I have been a backyard gardener for the past 13 years, and most of my gardening is pretty low-tech. There’s a lot of trial and error that goes into gardening and very few guarantees from year to year. My squash harvest this year can attest to that.
But five years ago, I received a Christmas gift from my in-laws that has been a staple in my garden ever since, an Earthbox Garden Kit. I had seen them before at our local hardware store, and I was a big fan of watching Rick Bayless’s Mexico: One Plate at a Time. In one of the episodes, he takes viewers to the rooftop of his Chicago restaurant, Frontera, and there he had an entire salsa garden covering the roof. I was familiar enough with Earthbox to know that this is what he was using, and the garden was amazing!
Earthbox: Easy to Use
As spring rolled around, I was finally able to test out the Earthbox by growing tomatoes. I had to purchase my own soil, but everything else was included with the kit:
- the planter with watering tube
- caster wheels (for easy moving)
- fertilizer
- dolomite
- cover
The instructions tell you exactly how to put the dolomite and fertilizer into the soil, where to plant (determined by what you’re growing), and how to water. It’s so easy that my kids can do it on their own. 
Maintenence
One of the easiest things about using an Earthbox is how easy it is to maintain and care for your crop. Because of the cover over the soil, there is zero weeding. There have been very few times as a gardener that I’ve ever been able to say this. Ha! And the black cover also helps absorb heat, and the plants love it.
Watering is also incredibly simple. The watering tube is located in the corner of the box, and you simply fill the reservoir until water begins to spill out from below. Once this happens, you know the reservoir is full and your plants have what they need. The plants get their water from the bottom, and you never have to worry about overwatering or wetting the leaves of your plants during watering.
Use Every Season
The Earthbox isn’t just for summer veggies. In fact, I use mine almost year round, giving it a little break in the dead of winter. Here are some suggestions of what you can grow in each season.
- Spring- salad greens, kale, beets, strawberries, cauliflower, radishes, carrots
- Summer- tomatoes, peppers, squash, zucchini, corn, beans, peas, okra, eggplant, herbs, cucumbers, melons
- Fall- collards, arugula, brussels sprouts, winter squash, turnips, cabbage, chard, spinach, lettuce
- Winter- garlic (started late fall), spinach, winter greens (this will depend on your climate, of course)
Earthbox even has a recent post on how to use a garden kit to grow indoors during the winter months.
As I type, I have one of my Earthboxes planted with two tomato plants and one watermelon. (I’m a bit of a rebel and tried planting the watermelon between the two tomatoes just to see what would happen… so far so good!) In my second earth box, the squash has just finished up, and I’m about to replant with butternuts for the fall. 
New and Experienced Gardeners Alike
The Earthbox is perfect for those who are just getting started with gardening and those who have been growing for years. I have two Earthboxes in my garden now, and I use them both in almost every season.
Have a little gardener in your home? There’s also a junior garden kit, perfect for little hands that want to grow big things. It’s a fantastic gift for a budding gardener.
Earthbox Giveaway
Because I love Earthbox so much, and I’d love to see you have one in your own garden space, Earthbox has graciously offered one free Earthbox Garden Kit (a $55+ value!) to one of my readers. It could be you!! So check out the giveaway below, and good luck!
The winner will be announced via email and social media on July 19th. For those who don’t win, but still want to try Earthbox (or gift one to a friend or loved one), I’ll have a coupon code for a discount on the Earthbox Garden Kit.
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I would love to grow organic strawberries
Fantastic choice, Anne!
I would like to grow some tomatoes!
I love growing tomatoes in mine, Dandi. It really takes the guess work out of watering them!
I have many vegetable seeds, some summer and some winter so I would love to plant peppers, squash, beans, lettuce, arugula and herbs.
Tough decision! You could start with peppers and move onto arugula after that. Thanks for stopping by!
I would like to grow tomatoes.
Wonderful, Kelly!
Oh cool! If I had an earthbox, I’d plant bush beans now, and use it for greens this fall. I bet lettuce,spinach, beets and chard would love it.
I bet beets would love it… I may have to try a fall crop. Thanks for stopping by!
I live in the scorching hot Arizona desert and have trouble with summer planting for many reasons, one being I don’t want to go outside. I would like to grow squash.
Oh, the summer heat. I totally understand that; if I don’t make it outside in the early morning or evening, it just doesn’t happen. Maybe you could try for a late summer squash harvest!
Squash, cucumbers
Great, Marianna! And I bet those could even be grown together in one box!
My husband is having great success box gardening and I am pretty sure he will not go back to ground farming ever again. The produce is wonderful! Would love to do garlic and fall greens.
Yes! We are total believers in raised bed gardening. Garlic and greens are both great choices!
I am just getting my little backyard garden going. This wold be a GREAT addition to help it get a good start! Excited! 🙂
This would be a great start to a garden, Amy! Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve certainly missed my little garden in Kinston. I’ve been wanting to get something going here in Greenville. I do have a box with some herbs in it, but would love to grow some salad greens, sweet potatoes (not in an earthbox though), peppers, and carrots. Maybe I can get something growing for the fall!
Yes, the fall is the perfect time! And you are a bit busy at the moment!
I’d plant strawberries, zucchini, acorn squash perhaps… so fun! Thanks for a great giveaway!
Ohh.. acorn squash. I’d love to try that!
After spending 35 years on the ocean I am now living on land and would really like to try gardening (raised beds) I love food (vegetables) I’m 80 years old, do you think gardening might be too much for me ?
Congrats on being back on land! You’re never too old for gardening, and raised beds are a great way to have low-maintenance gardens that are higher up. Good luck!
I would like to grow all kinds of berries.
Strawberries would be perfect!
I’m a novice gardener, and have recently started in with my first go at indoor container gardening (organic herbs). Working with an Earthbox kit would be such a fun adventure! I might like to try growing tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, squash, beets… I’ve been a vegetarian since grade school, and I’d be interested in trying out most anything!
The Earthbox is the perfect way to start gardening, and any of the vegetables you’ve listed would grow well. Good luck!
tomatoes and peppers
I would like to grow tomatoes. Thank you
I’d love to use the earthbox for my culinary herbs, like basil, oregano, maybe some green onions…
I missed the giveaway, but I’d love a coupon. Thank you!
I’m so sorry you missed it, Gina! The coupon code for Earthbox.com is GARTEN10, and it’s good until the end of August. Thanks for stopping by!