Get Your Hands Dirty with Planter Boxes

What’s So Great About Planting Boxes?

First, you don’t need a large plot to create a garden. A sunny balcony or patio space will do. That means you can enjoy gardening even in a concrete jungle.

Second, there’s less work because you don’t have to dig that plot you don’t have! The box planter is all you need.

Third, using a planting box creates a mini-ecosystem. You control the soil, the amount of sunlight, and weed and pest exposure. In short, you manage the essential variables for successful growing.

Lastly, your investment is small. For less than $100, you can get your feet wet in gardening. If you love it, you can expand your garden and try new things next year.

Planter Boxes Let You Grow Whatever You Like

What you can put in a planter box is unlimited. OK, maybe growing sweet corn in a limited space will present challenges. But otherwise, have at it!

Want to eat healthier while reducing grocery expenses? Try growing your favorite vegetables and fruits. A planting box can hold tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, and even small root veggies.

If cooking is your fancy, grow herbs in your box planter. Basil, rosemary, thyme, mint, cilantro – they’re all easy to grow. Best of all, you can place the planter in a sunny windowsill and have fresh herbs at your fingertips.

Even if you’re not looking to grow edibles, a box planter is perfect for your favorite flowers, such as petunias, marigolds, geraniums, and dahlias.

Give Your Plants Room to Grow

As you can see, you can grow pretty much anything you like in planting boxes. The trick is matching your plant to a correctly sized gardening container.

It must be large enough to accommodate your plant’s root structure. Otherwise, you risk stunting your plant's growth, which means less produce or fewer flowers.

Here are some general planter box size guidelines:

• Herbs: Most herbs do well in 6-8-inch-deep planters. Basil, chives, cilantro, and parsley can thrive in small containers. Larger herbs, like rosemary or mint, need soil 10-12 inches deep.
• Leafy Greens: Lettuce, spinach, arugula, and kale need at least 6-8 inches to grow successfully. In addition, because they don’t have deep roots, you can plant them more tightly together.
• Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants: These require 12-18-inch deep box planters. Cherry tomatoes and dwarf varieties can be grown in 12-inch deep garden containers, while larger tomato varieties need more space for their roots.
• Root Vegetables: Carrots, beets, onions, and garlic need at least 10-12 inches of soil, but longer varieties may require 12-14 inches.
• Strawberries and Blueberries: Strawberries do well in 8-12-inch deep planting boxes, while blueberries thrive in deeper pots, around 14 inches or more.

It’s Easy to Get Started with a Box Planter

Are you feeling clueless about how to start? Don’t. Some companies, like EarthBox, make the journey to container gardening success simple.

You can pick up a handy planter box kit that gives you everything you need to start:

• Box planter
• Aeration screen
• Water fill tube
• Mulch cover
• Peat-based growing media
• Dolomite lime
• Fertilizer
• Casters

 

Just select your plants and get your hands dirty planting. You even get instructions, so go ahead and be fearless!

You Don’t Need a Green Thumb for Success with a Planter Box

We don’t all have green thumbs. If that’s your hesitation, don’t let that stop you. That same planter box kit sets you up for success. It tackles one of the chief concerns impacting your results: watering.

Even seasoned gardeners can struggle with questions such as, "Am I watering too much or too little?" Typically, your plants will let you know by how they look. Wilting is generally the first sign.

EarthBox removes that concern with a sub-irrigated planter that does the watering for you. Yes, you read that correctly.

The reservoir in the box planter’s base keeps water readily accessible to the plant’s roots. Your plants water themselves by taking a drink as needed. Your job is keeping the reservoir filled.

Your plants win, and so do you. They get the water they need to flourish and produce more flowers or crops. You get relief from knowing you’re not killing your plants. Plus, you can get away for a weekend and not worry that you forgot to water the plants.

5 Steps to Setting Up Your Planter Box for Success

If you buy a kit, you’re all set except for picking the plants. You’re in even better shape if you purchase a self-watering planter.

Regardless, the path to successful growing is constant, even if you want to pick up all the pieces separately. These are the five essentials for success:

1.    Sunlight

Generally, successful growing means 6-8 hours of sunlight. Tomatoes, peppers, peas, squash, and eggplant require that amount.

You must pay equal attention to plants that require less sunlight. For example, many salad greens, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and arugula, can handle more shady conditions. The same applies to some herbs, including cilantro, chives, mint, and parsley.

The lesson: Make sure you know how much sun your plants require. Too much, and they’ll burn up. Too little, and they won’t flower as much for fruit creation.

2.    Drainage

Whatever garden container you select must have drainage holes. Drill a few if it doesn’t. Otherwise, the plant’s roots will sit in a bog if you overwater. And if you’re new to planting, that spells death.

3.    Potting Mix

The better your mix, the better your results. A quality mix includes plenty of organic material. It also contains vermiculite and perlite to keep the soil loose for better aeration.

Never, and we mean never, get a shovel full of garden soil and drop it into your gardening container. It will compact and suffocate your plants.

4.    Fertilizer

When you plant, add a slow-release fertilizer and plenty of organic matter. That gets your plants off to a good start. As your plants grow, they’ll need an ongoing pick-me-up with additional fertilizer.

Remember, we said a planter box creates a mini ecosystem. Well, that ecosystem runs out of nutrients. The plant consumes some, but others escape via drainage. So, it's imperative to replenish those nutrients.

5.    Watering

Water is the lifeblood of every human, and the same is true for plants. Keep an eye on your soil. When it dries out, water.

A simple trick? Stick your finger about an inch into the soil. If it feels dry, it’s time to water your plant. If it’s still moist, hold off to prevent overwatering.

In cooler months, that might take a few days. Sweltering summer months might take a day or even require twice-a-day watering sessions.

Of course, you can make your life easy by using a self-watering planter.

You’ll also need to pay attention to pests, diseases, and severe weather. And when in doubt, plant fewer plants in a container than more to avoid overcrowding.

But if you master the five elements above, you’ll be well on your way to growing successfully in your box planter

EarthBox – Successful Container Gardening Start Here

Spring is on the horizon! Make this the year you finally get your hands dirty with gardening in planter boxes. It’s enjoyable, and you get fresh produce to boot.

There’s no better way to ensure your success than with EarthBox planter boxes. They open the door to gardening with less fuss, requiring no digging, weeding, or guesswork. And homeowners love them, as the 4.9 rating reflects.

Ready to start growing? Check out EarthBox’s planter kits, which make gardening effortless. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced gardener, a self-watering box takes the guesswork out of growing. Start planting today!