EB growing, because of the importance of wicking, and also amplify your point about having a fertilizer strip (as opposed to having fertilizer mixed throughout the potting medium in most cases).

Tomatovator, here's a great thread on Earthboxes that you might find helpful:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=348

Garnetmoth, the thread Morgan is alluding to re compost and containers can be found here, draw your own conclusions:
http://www.tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=4480

COmater · April 23, 2007

Is there anyone in the Denver metro area that is using earthboxes? This will be the first year for me to add some to my yard so that I can grow MORE tomatoes. I'm looking for a local source for soilless potting mix. All I can find in any decent sized bags in Miracle Grow with fertilizer or mixes that are about $16-$20 for 2-3cu ft. bags. That would be quite costly.
Thanks

feldon30 · April 23, 2007

Earthboxes soil requirements are a bit different from open-top containers, so I can't give any advice there. And I only know about container mixes from Suze and others here on this forum. I know in an open container, Pro-Mix ($12) plus Shredded pine bark ($2) makes 50 gallons of potting mix.

rzr · May 19, 2007

I used just the promix from homedepot in my diy earthboxes. They are groing nice. If you go to the "Earth Box Tall Enough" post you will see my pictures. All those are with promix. Next year I am going to try the bark method to cut costs though.

Furthermore, the red containers that I have in those pictures have a bigger water reservoir. I reccommend even higher then the 5.75 inches high that the red ones have. The grey ones have 4 inch reservoirs which runs out of water in a day and a half it seems like on hot days. I would actually go 6.5 inches high. I bet they would grow fine in it, and that should cut costs on mix.

Earl · May 20, 2007

I sort of hate to say this but Lowe's [$5.95 2 cubic foot] has their own brand of potting mix and I've been using it, but just bought their last 2 bags. I'm worried they may send the next shipment going to my store to another one if to many people yell about their store being out. :-)

tumbleweed · May 21, 2007

COmater: I sent a home-made earth box to my sister in Lakewood, a Denver suberb, She is having good luck with it so far. These tomatoes were planted out on Mother's Day weekend.

COmater · May 22, 2007

Tumbleweed: Thanks for the pic. I am trying 8 earthboxes this year to make more room for Maters. I will plant this or next weekend as it will be in the 30's for the next two nights. I did finally find some Promix by calling the regional rep to find larger quantities that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I'm excited to get started. Thanks

March 14, 2007	#1
Tomatovator Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pennsylvania Zone 6 Posts: 461	Another potting mix question I got a "Garden in a Box" Earthbox kit for Christmas and it came with its own potting mix that according to the label is only peat moss and vermiculite. Are there any other potting mixes that are made from just these ingredients? I can't find any. I built 2 homemade boxes for this year and need to get potting soil for them. The only Jungle Growth mix I can find has some fertilizer in it. What do you think? What mix works best for tomatoes?

March 15, 2007	#3
landarc Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Left Coasty Posts: 964	It is a mediocre potting mix, but, not uncommon as it is cheap to produce that mix. Perlite costs a little more than vermiculite. Compost smells funny to most people. Both will help your mix considerably. I would think that the mix as supplied is gonna be relatively sterile otherwise. __________________ Lets see...$10 for Worth and $5 for Fusion, man. Tomatoes are expensive! Bob

March 15, 2007	#5
garaj Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Melbourne Beach, FL Posts: 19	Another Potting Mix Questiom This is the sixth season that I have been growing in DYI Earth boxes. I've used Jungle Growth, Lambert, Expert Perfect Mix and probably some others I cant recall. They all seem to produce similar results. The tiny bit of fertilizer in Jungle Growth doesn't hurt anything. Garaj

March 16, 2007	#6
bydsign Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Zone 10 - South Florida Posts: 91	Those self-watering container setups are pretty forgiving. Just make sure you got your fertilizer strip, your lime (Dolomite) and a potting mix that will wick the moisture upwards. Do NOT put any compost in your mix. I'm on my 2nd season of using these types of containers with great success! __________________ Darlette

May 20, 2007	#13
Earl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,278	I sort of hate to say this but Lowe's [$5.95 2 cubic foot] has their own brand of potting mix and I've been using it, but just bought their last 2 bags. I'm worried they may send the next shipment going to my store to another one if to many people yell about their store being out. :-) __________________ "Seriously think about what you're about to do/say before you do it and the outcome will always be better." Earl

March 15, 2007	#2
feldon30 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: Rock Hill, SC Posts: 5,346	Might add some perlite and non-dyed, non-treated pine bark mulch to that peat-vermiculite mix. And either the packet of fertilizer that came with it, or a handful of TomatoTone and a handful of Dolomitic Lime.

March 16, 2007	#7
garnetmoth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: cincinnati, oh Posts: 492	Mr Feldon- please point me in that direction! I would hate to not use compost, im not a huge fan of buying peat based stuff every year. Im going to try mostly coir chips for a few plants this year as ive got leftovers from my citrus (Long lasting, take about 5 years to break down to unuesable) Vermicompost is the best stuff for starting seeds, and now that ive got copious ammounts, i was planning on using it in my planters Thanks for any info!

March 17, 2007	#8
rzr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 79	Someone posted that they have had success with Pro-Mix. I have just started using it and have 4 plants transplanted in my homeade earthboxes. The Pro-Mix contains peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and even the limestone. They sell it at our HomeDepot for around $11.00 for 4 cu feet compressed to 2 cu feet. Other brands of mix seem to compress their mix as well, but not near as much as the Pro-Mix so when it comes to price, there probably is not a big differnce. I also think its a decent price when you dont have to worry about anything but the fertilizer.

April 23, 2007	#10
COmater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Highlands Ranch Colorado-suburb of Denver Zone 5 Posts: 10	Is there anyone in the Denver metro area that is using earthboxes? This will be the first year for me to add some to my yard so that I can grow MORE tomatoes. I'm looking for a local source for soilless potting mix. All I can find in any decent sized bags in Miracle Grow with fertilizer or mixes that are about $16-$20 for 2-3cu ft. bags. That would be quite costly. Thanks

May 19, 2007	#12
rzr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 79	I used just the promix from homedepot in my diy earthboxes. They are groing nice. If you go to the "Earth Box Tall Enough" post you will see my pictures. All those are with promix. Next year I am going to try the bark method to cut costs though. Furthermore, the red containers that I have in those pictures have a bigger water reservoir. I reccommend even higher then the 5.75 inches high that the red ones have. The grey ones have 4 inch reservoirs which runs out of water in a day and a half it seems like on hot days. I would actually go 6.5 inches high. I bet they would grow fine in it, and that should cut costs on mix.

May 21, 2007	#14
tumbleweed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dallas Texas Zone 8A Posts: 37	Is there anyone in the Denver metro area that is using earthboxes? COmater: I sent a home-made earth box to my sister in Lakewood, a Denver suberb, She is having good luck with it so far. These tomatoes were planted out on Mother's Day weekend. __________________ Nature favors harmony. Last edited by tumbleweed; May 21, 2007 at 12:57 AM. Reason: add name of person who asked question

May 22, 2007	#15
COmater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Highlands Ranch Colorado-suburb of Denver Zone 5 Posts: 10	Tumbleweed: Thanks for the pic. I am trying 8 earthboxes this year to make more room for Maters. I will plant this or next weekend as it will be in the 30's for the next two nights. I did finally find some Promix by calling the regional rep to find larger quantities that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I'm excited to get started. Thanks