Frank,

Very good question!! I had been growing tomatoes in a raised bed for the past 12 years, and this year, I built 26 EarthTainers instead of continuing the raised bed gardening.

My "rationale" included:
#1). consistent watering,
#2). uniform growing medium,
#3). Earlier above ground warmth,
#4). isolation from in-ground bugs / diseases,
#5). self-supporting tomato cage system without the need for stakes,
#6). use of deck space to double my growing area,
#7). the ability to perform highly controlled experimentation with fertilizer "A" in one side of the 'Tainer and fertilizer "B" in the other side,
#8). no wasted water: the 'Tainer becomes a quasi-hydroponic closed loop system with no water run-off.
#9). no weeding,
#10. the ability to rotate the 'Tainer 180 degrees to have more symmetrical and productive plant growth during the season.

There may be more, but these are my top 10 reasons to make the switch.

{{gwi:21073}}

Raybo

Raybo, you are going to keep us posted on the fertilizer experiment right? I forgot which fertilizers you were testing but I loved that idea. I divided one of my boxes after seeing yours and trying the same thing.

Other than the reasons you listed, one other reason I am doing so many is that I'm going to try to sell my house and want to take them with me if I get to move.