I have grown squash in earthboxes for a few years now, and I have not been entirely thrilled with the results. Using the earthbox quidelines of 4 per box, I always got anemic looking plants. They did produce squash, but not as much as I would hope for.
This year, I put one plant per box, right in the middle of the box.
What a difference that made!
As you’ll see in the picture, you can’t even see the box – you’ll have to trust me, there’s an Earthbox under that foliage.
That looks wonderful. And did it increase the number of squash you are harvesting?
I would say yes, and I had healthier plants as well, though I always have problems with powdery mildew.
Boel, I appreciate your willingness to pursue your interests and share your results. My EarthBox results have shaped my opinions too. For tomatoes, I like (2) dwarf 24″ high tomatoes or (1) bush 36″ to 42″ tomato. For peppers, I like (2) of the larger hot pepper varieties or (3) bell peppers. The plants grow bigger and the fruit is larger than when crowded. About powdery mildew, I resorted to spraying fungicide this year. Cleared the PM, and my squash produced all summer.
Thanks for your input Matt. The irony is that I actually own a Kangen Water machine that produces anti fungal water that I can use to treat the powdery mildew, it would cost me very little, it is non-toxic and organic, and it works. I know it, because I have used it in the past. (and in Japan they actually use it in commercial growing operations) I simply did not have time to tend the garden as I should this year, and did not get on top of it early on, so the powdery mildew got away from me to the point of there being little point in treating it.
I actually did not grow any tomatoes in Earthboxes this year, but I grow lots of hot peppers and anaheims, and have always planted 6 per box and been quite happy with the results, so now I am curious as to what might happen with just 2 – 3 per box.
Have you had a problem with squash bugs? I live in Tn and those little buggers put larvae in the stalks of my squash and I end up with a dead plant as soon as I pull my first squash. 🙁
Fortunately not. They do tend to get powdery mildew… but I now treat that with my hypoclorous acid water, with great results. As long as I get on it early, before the plant is overwhelmed, it really works.