Good heirloom tomato varieties for EarthBox?

[graceshine]

Hi All!

I have a Cherokee Purple in an EarthBox and it's starting to get powderly mildew and am going to pull the whole thing. Now I have an open space and am wondering if you recommend any flavorful tomatoes that grow well in them? I especially love black tomatoes.

I'd really love to grow Black Krim but am wondering if the bigger tomatoes will fare as well in EarthBoxes...

Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[Wargamer777]

Don't want to try hitting it with Daconil?

Cherokee Purple mighty tasty tomato...

[graceshine]

I know! I haven't pulled it yet but the thought of doing it pains me. It's just looking really sickly overall - kind of yellow-ish and stunted. Figure I'd swap it out now while it's still early in the season. But it really does pain me, I love CP tomatoes!

[Wargamer777]

Did you use the fertilizer strips in the Earthbox? What kind?

[graceshine]

Err ummm, funny you should ask... I have 3 other Earthboxes and used the fertilizer and dolomite it came with. This particular box with the CP tomato was a box I bought last year... and forgot to put in additional fertilizer and dolomite. I only realized last week that this box was stunted and sickly because it was the only box that didn't get any additional nutrients. WOOPS!

I've since pulled a sad, sickly Brandywine OTV out of the box and put a Momotaro in it's place. Sadly the CP is on it's way to the grave, due to my stupidity.

But the other 3 EB's look great!

[Wargamer777]

Maybe the culprit.. maybe not. What about the potting mix? What kind did you use to fill the earthbox with?

[rnewste]

Grace,

As you have a very long growing Season in LA, I would start over with that particular EarthBox, and start 2 new plants, as they will be reaching their prime when those in your other EarthBoxes start to fade. Be sure to use Potting MIX and not Potting SOIL. I highly recommend Pro-Mix BX (if you can get it in S. Calif.).

If unavailable, the next best "base" Potting Mix to use is Lowes Sta-Green. However, you will need to add Perlite in a 4-parts Potting Mix to 1-part Perlite ratio to get a well aerated Combo Mix. This will work quite well in a SWC environment.

If you REALLY want to "Tweak" your EB for maximum growth and production, consider mixing a 3:2:1: ratio of Potting Mix, Decorative Groundcover Bark (Home Depot), and Perlite (Home Depot). This works quite well in my EarthBoxes.



Of course, don't forget the Dolomite Lime and Fertilizer strip, as per the EB Instructions.

Raybo

[graceshine]

Wargamer - I filled it with Edna's Best Potting Soil

Raybo - Thank you for your input and the recipe! What are your thoughts on Edna's Potting Soil? I used that and mixed in some worm castings.

I will definitely restart that EB - Have one new momtaro in right now, and am trying to figure out a good, strong, flavorful tomato to replace my Cherokee Purple with. Any favorites? Right now I'm leaning towards Black Krim but am wondering if I should do something smaller...

Have you Earthboxers found that smaller heirlooms are better for the boxes than big beefsteaks?

[rnewste]

Originally Posted by graceshine

Raybo - Thank you for your input and the recipe! What are your thoughts on Edna's Potting Soil? I used that and mixed in some worm castings.

Have you Earthboxers found that smaller heirlooms are better for the boxes than big beefsteaks?

Grace,

First, you are inviting disaster using Potting SOIL in a SWC system. That, coupled with worm castings will turn into "mud".

What you want is a light, fluffy Mix that will both wick up water from the reservoir, but also provide aeration for the root system (Earl taught me this several years ago).

So, dump the potting soil somewhere else in the yard, get some potting mix and Perlite, at a minimum:



And if you feel like going the extra mile, add in the Groundcover Bark, as indicated above.

For an EarthBox, I would recommend a smaller variety like Momotaro or Champion. My own view is that the EB is too small for really large Beefsteak tomato varieties.

Raybo

[graceshine]

Wow, really didn't realize until just now that there's a big difference between potting SOIL versus potting MIX!

Thanks so much for the enlightenment Raybo

As far as my original problem goes, I've been encouraged by the local plant psychic/whisperer (ok, she's just a tomato guru at my garden store) to keep the Cherokee Purple in and allow it to recover. It's already growing new, darky gorgeous leaves so fingers crossed for now...

[rnewste]

grace,

If you start to see the bottom leaves yellowing, then that is a sign that the SWC mix is compacting too much, and the roots are not being aerated enough. Given that we are only into mid-May in sunny California, if it were me, I would dig out the CP plant and save it, then install a Potting Mix combo with at least a 4:1 ratio adding in Perlite, then re-plant the CP in this new, lighter Mix.

You will be a "Happy Camper" come July.....

Raybo

[Moonglow]

Hello, everyone! Ray, so good to see you posting .

EB Potting Soil threw me off before, too. However, in my limited experience, EB Potting Soil is GREAT for EarthBoxes, and it's also listed on EarthBox's recommended mixes.

Lately I've been using Sloat's Organic Potting Soil (not really soil, but mix) made especially for Sloat by EB Stone.

http://www.ebstone.org/13_ednas.php

Graceshine, I doubt it's the potting soil/mix, since EB Potting soil is among the fluffiest available.

Happy gardening!

Annapet

[AZRuss]

I have grown Black Krim successfully in an Earthbox. Indian Stripe, too.

[Moonglow]

Now I have an open space and am wondering if you recommend any flavorful tomatoes that grow well in them? I especially love black tomatoes.

Big ooops, I apologize...I, too, love black tomatoes. My tomatoes all performed great in EarthBoxes (EB) and Tomato Success Kits (TSK) last year (I ran an experiment and planted same varieties in regular pots, and EBs and TSKs harvest far exceeded regular pots' harvest.

• Japanese Black Trifele (120 tomatoes each plant)
• Black Prince
• Ananas Noire
• Black Krim
• Carbon
• Pineapple (huge tomatoes, and quite prolific as well)
• Cuore Di Bue (Territorial Seed Company)

Sincerely,
Annapet

[graceshine]

Thanks all for chiming in!!

I tried the Earthboxes last year with EB stone Potting Soil and got a great crop. Since I now have FOUR Earthboxes with EB stone potting soil, I won't go digging everything up, but will definitely consider using a different mix next year.

So far, so good! My Earthbox tomato plants are JUNGLES! You can clearly see the difference an Earthbox makes, because I have other tomato plants in Smart Pots (fabric pots) and my Earthbox plants are much taller, darker green and bushier all around. The leaves look so healthy and lush!

The Cherokee Purple is starting to recover now too- the new growth is a nice healthy dark green and I'm starting to get 4-5 tomatoes growing on it. Whew!

Some tomato photos

Green Zebra in Smart Pot


Goose Creek in Earthbox


Costoluto Genovese in Smart Pot


Sungold cherries in Earthbox