How To Build An EarthTainer - Page 4

rnewste · January 24, 2020

Attached is the Rev. 3.9 Guide. Nothing has changed from this version.

Raybo

Winemaker · January 24, 2020

Thanks Raybo,
Do you still recommend Pro-Mix BX or is Pro-Mix HP with more perlite better? I have found here in the Sacramento area, it gets so hot that I have to start a second crop in early July as the temps go above 95, the tomatoes get green shoulders and don't completely ripen. The second crop plants grow well in the heat and then are producing in early September and into November. But my mix is old and I need to rejuvenate and clean all the containers.

rnewste · January 24, 2020

Winemaker,

Yes, Pro-mix is still my recommended grow media.

You might want to put up a shade cloth (Coolaroo) above the plants starting in July to shade them from sunscald:

https://www.amazon.com/Gale-Pacific-...9911333&sr=8-2

Raybo

sjamesNorway · January 25, 2020

duplicate guide removed

Father'sDaughter · January 25, 2020

Edit: Guess I should finish reading thecwhole thread...

Try this one - http://www.tomatoville.com/attachmen...2&d=1400600541

Barb_FL · March 2, 2020

Hi Ray,

What fertilizer are you using in the mix? Also, if you supplement, how often are you supplementing and what do you use?

Your plants are beautiful.

rnewste · March 2, 2020

Hi Barb,

I have been using a generic 10-10-10 fertilizer which seems to be working fine. I also apply a feeding of Fish emulsion a few times during the season.

Raybo

Barb_FL · March 3, 2020

Thank you for getting back with me. I've been doing organic fertz and have to supplement fairly quickly and then I supplement with almost every watering the rest of the season.

I cover my screen with shade cloth and there are tons of roots when I empty the box.

Do you think by you closing off the the screen with the weed barrier keeps the fertz available for longer or is it just that the organic is used up a lot quicker?

Winemaker · March 9, 2020

This year I have cleaned out and replacing and rejuvenating my grow media. My roll of LandscapePlus 15 just ran out and Lowes no longer carries it. Several of the other landscape fabric products at Lowes and HD have some marginal reviews. Just curious if you have another brand you recommend? Possibly Sta-Green Ultimate or Dewitt 3-Foot by 100-Foot Non Woven 12-Year Landscape?

rnewste · March 9, 2020

Last time I purchased it, was a while ago (300 ft roll). Any brand that is water permeable, except non-woven cloth type should work fine.

Raybo

Winemaker · March 17, 2020

Ray, have you observed any tendency to Water Cracking on especially larger tomatoes. I grew a variety last year that I really like Called Super Fantastic. Maybe I wasn't picking them soon enough. They are a very heavy producer with large tomatoes and I wondered if the Earthtainer with it continuous supply of water was causing the problem or whether they just get ripe, the skin stops growing and the tomato continues to uptake moisture and then cracks.

rnewste · March 17, 2020

I have rarely experienced cracking during the year, as I believe cracking is most likely to happen due to uneven watering. The steady supply of moisture via the EarthTainer's wicking system should minimize the possibility of cracking. I have seen some during very hot weather, but this is not typical.

Be sure to use 2 cups Dolomite Lime as per the instructions to minimize BER.

Raybo

suburbangeorge · September 5, 2020

I have been growing in Earth Tainers for several years. I'm on at least my third set. They were new this season.

Seems like every year I get a little blossom end rot. Mostly with earliest tomatoes.
This year over 3/4 are rotted. Used ample garden lime when planting. If you look at the picture some have rot starting in another spot than the little point where the blossom falls off. Could this be something else? Any ideas will be appreciated.

Thanks,

George

suburbangeorge · April 14, 2021

I never got any replies to the above post from last year. Cannot find any version of the construction guide on line. Various links show as not existing when tried. Find the three utube videos of the original EarthTainer. Really hunting for a complete process for reusing last year's.

rnewste · April 14, 2021

If you open Post 46 on Page 4, you can download the EarthTainer Construction Guide. Nothing has changed since then - still works just fine!

Raybo

January 24, 2020	#48
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Winemaker, Yes, Pro-mix is still my recommended grow media. You might want to put up a shade cloth (Coolaroo) above the plants starting in July to shade them from sunscald: https://www.amazon.com/Gale-Pacific-...9911333&sr=8-2 Raybo Last edited by rnewste; January 24, 2020 at 11:27 PM.

January 25, 2020	#49
sjamesNorway Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Norway Posts: 1,049	duplicate guide removed Last edited by sjamesNorway; January 25, 2020 at 08:24 AM.

January 25, 2020	#50
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	Edit: Guess I should finish reading thecwhole thread... Try this one - http://www.tomatoville.com/attachmen...2&d=1400600541 Last edited by Father'sDaughter; January 25, 2020 at 11:35 AM. Reason: Corrected link

March 9, 2020	#54
Winemaker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: El Dorado Hills, Ca Posts: 47	This year I have cleaned out and replacing and rejuvenating my grow media. My roll of LandscapePlus 15 just ran out and Lowes no longer carries it. Several of the other landscape fabric products at Lowes and HD have some marginal reviews. Just curious if you have another brand you recommend? Possibly Sta-Green Ultimate or Dewitt 3-Foot by 100-Foot Non Woven 12-Year Landscape? Last edited by Winemaker; March 9, 2020 at 02:02 PM.

September 5, 2020	#58
suburbangeorge Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Crockett, California Posts: 2	Rot I have been growing in Earth Tainers for several years. I'm on at least my third set. They were new this season. Seems like every year I get a little blossom end rot. Mostly with earliest tomatoes. This year over 3/4 are rotted. Used ample garden lime when planting. If you look at the picture some have rot starting in another spot than the little point where the blossom falls off. Could this be something else? Any ideas will be appreciated. Thanks, George

March 2, 2020	#51
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	Hi Ray, What fertilizer are you using in the mix? Also, if you supplement, how often are you supplementing and what do you use? Your plants are beautiful.

March 3, 2020	#53
Barb_FL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Indialantic, Florida Posts: 2,000	Thank you for getting back with me. I've been doing organic fertz and have to supplement fairly quickly and then I supplement with almost every watering the rest of the season. I cover my screen with shade cloth and there are tons of roots when I empty the box. Do you think by you closing off the the screen with the weed barrier keeps the fertz available for longer or is it just that the organic is used up a lot quicker?

March 17, 2020	#56
Winemaker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: El Dorado Hills, Ca Posts: 47	Ray, have you observed any tendency to Water Cracking on especially larger tomatoes. I grew a variety last year that I really like Called Super Fantastic. Maybe I wasn't picking them soon enough. They are a very heavy producer with large tomatoes and I wondered if the Earthtainer with it continuous supply of water was causing the problem or whether they just get ripe, the skin stops growing and the tomato continues to uptake moisture and then cracks.

April 14, 2021	#59
suburbangeorge Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Crockett, California Posts: 2	construction guide I never got any replies to the above post from last year. Cannot find any version of the construction guide on line. Various links show as not existing when tried. Find the three utube videos of the original EarthTainer. Really hunting for a complete process for reusing last year's.