My New Homemade Earthbox - Several Pics

This is the container I used. I bought them at Garden Ridge for 7.99. The are almost exactly the same size at the real Earthbox and they are made from very durable plastic. In fact, I have seen the same container in a hydroponic magazine for around $100.

The only place I have found them on line is here:
[HYPERLINK@www.gardenharvestsupply.com]

The box is durable and the grate has to be durable also. That is why I used ridgid a metal frame.

This message was edited Apr 28, 2006 10:50 AM

The are made by Lawnware

Here is the stand that I welded up to hold the grate in the Earthbox.

A pic from another angle.

I made the grate out of expanded metal. It would be better to use a much smaller grate. However, I only had this on hand. I painted everything with primer so it would not rust. You can see that I cut a 2.5 inch notch on the left and right front corners and a small notch in the back to allow for the feed tube.

Here is a picture of the inside of the box with the stand and the grate inside. You can see the expanded metal cut out in the corners.

Here is the box with the feed tube installed. You can use a 1" PVC pipe for a feed tube. I just used a plastic tube that I had in the garage.

This message was edited Apr 28, 2006 10:51 AM

The 3/8" hole that is drilled just below the grate.

Since holes in the expanded metal were larger that what was needed, I put wire mesh over it to keep the potting mix from falling through. It seems to work well.

Maybe you can see it better here.

I cut the mesh and folded it back for the holes in the corner.

Picture of the mesh in the box on top of the expanded metal.

Close up of what the corner should look like.

Finished planted Earthbox. I even used a real Earthbox cover because the box is roughly the same size.

I have some that I planted tomatoes in several weeks ago. The tomatoes seems to be keeping up with the regular Earthboxes.

For fertilizer I used 1 3/4 cups of 8-10-8 time release in a strip down the middle of the peppers. When planting tomatoes, plant two of them on one side of the Earthbox and then make a fertilizer strip down the other side of the Earthbox. They have charts for this on the Earthbox website.

Great job Fool...smart thinking. Where did you find those white boxes?

Garden Ridge for 7.99 but you can find them online at

[HYPERLINK@www.gardenharvestsupply.com]

The hardest part is the stand to put the grate on. If you need some of these welded up, dmail me.

a working link

www.gardenharvestsupply.com

Nice looking box foolcontrol. It is a definitely sturdy one!
Dave

Foolcontrol,

Great job! Awesome looking homebuilt EB. Boy, do I wish I had your talent.

1. How much water does your reservoir hold?
2. How much potting mix?
3. What were your final material costs?

LOL,

Bernie

1. Slightly less than the real Earthbox.
2. Slightly less than the real Earthbox. About half a large bag.
3. I bought the box for 7.99. I already owned the rest of the materials. However, steel is steel really cheap. It took just over one can of primer to coat all of the metal for 7 of these.

they look great.

They are working great.

I am totally impressed. I don't know how to weld but I can probably figure out something that will work that does not require welding. Thanks for your clear concise info!
Betty