How much can I plant in the 2-foot x 2-foot space of the Grow Box? More than you might think! Find the instructions on the seed packet that advise how close to allow the plants to grow and follow those recommendations. What you want to know is how much space they need to thrive once they sprout and grow, or the "thinned-to" spacing, as some directions instruct you to plant many seeds and then thin the sprouts back to the ideal growing space. Sow a few seeds, or a pinch, at the recommendeds spacing, then thin them back (snip off the weakest ones) after they've sprouted.
What are the dimensions and weight the Grow Box? 24 inches square by 5-3/4 inches deep. Weight is about 40 lbs. when the soil (dry).
What's the Grow Box made out of? 1" x 6" (nominal dimension) rough cedar planking. Cedar weathers to a mellow gray and does not rot.
What about refills? You can purchase 2-foot square super-charged refill soil blocks from our store.
Do I need to water as often? Plants growing in the EZ Garden Grow Box!™ will need to be monitored for water needs, depending on exposure to sunlight and temperature, but the perlite and other ingredients in the EZ Garden Grow Box!™ soil have excellent water-holding properities, and once the soil mixture is pre-moisted before planting and watered thorougly afterwards, it needs less water than common soil does.
Do I need fresh seeds? Fresher is better. The older a packet of seeds gets, the less the percentage of seeds that will sprout. Generally, the smaller the seed, the more age affects sproutability. Some, like lettuce, really need to be sown in the year were packaged for success. Seed packets are stamped or printed with a date. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dark place in a moisture-proof container (a jar with a screw-top lid in your refridgerator is ideal).
My seedlings are tall and floppy. What gives? "Leggy" sprouts are an indication that your plants aren't getting enough light. Move the Grow Box to a brighter location.
I don't have a sunny place to put my Grow Box. Shade is everwhere! Can I still have a garden? Sure, but you'll be limited to growing crops and flowers that are shade tolerant.
More box gardening tips here.