Thinking about ditching the raised beds and going to earth boxes/self watering containers.

[wildeyed]

Last edited Wed Feb 15, 2012, 10:05 AM - Edit history (1)

I am in the SE and I can't keep the raised beds watered and weeded, particularly in the hot, hot months. And every year is either a drought or ridiculous amounts of rain, so my maters either split or wither. But I don't want to ditch the gardening completely. There is nothing like fresh greens in the early spring or a nice backyard tomato in July. I would hate to lose that. Any opinions?

On edit: The Earth Boxes package can come with fertilizer strip, potting soil and dolomite. It adds almost $20 to each box. Can I get this stuff locally for less? This seems exorbitant.

[zeemike]

1. I gardened in the SE for many years a while back

And I used raised beds...they were 4 feet across with a 2 foot walk space between.
In the winter I would fill the walk spaces with manure and in the spring rototill the whole thing and dig out the walkways trowing it in the beds...I ran a soaker hose right down the middle of the bed and planted two roes of tomatoes on either side then mulched the whole thing with hay...when we had heavy rains the walkways let the beds drain and the mulch and organic matter retained the moisture.
I had so may tomatoes I let the birds take what they wanted and still had plenty for myself and lots to give away.
Hope this helps.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. As I think you know, I've gone to all pots - that way I can control everything...

but I've got the time to tend to them - and it becomes a near full time job. (one that I love!)

[wildeyed]

4. Yes, it is a lot of work.

I am so into my animals and sports right now, plus there is that pesky thing called "work", I have little time left for gardening. Also my kids are elementary age, which means lots of after school/weekend activities. When they were little, I was more house bound, but now we are out and about constantly. I want to garden, but in a way that is more compatible with our current lifestyle.

Do you think the pots are easier than the beds, provided I get the self-watering variety? The weeding is def easier, and I won't have to rotate heirlooms anymore. I could actually move the pots to cooler areas of the yard as the summer progressed.

[FSogol]

3. I have 3 earth boxes, but tomatoes never did well in them.

I use them for hot peppers.