EarthBox Original Gardening System

$43.00 - $99.00
SKU:
8020X
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$43.00 - $99.00
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Free shipping on orders over $149*

Free 60-day returns & 1 year guarantee

Overview


MADE IN USA

FOOD SAFE

UV-STABILIZED

RECYCLABLE

CONSERVES WATER

REUSABLE

Original Planting Box Features:

  • Award-winning, maintenance-free container gardening system
  • Bigger yields than traditional in-ground or raised bed gardens
  • Great for growing just about anything
  • No weeding, digging, or worrying about overwatering
  • Controls soil conditions and eliminates guesswork
  • Sustainable and can be used year after year
  • Grow anywhere – on balconies, porches, rooftops, or even indoors
  • Optional casters help you move your container garden
  • BPA-free and recyclable
  • Build your own EarthBox Container Gardening System, EarthBox Garden Kit, or EarthBox Ready-To-Grow Kit
  • Proudly manufactured in the USA
Crops growing in a terracotta EarthBox Original planter box

Our Boxes for Gardening Make Growing Easy

The EarthBox® Original planting box and system are designed to make starting your container garden easy. It doesn't matter if you’re an experienced gardener or a novice looking to grow your first tomato plants. You'll get the kind of results guaranteed to put a smile on your face. And fresh produce on your table.

Our boxes for gardening let you grow vegetables, fruits, and herbs in the smallest of spaces. Imagine, you’ll no longer be limited by access to in-ground space or a raised bed. Instead, you can use our planting boxes anywhere: balconies, patios, porches, and rooftops. You even have the option of using them as indoor or outdoor planters.

Our Planting Boxes Put You in Control

Most importantly, we remove the guesswork from box gardening. Our sub-irrigated planters (SIP) ensure you don’t overwater or underwater your plants. The fill tube lets you add water to the reservoir where plant roots will access it as needed.

In addition, our planter boxes give you control over variables like soil, fertilizer, weeds, and watering. As a result, all you’ll see are healthy, fast-growing plants that produce quality yields.

Our Container Gardens Ensure Your Success

More people are turning to box gardening to grow their food. But it’s not as simple as buying a planting box, adding soil, and watching your plants grow. That’s where our growing system makes the difference.

Commercial farmers and laboratory testing back its performance. It uses growing techniques used successfully by commercial farmers for years. We've taken those concepts and applied them to box gardening.

And after nearly 30 years of use by consumers, we know they work. We’re so confident in our planting boxes and container gardening system that we have a satisfaction guarantee.

Our Grow Kits Make it Simple

We even ensure your growing success with complete growing kits. They have everything you need to produce healthy, top-producing plants.

For example, if you love tomatoes (and who doesn’t), our tomato-growing kit has everything you need in one package. You get our best tomato garden planter, staking system, fertilizer, potting mix, and more. Plus, we make things easy by including casters that let you move the planting boxes quickly. So if your plants aren’t getting enough sun (or too much!), you can shift them to another spot.

And don’t worry, our included instructions on setting up our gardening boxes are easy to follow. Prefer more visuals? Check out our videos. And if you’re ever unsure of something, simply reach out to our Consumer Care team. They’ll take care of you.

Tomatoes growing in an EarthBox tomato growing kit supported by a trellis system

EarthBox Original Container
EarthBox Original Aeration Screen
EarthBox Original Water Fill Tube
EarthBox Original Black and White Reversible Mulch Covers
EarthBox Standard 7-7-7 or Organic 8-3-5 Fertilizer
EarthBox Dolomite
EarthBox Organic Potting Mix
EarthBox Caster Wheels
EarthBox Original Instruction Manual

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • 1 EarthBox Original Gardening Box
  • 1 Aeration Screen
  • 1 Water Fill Tube
  • 2 Black & White Reversible Mulch Covers
  • 4 Casters with Locking Mechanism (if selected)
  • 1 lb. each Fertilizer & Natural Dolomite (if selected)
  • 2.0 cu. ft. of Organic Potting Mix (if selected)
  • Instruction Manual with Planting Guide (view PDF)

Grow Anything in Our Boxes for Gardening

There’s almost no limit to what you can grow using our gardening boxes. You can even create themed gardens using plants to match your favorite cuisines. A fan of Italian food? Fill our planting boxes with Roma tomatoes, basil, peppers, and garlic. You’ll have everything you need to create the perfect pasta!

Our Growing Guides give you the insights you need to be successful at box gardening. Select any of the crops, and you’ll find all the information you need to grow healthy plants. The guides provide recommendations for plant placement, light, and water to get the most out of your container gardening experience!

Woman adding fertilizer to EarthBox container gardening system

Fertilizing Your Box Garden

Plants need fertilizer to reach their full potential. We offer two types:

Standard 7-7-7 Fertilizer offers a balanced nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium mix. It’s great for growing all fruiting and root crops. We highly recommend using it for crops such as:

  • Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplant, Cucumbers, Zucchini/Sumer Squash, Butternut/Winter Squash, Melons, Beans, Pumpkins/Gourds, Strawberries, Okra, Corn, Onions, Radishes, Beets, Garlic.

Natural 8-3-5 Fertilizer is recommended for only growing leafy and cruciferous vegetables and herbs. The added nitrogen is beneficial for producing green leaves. So, we highly recommend using it for crops like:

  • Lettuce, Salad Greens, Herbs, Spinach, Kale, Chard, Brussels Sprouts, Artichokes, Celery, Cabbage, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Leeks, Kohlrabi.

The above crops are ideal to grow in our Original gardening system.

FAQ


Do you offer quantity discounts or bulk pricing for multiples?

Now that we offer free shipping over $149 within the Contiguous USA, we no longer offer quantity discounts or bulk pricing for this product. The reason for this is that most bulk orders are either the same price or less expensive than before due to the significant shipping savings.

We also continue to offer our customer-favorite Value Bundles, which remain the best deal and always ship free (within the Contiguous USA)!

What are the dimensions of the EarthBox® Original container?

The dimensions of the EarthBox Original are 29" L x 13.5" W x 11" H. It holds 3 gallons of water and 2 cubic feet (60 dry quarts) of growing media.

EarthBox Original container dimensions

Are seeds or plants included with the gardening system?

Seeds are not included with your EarthBox® gardening system. When available, we do offer a selection of seed packs, and some Value Bundles may include seeds as a promotional offer when available. We do not sell live plants at this time.

Is the Natural 8-3-5 fertilizer certified organic?

The EarthBox® Natural 8-3-5 Plant Food is derived from meat and bone meal, feather meal, sulfate of potash, and dolomite lime. When available, USDA-certified organic by-products may be used in the manufacturing of this fertilizer, but that is not a guarantee; nor are certified organic fertilizer components required to be used to produce organic-certifiable foods. The term “organic” can only be used to certify USDA food products, and the 8-3-5 fertilizer we offer for growing produce allows for the certification of organically-grown produce (outside of California). Fertilizer in and of itself cannot be certified “organic” because it is not food, but can be used for organic food production, based on the components and materials of the fertilizer. Our 8-3-5 fertilizer previously was registered with OMRI (Organic Material Review Institute), which is an independent third-party organization that analyzes the materials and components in various agriculture products and the effect they have on the environment. Only those products that pass OMRI’s environmental standards may bear their certification label. Because this certification is extremely costly, and we have had no formula changes to the 8-3-5 fertilizer, we have declined to continue registering this product with OMRI since 2013. The food that is produced with our 8-3-5 fertilizer would still be considered organic (outside of California). Organic controls (herbicides, pesticides, disease controls, etc.) follow these same guidelines.

Do I really need to use the Mulch Cover?

Yes! The Mulch Cover is what protects the growing environment of the entire EarthBox® gardening system. It helps conserve water by limiting evaporation, and it prevents heavy rains from washing away all the plants’ fertilizer and nutrients. The Mulch Cover also protects the growing media from weeds and pests. Place the cover on the system before planting and leave it on until your growing season is over and you’re ready to remove the plants and clean up the growing system.

Always use the Mulch Cover, even in very hot climates. If your local temperatures are typically over 85° F during the peak growing season, place the Mulch Cover on the system with the white side facing up. This will reflect the sun so small plants don’t become stressed from the heat.

For cooler climates where early growing season temperatures may still be too cold for some plants, place the Mulch Cover on the system with the black side facing up. This will attract the sun and warm the growing media to help small plants grow.

How many plants can I grow in the system?

The number of plants you can grow per system at one time will vary based on the type of plant. The included Plant Placement Chart indicates how many plants you need and where to place them. For first-time EarthBox® gardeners, we don’t recommend growing more than one type of crop per system.

The Plant Placement Chart is the tried-and-true method for the very best EarthBox® results. With nearly 30 years of success, our researchers and gardening experts have determined the ideal number and position for each type of crop.

Always follow the recommendations in the instruction manual and on the EarthBox® Blog for best results. The age-old adage “less is more” applies to the EarthBox® gardening system; by overcrowding the growing system, you risk crop failure due to plants competing with one another for water, fertilizer, and sunlight.

How will I know when to add water?

A good rule of thumb is to add water every day to the Fill Tube until water starts to flow from the overflow drain. By filling the water reservoir every day, you are ensuring plants always have what they need.

For the first few weeks after transplanting small seedlings to the system, it may seem like the reservoir is still very full. Roots are still small and developing so they are not taking a lot of water in this phase. Once more leaves develop and the plants begin growing tall and filling out, they will start requiring more.

On very hot days, or if plants are kept in direct sunlight all day, they may require more water because they are heat-stressed. Plants that bear fruit (tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc.) will need more water than herbs and greens. If you are growing fruiting crops, be sure to fill the water reservoir first thing in the morning, and again later in the day or evening. Tomatoes can take up to 10 gallons per day when they are producing fruit, depending on the variety of the plant and the climate they are grown in—which means you may need to add water 2-3 times per day during this phase.

Do I need to use herbicides, pesticides, or other controls when growing in the EarthBox® gardening system?

You will not need to use any herbicides in the EarthBox® system. The mulch cover is designed to keep weeds out so that your plants have all the fertilizer for themselves to grow healthy and strong instead of competing with weeds.

Pesticides and disease control sprays, whether you choose organic or conventional options, may be beneficial to your plants depending on common garden problems and pests in your area. It is your personal choice whether you want to use these controls. If you choose to use any sprays or powders, always follow the application instructions on the product label.

Disease control sprays can be used to help prevent diseases on your plants when they are used before plants have a chance to acquire the disease. Without preventive spraying, plants are susceptible to any number of diseases, which can occur from poor air circulation, infection by the saliva of chewing insects, airborne spores, and more. Once a plant is infected with a disease, there is no cure for it and the spray will aid in slowing the progression only. Always follow the directions on the disease control label.

Pesticides should be used only if you have a known pest in your area that you want to prevent, or if your plants have become infested. Keep in mind that many pesticides—even organic ones—can easily wipe out any beneficial insects on your plants in addition to the bad ones. If you choose to use pesticides or disease control products, never spray or dust when bees and butterflies are active, typically in the mornings and daytime hours. Always wait until dusk when there is no insect activity and plants cannot be burned by chemicals from being in the sun. Always follow the directions on the pesticide label.

It is important to inspect plants daily to check for eggs or larvae, insect damage, frass, discoloration, wilting, and overall plant health. A good time to do this is when you are filling the water reservoir. If you see insects or eggs on your plants and you don’t know what they are, don’t remove or kill them right away. Many beneficial insects will lay eggs, which will help your garden once they hatch; but until they grow into the more easily recognizable adult insects you may be familiar with, you may not know what they look like in other lifecycle stages. Check our Insect Identifier or take a photo and consult a Master Gardener at your county’s Extension Service.

What happened to the standalone Container Gardening System, Garden Kit, and Ready-To-Grow Kit?

Nothing! We simply combined what used to be 3 separate product pages into 1 where you can decide which components you'd like to buy. You can use the below reference if you're unsure what you purchased from our old site.

EarthBox Container Gardening System - This is our base version and is equivalent to selecting "None" for all the above options since the EarthBox® Original Container Gardening System does not come with casters, fertilizer & dolomite, or growing media (i.e. potting soil/mix).

EarthBox Garden Kit - This is our most popular version which includes casters and your choice of standard or organic fertilizer. This is equivalent to selecting "4 Casters", "Standard 7-7-7" or "Natural 8-3-5" fertilizer & dolomite, and no growing media.

EarthBox Ready-To-Grow - As the name implies, this includes everything you need to start growing! This popular version is identical to the Garden Kit but also includes our organic potting mix.

Do you ship outside the United States?

We ship internationally to Canada only, which requires contacting us to get a custom shipping quote.

If you wish to order and ship outside the United States or Canada, we recommend using a freight forwarding service such as DHL. All shipments from our facility must be sent to a U.S.- or Canadian-based address.

Learn


If you’re looking for a low-maintenance, no-risk box gardening system, you've found it. With our proven container gardening system, you’ll have everything you need to sprout a green thumb!

You'll have all the ingredients to become a successful gardener capable of producing big yields. And if you're a novice gardener, you'll be even more delighted. By the way, if you’re new to planting boxes, check out our guide for container gardening beginners.

Imagine growing your own produce from the comforts of your home. No more driving to the grocery store for fresh bell peppers. Just walk out onto your deck or patio, pick a handful, and enjoy.

The EarthBox system has everything you need. Here’s how it works:

A diagram of the EarthBox Original Gardening System showing each element, including plant food/fertilizer, dolomite, growing media, aeration screen & wicking chambers, water reservior, optional staking system, mulch cover, and water fill tube and overflow drain

Check out our blog articles to quickly become a container gardening expert!

All About Growing Tomatoes

Combining Crops in an EarthBox®

Growing Vegetables Indoors

Shipping


Order Total Contiguous US*

Value Bundles

Always ship free

$0-$148.99

Varies; use calculator at top of page

$149.00+

Free Shipping

*All shipments outside the lower 48 United States will be charged a shipping cost.

Handling + Shipping Insurance - This $0.97 fee helps offset the rising costs we’re incurring around fulfillment. It also allows us to continue offering free replacements for lost, stolen, or damaged packages. Although shipping carriers are usually the one at fault, they almost always put the burden back on businesses to cover those expenses.

PO Boxes - Please contact us to place an order that ships to a PO box to ensure proper delivery. Failure to do so may result in a longer delivery time and additional shipping charges.

When will I receive my order?
Use the calculator at the top of this page or during checkout to find your estimated delivery date. Orders are shipped directly from our Lancaster, PA headquarters. They're typically processed and shipped within 1-2 business days via FedEx Home Delivery or USPS. You can also view this map from FedEx to estimate how long a shipment will take to arrive to your location after it leaves our warehouse. We do not currently offer expedited shipping options.

For more info, please review our Shipping Policy in its entirety.

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