Raybo's Grow List and Tomato Layout for 2015

[sdambr]

I really need a like button. LIKE! Looks awesome!

[Gardeneer]

Yaybo, nice selection and arrangement.

Q: How big in VOLUME (actual amount pf potting soil filled with) are the Earth Tainers that you put 2 tomato plant in each ? And how deep ?

I just want to get an idea.
Thanks
Gardeneer

[rnewste]

Each EarthTainer takes about 3 cubic feet of the 3:2:1 mix. The depth of the root zone is aprox 10 inches. Figured another way, each plant gets about 1.5 cubic feet to play around in.

Here is the link to the latest construction guide which should answer most questions:

http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/pd...tion-Guide.pdf

Raybo

[Barryblushes]

Awesome pics and nice layout Ray! Good luck with your growing season and please post those great pics.Are you growing celery again btw? Im thinking about trying some Utah in a cat litter container,a smaller version of your earthtainers. Barry

[rnewste]

Barry,

Celery was pretty easy to grow in the EarthTainers:



Here is Utah from a year ago:



The hardest part is getting the tiny seeds to germinate. I use the moist paper towel in a ziplock bag trick, which worked well.

Will grow again later this Summer.

Raybo

[greyghost]

Ray, it's always such a wonderful treat to view your beautiful photos!

Wishing you a successful year! Darlene

[aclum]

Hi Raybo,

Looks good! For some reason, in recent years anyway, I don't feel like the season's really started out our way until you get your Earthtainer Farm planted, Now I feel like I can relax a bit .

You've got some interesting choices this year. Will be fun to hear how they turn out (esp the ones from WBF).

Anne

[Gardeneer]

Originally Posted by rnewste

Each EarthTainer takes about 3 cubic feet of the 3:2:1 mix. The depth of the root zone is aprox 10 inches. Figured another way, each plant gets about 1.5 cubic feet to play around in.

Here is the link to the latest construction guide which should answer most questions:

http://earthtainer.tomatofest.com/pd...tion-Guide.pdf

Raybo

Thanks Ray,
3 cu-ft is about 20 gallons . So 10 gallons per plant sound pretty good to me.

[kath]

Everything looks great, Ray- I always love to check out what's going on in your beautiful garden! Best wishes for a healthy and productive season-

kath

[Virtex]

Looking good Ray! Hows your back in all this? I have about 18 earthtainers and my back is killing me. Whats your secret to emptying and fill them? I can empty and fill about 4 a day. That takes about 3 hours to clean, mix soil, add ferts and cover with plastic.
I use a shovel to get most of the soil out and then use a tarp to do the mixing of the new bark and perlite. Using the tarp I spread out my soil on it then take each corner and yank it to make the soil go to the middle. When its time to fill the boxes I use 5 gallon buckets and fill 2 and carry them and dump them.

Got any tips or is this just the time of year we just grin and bear it? I guess I should have had some kids to take the burden in my old age.

Thanks for showing us how it should be done!

- Scott

[rnewste]

Scott,

No tricks - just a lot of manual work. My 2 large sons are nowhere to be found - - but off mountain biking in the Santa Cruz Mountains today. Meanwhile, good ole Dad (the one who supplies them with tomatoes all Season long, is emptying out the EarthTainers all alone:




Be sure to mix back in 3 Cups Dolomite Lime when you are refilling them with new 3:2:1 mix:




One bit of happy news is that one EarthTainer seems to have re-seeded itself over our mild Winter - so I've decided to leave that one alone:



The plant on the right is flowering already, so I may have some early tomatoes after all.

Raybo

[SharonRossy]

Raybo, just to be clear, can you give me your 3:2:1 mix? I've been using the 5:1:1 and I had so so results. Thanks,
Sharon

[rnewste]

Sharon,

I tried Al's 5:1:1 ratio a few years ago but found it too dry here in California for my tomato plants - thought it more applicable for Bonsai type cultivation. It probably does better where one gets a good amount of rainfall.

The 3:2:1 mix ratio that I adopted (after a lot of trials with all possible combinations) ended up best for my EarthTainers and EarthBoxes. Your results may vary depending on your local climate. This mix is comprised of 3 parts Potting Mix (NOT Potting Soil), 2 parts pine Microbark, and 1 part Perlite.

Raybo

[SharonRossy]

For the potting mix I'm using Promix BX. I had a really hard time finding pine bark fines. I agree the 5:1:1 was too quick draining for me also. For a 20 gallon grow bag, how much lime do you recommend and fertilizer with micronutrients.
Thanks, Sharon

[rnewste]

Sharon,

That size grow bag capacity is similar to the EarthBox, who recommend 2 Cups Dolomite Lime as I recall. They also recommend 2 Cups fertilizer.

(You can't find pine bark in Eastern Canada - who would have thought...)

Raybo