Growing Tomatoes - Earthbox?

10 years ago

Hello. I am planning on growing tomatoes in containers next year (in addition to our regular tomato plants in the ground). I have never done this before. Would I be better off purchasing the Earthbox system or 20-30 gallon Smart Pots? I understand the advantage to Earthbox would be the water reservoir and in the Smart Pots I would need to water very regularly - more than the in-ground plants. Is an earthbox really big enough to grow two Indeterminate tomato plants and still get good production?? Would I be better off with 6 Smart pots or 3 Earthbox? Thanks so much.

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Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio

10 years ago

DB: I was hoping someone else would respond since I already told you I use smart pots in the Growing Tomatoes Forum, and I love them. I think they would work much better than Earthboxes for tomatoes. I've grown peas and cucumbers in Earthboxes but never tomatoes. I know some have grown tomatoes in them with great success, but I think there are too many cons if you want to grow full size indeterminate tomatoes.

An Earthbox only holds 15 gallons of soil, so if you want to grow an indeterminate tomato, I wouldn't put more than one plant in the box. Then you have the problem of figuring out how to cage or stake a plant that can get very large and very tall. Wind can knock it over if you don't secure the cage/stake to something outside the box. I would choose a bush or dwarf type tomato for an Earthbox.

The other thing I learned about Earthboxes is that you have to add water to them about as often as you have to water a tomato in a 20-gallon fabric container once the plant gets going. The reservoir holds 3 gallons. I had to add water every other day in mid summer.

I use 5-1-1 (5 parts pine bark to 1 part each peat and perlite) in my smart pots. It's a lot cheaper than the mix required for an Earthbox (2 cubic feet of good quality potting mix like Promix).

The final problem I had with the EB was that mosquitoes bred in the reservoir until I figured out that I needed to add mosquito dunks to the water to kill the larva.

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Comments (7)

db6040
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you so much for your response - you have been very helpful!! I think I will go ahead with the Smart Pots. I think I will buy 30 gallon pots (they really aren't much more expensive than the 20 gallon on Amazon) to ensure plenty of room. I am going to take some time to read a little on this forum regarding the 5-1-1 mixture you mention. I am new to container gardening so there is much to learn. Thanks again!!
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suncitylinda
10 years ago
Actually I only use Earthboxes and have never used grow bags. I grow two plants, usually ind varieties, I use a combo of the stake system from EB and purchased tom cages secured by the EB stake system. Some place heavy stakes on either side and use a weave to keep the plants in bounds. They grow very well. I don't prune and I get lots of production until it gets to hot.
Ohiofem 6a/5b Southwest Ohio
10 years ago
Linda! I'm glad you joined the conversation. I've followed many of your comments about Earthboxes On gardenweb and the other tomato discussion site and gotten good advice from you on using EBs for other veggies. I have to admit I haven't tried tomatoes in them. I've read from others that the taste can be affected by the almost hydroponic conditions. I only have room to grow 10-12 plants and I don't want to take a chance on duds. It would be great if someone would grow the same variety in the two different environments (EBs and grow bags) and report on the results.
tommyr_gw Zone 6
10 years ago
Use 5 gallon buckets with holes drilled in the bottom. MUCH cheaper.
suncitylinda
10 years ago
Thanks Ohio, I've read many of your posts over the years also. I mostly only grow tomatoes, occasionally some peppers and beans if I'm lucky. I see some write about problems sometimes with excess moisture and bog conditions. My thought is always that they have messed up the fairly simple instructions and decided to improve their growing media with various ingredients, thus creating the problem. EB was actually invented by a professional tomato farmer out of Florida, Blake something, He sold the franchise but still grows tomatoes in Earthboxes.
Linda
9 years ago
I have used Earthboxes for about 12 years. I love them--now have about 50. I grow everything in them. Have had great success with tomatoes. Usually put 2 in each box.