How many dwarfs per earthbox?

kerns125 · March 14, 2016

Hi all-
I usually put two full-sized tomato plants in each earthbox and they do great. I'm assuming I could put three or maybe even four dwarf plants in each earthbox-- would appreciate advice/experience from anyone who has done it already!
Jen

Ed of Somis · March 14, 2016

Jen, I will watch this thread. I have wondered the same thing. It seems like I recall folks saying 3 per box. My 2 large indeterminates actually pooped out last year mid-season. So, I am a bit goosy on this situation. haha

JosephineRose · March 14, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerns125

Hi all-
I usually put two full-sized tomato plants in each earthbox and they do great. I'm assuming I could put three or maybe even four dwarf plants in each earthbox-- would appreciate advice/experience from anyone who has done it already!
Jen

Full size meaning, indeterminate?

Wow.

Linda10 · March 14, 2016

I have 3 earthboxes with 3 dwarf project plants in each. A little too crowded for me. Next time I'll stick to 2 per box. Dwarfs may be shorter but they are still wide.

EDIT TO ADD: Now if you are talking about the microdwarfs, then 3 or 4 would probably work.

Gardeneer · March 14, 2016

How many per EB?
You have to consider case by case. Not all dwarfs are the same size. Some grow 4 to 5 ft and bushy.
If you can grow 2 full size in an EB, probably you can plant 3 dwarfs.

Gardeneer

kerns125 · March 16, 2016

Thanks, guys -

I am not talking micro dwarfs, so I suppose I shouldn't push it past three per box. I just don't have enough room for everything I'd like to grow, so I'm trying to maximize space!

JosephineRose, yes, I too was shocked when EarthBox's directions said to put two tomato plants (indeterminate) into each box. But the year I started using them, my tomatoes did really well, so it seems to be enough space! I does get a bit crowded if you don't leave ample room around each box for spread. Last year I actually put my Texas tomato cages in the ground immediately behind each EarthBox plant and trained the vines from the EarthBox up into the cage, and that worked a lot better than trying to trellis them with the ultimately inadequate EarthBox trellis/netting system.

Jen

PureHarvest · March 16, 2016

If doing full size plants, pruning off suckers or training them onto something would really maximize the box to get two plants per box.

Seems like 3 dwarfs would be crowded even if they are the shorter ones, but I can only go by pictures I've seen here.

March 14, 2016	#1
kerns125 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 22301 Posts: 92	How many dwarfs per earthbox? Hi all- I usually put two full-sized tomato plants in each earthbox and they do great. I'm assuming I could put three or maybe even four dwarf plants in each earthbox-- would appreciate advice/experience from anyone who has done it already! Jen

March 14, 2016	#4
Linda10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brush Prairie, WA Posts: 925	I have 3 earthboxes with 3 dwarf project plants in each. A little too crowded for me. Next time I'll stick to 2 per box. Dwarfs may be shorter but they are still wide. EDIT TO ADD: Now if you are talking about the microdwarfs, then 3 or 4 would probably work. __________________ Linda10 Last edited by Linda10; March 14, 2016 at 08:49 PM. Reason: Added info

March 14, 2016	#2
Ed of Somis Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Somis, Ca Posts: 649	Jen, I will watch this thread. I have wondered the same thing. It seems like I recall folks saying 3 per box. My 2 large indeterminates actually pooped out last year mid-season. So, I am a bit goosy on this situation. haha

March 14, 2016	#5
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,914	How many per EB? You have to consider case by case. Not all dwarfs are the same size. Some grow 4 to 5 ft and bushy. If you can grow 2 full size in an EB, probably you can plant 3 dwarfs. Gardeneer

March 16, 2016	#6
kerns125 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: 22301 Posts: 92	Thanks, guys - I am not talking micro dwarfs, so I suppose I shouldn't push it past three per box. I just don't have enough room for everything I'd like to grow, so I'm trying to maximize space! JosephineRose, yes, I too was shocked when EarthBox's directions said to put two tomato plants (indeterminate) into each box. But the year I started using them, my tomatoes did really well, so it seems to be enough space! I does get a bit crowded if you don't leave ample room around each box for spread. Last year I actually put my Texas tomato cages in the ground immediately behind each EarthBox plant and trained the vines from the EarthBox up into the cage, and that worked a lot better than trying to trellis them with the ultimately inadequate EarthBox trellis/netting system. Jen

March 16, 2016	#7
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	If doing full size plants, pruning off suckers or training them onto something would really maximize the box to get two plants per box. Seems like 3 dwarfs would be crowded even if they are the shorter ones, but I can only go by pictures I've seen here.