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Approved for use in the EarthBox

Approved Growing Media

The Big Debate: Potting Mix vs. Potting Soil

Depending on where you reside in the U.S., growing media that is suitable for container gardening may be called Potting Mix or Potting Soil. To make is easier on our customers, we have provided a list of suitable brands that can be used in the EarthBox. If your local garden center does not carry any of these, we have listed some guidelines, below, to keep in mind while shopping for growing media.

We recommend using 2 cubic feet (60 dry quarts) of a peat-based (70%-80%) growing media that contains perlite or vermiculite. It should be light and fluffy when dry, and spongy when wet. It should NOT contain any rock, clay, or sand. You should also avoid using topsoil or compost.

The following brands are suitable for planting in the EarthBox:

  • EarthBox Potting Mix
  • EarthBox Organic Potting Mix
  • Lambert Potting Mix
  • Lambert 100% Organic Potting Mix
  • Jeff’s Natural Solutions All Organic Growing mix
  • Premier Horticulture Pro-Mix BX
  • Premier Horticulture Pro-Mix for Potting & Seeding
  • Premier Horticulture Pro-Mix Ultimate Organic Mix
  • Premier Horticulture Bio-Max Garden Mix 3-in-1
  • Premier Horticulture LiteWay Potting Soil
  • Espoma Organic Potting Mix
  • Fox Farm Happy Frog Potting Soil
  • Jungle Growth Flower & Vegetable Professional Mix
  • Jungle Growth Pure Organic Potting Mix
  • Scott’s Miracle-Gro Potting Mix
  • Scott’s Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix
  • Fafard All Purpose Potting Mix
  • Fafard Container Mix
  • E.B. Stone Organics Edna’s Best Potting Soil
  • E.B. Stone Organics Flower & Vegetable Planting Mix
  • Kellogg Champion’s Blend Premium Potting Soil
  • Kellogg Premium Potting Soil
  • EKO Compost Premium All-Purpose Potting Mix
  • EKO Compost Premium Outdoor Planting Mix
  • ASB Greenworld Original Grower Mix
  • ASB Greenworld Original Grower Mix with Perlite
  • ASB Greenworld Professional Seed & Plug Mix
  • Baccto Professional Planting Mix
  • Baccto Lite Premium Potting Soil
  • Gardner & Bloom Blue Ribbon Blend Premium Potting Soil
  • Ferti-lome Ultimate Potting Mix
  • Sun Gro Horticulture Metro Mix Potting Medium (350, 360...)
  • Black Gold Seedling Mix
  • Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil
  • Sunshine Container Potting Mix
  • Sunshine Seed Starter Mix
  • Nature’s All Organic Potting Soil
  • SummerWinds Potting Soil
  • Any private label growing media that meets the above specifications

Approved Dolomite

Suitable for Use in the EarthBox

We recommend using dolomite to add calcium and magnesium to the growing media to help raise the pH and combat Blossom End Rot (BER).

DO NOT use hydrated lime, pickling lime, or granular lime in place of the dolomite.

A note about agricultural lime: Generally, agricultural lime should not be used in the EarthBox because it does not contain any, or enough, magnesium.

The following brands are suitable for use in the EarthBox:

  • EarthBox 100% Natural Dolomite
  • Espoma Garden Lime
  • Whitney Farms Dolomite Lime

Approved Plant Food

Suitable for Use in the EarthBox

We recommend using 2 cups of a dry, granular fertilizer (3 cups if using organic). For non-organic fertilizers, NPK numbers should be between 5 and 15.

The following brands are suitable for use in the EarthBox:

  • EarthBox Special Plant Food 7-7-7
  • EarthBox 100% Organic Plant Food 8-3-5
  • Espoma Quick Solutions Garden Food 5-10-5
  • Espoma Quick Solutions Garden Food 10-10-10
  • Perfectly Natural Tomato & Vegetable Fertilizer 5-6-6
  • Happy Frog (Fox Farm) All Purpose Organic Fertilizer 5-5-5
  • Peace of Mind (Fox Farm) All Purpose Organic Fertilizer 5-5-5
  • Schultz Tomato & Vegetable Granular Plant Food 10-12-12