EarthTainer Question

[brismith70]

Has anyone planted a fruit tree of any kind in an EarthTainer. I recently saw a video on the EarthBox website that mentioned that the EarthBox folks were experimenting with peach and orange trees in EarthBoxes, but I haven't been able to locate any kind of follow up information.

I would be extremely interested in attempting to grow peach and mandarin trees in the EarthTainer. I would also like to experiment with apples. I have a couple peach trees planted in the ground. Watering them and keeping the grass away from the trunks can be a chore...especially during the summer months here in the desert.

I would expect that you would have to be very cognizant of the rootstock that the tree was on in order to account for the watering characteristics of the EarthTainer. I would also imagine that the soil mix would have to be tweaked. I am growing algerian mandarins in 15 gallon containers with roughly a 3:2:1 mix right now and they are doing respectably well. Well...at least they're flowering. I never thought to try one in an EarthTainer, though. Just looking for others' experience.

Brian

[rnewste]

Brian,

If you do grow a tree in an EarthTainer, be sure to wrap the sides exposed to the Sun in bamboo fabric, or other such material. That way, you will get a long life from it and not have to worry about transplanting your tree for many years. Remember, the containers used for EarthTainer construction are made of flexible LDPE plastic, and you will need to be cautious to not try to grow a 300 pound tree in it.

Raybo

[maf]

I would urge caution. The EarthTainer model is aimed at fast growing temporary (annual or short term) plants with high needs for water, tomatoes being a good example. This might suit fruit trees during the summer, but during the dormant phase of the tree's growth it might be sitting in soil that is too wet for good root health.

My own experience of growing ornamental trees in containers over many years is that having a free draining medium is the most important factor for long term plant health. Similarly, what I have heard about orange trees is that they do best in a very free draining media, but I have not grown them myself.

This is not to say that you guys should not experiment, particularly in mild/short winter climates like Phoenix and Cali, just don't risk any tree that you cannot afford to lose. Good luck.

[rnewste]

Agree fully with maf. The EarthTainer materials (Ruggedtote) is intended for vegetable growing. If you want to attempt a heavy tree, then I would look for a rigid hard-wall container instead. You can follow the same construction technique, but may have to use spacers when anchoring the two sidewalls together.

You really need to re-engineer a heavy duty container solution for large trees.

Raybo

[maf]

P.S. if the reservoir could be completely drained in the dormant winter season, say with a valve at the lowest point of the resi, the potential problems I speak of could largely be eliminated.

[rnewste]

I would also take a page from the InnTainer Guide and build in the 1/2 inch visual water level indicator.



This also functions as a drain valve by rotating the assembly 90 degrees to manually drain the container.

Raybo

[maf]

Originally Posted by rnewste

Agree fully with maf. The EarthTainer materials (Ruggedtote) is intended for vegetable growing. If you want to attempt a heavy tree, then I would look for a rigid hard-wall container instead. You can follow the same construction technique, but may have to use spacers when anchoring the two sidewalls together.

You really need to re-engineer a heavy duty container solution for large trees.

Raybo

Yes definitely would need a heavier duty construction for long term tree use. With woody roots growing over many years, it would also be hard to keep the roots from invading the reservoir in the long term.

It is an interesting idea all the same, and if it can be engineered to work as an EarthTainer during the summer and a free draining container during the winter it might work well.

Ray, just saw your post with the rotatable drain valve when I previewed this post, that is pretty much what I was suggesting.

[brismith70]

Maybe I will have to experiment.

My thought was that the size of the container would dictate the size the tree was allowed to reach. Somewhat like a bonsai tree.

I'm not sure about the watering in dormancy issue. Since I live in a mild climate, my peach trees don't go into a real dormancy. They don't always drop their old leaves unless I stop watering them altogether. And yet, the trees always blossom in the spring and the new leaves push the old ones out.

I will definitely work to tweak the design a little. A more rigid structure will be a must as will providing more support for the tree underneath.

I will likely not try this experiment until winter when I can get bareroot trees again. I just wanted to float the idea out there to see what people thought of it.

Brian

[rnewste]

Brian,

Look into using a rigid plastic horse watering trough or something similar, where you could place one inside the other, with dual wicking baskets, along the same concept as the EarthTainer.

I think Home Depot also sells a 50 gallon rigid storage container and a pair of these would work. You would need to use 4 inch tall support spacers to sit Container #2 (the Aeration Bench) inside Container #1 (the water reservoir) so that the weight of Container #2 with the Potting Mix wouldn't crush the wicking basket(s), then insert 1/2 inch spacers onto the 2 connecting bolts which would attach the 2 containers together (I would probably use 4 bolts, one on each face of the container).

Rigid containers with more vertical walls would give as small gap as possible between the inner and outer containers.

Sounds like a fun project. Post some photos if you decide to build one.

Raybo

[ScottinAtlanta]

Just a side note on Brian's original post - is this Craigslist offer a good deal? I never tried Earthbox's, but would like to bring tomatoes inside next winter.

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/wat/grd/2909136513.html

[rnewste]

EarthBox is suited for outside growing - not indoors. The overflow hole will leak water all over your carpet / floor (unless you are setting them on a big tray to catch the run-off).

They work great for me growing smaller varieties.

Raybo

[JamesL]

Brian,
If you can find some wine or whiskey barrels that fit your budget, you could convert to a SWC. People use them all the time for planters and blueberry bushes. The aeration bench would need to be hefty though, (thinking 1/2 in. plywood) and you would need to soak and seal the wood well and or line the whole thing with decent thickness poly.
I have a "half a plan" to try a wine barrel earthainer for both blueberries and for a pumpkin grow this summer. Not sure of the longevity of the barrel though.....

[dice]

I was thinking maybe 2 clawfoot bathtubs, one inside the other. The feet
on the inner one would raise the growing media up above the reservoir,
and the feet on the outer one would raise it up to make draining it
through the bathtub drain that comes in it feasible. Getting it to wick
enough water in summer through that one built in drain in the inner
one might be a challenge (might need to cut a second hole at the other
end of it with something that can cut through iron, or a hole at each
end and one in the middle).

It would be unique looking. (Maybe you get the tree to share with some
perennial vine that would drape over it.)

[JamesL]

Dice,
Wow! That is a uniquely crazy idea and I love it! I happen to have one old clawfoot tub that came out in a renovation and is sitting on my father's property. Wheels are turning......

[rnewste]

Make sure the welded feet of the second tub will fit inside the floor of the base tub.

Raybo