skip to main content

Container Gardening

Al's 5-1-1 for Raybo's Earthtainers

14 years ago

My husband and I are about to buy a bunch of stuff to make Al's 5-1-1 mix for 10 of Raybo's Earthtainers for next Spring. I'd just like to confirm before we spend the money that Al's mix for the Earthtainers should be 5 parts pine bark fines, 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite.

These supplies are hard to come by around here until late Spring so we're going to buy them now and store them until early Spring when we want to get our garden started.

If anyone can tell us anything else we should know or buy for our Earthtainer soil we would sure appreciate the information.

Thanks!

AmandaB

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

rnewste
14 years ago
Amanda,

Justaguy has had a lot of experience with custom mixes for SWC type containers. Not an expert, but I don't believe that Al's 5:1:1 mix is optimized for SWC applications.

I am running a lot of trials currently on a "hybrid" blend of either Sta-Green or Miracle-Gro potting mixes, supplemented with Perlite, Cactus Mix, or bark fines in an effort to recommend the best combination for "Moist" wicking level in the EarthTainer. Will be posting results / recommendations over the next 6 months of trials.

Raybo
meyermike_1micha
14 years ago
Don't foget to buy your lime too...

I have a hard time finding this stuff still spring comes after the growing season is over...:-)

If you are going to make your own soil now, then use come spring, the lime will have time to take affect while it sits in the premade soil till spring..

Mike..:-)
Related Discussions
Al's 5:1:1 or something else
Q
Comments (19)
One of the problems with this method is tomatoes often grow well over 6 feet high and you need a good support system. You have to try and keep the PH around 6.5. I use mushroom compost because it is basic.Also my tap water is very basic, lime can always be used too. This is a completely different approach. The 5-1-1 is a soilless dead mix. None or little bacteria. Almost hydroponic In this living method fungi attach to the roots and supply nutrients to the plant, so root aeration and such is not as important. No perlite or pumice is needed if grown in a greenhouse where you can control moisture. I cannot, so use it. Soil biology also helps create structure for the roots. It's probably possible to skip the Calcium nitrate and go completely organic by adding organic fertilizer like Tomato-tone. I eventually will try this.I like organic because the nutrients stay in the soil. When using soluble much of it runs out the bottom. Even though NPK numbers are smaller, you get a lot more bang for your buck with organics. This post was edited by Drew51 on Sat, Feb 22, 14 at 13:01
...See More
5 gal. pails OK for San Marzano Tomatoes & Al's 5-1-1 mixture?
Q
Comments (2)
You'll probably get a lot of opinions on this. I'm growing tomatoes in containers this year for the first time. I'm trying several sizes from 5-22gal. I've seen photos of great plants in 5gal, and a lot of suggestions that bigger pots are better, which I kind of agree with. The best arguement for 5 gal containers is that maybe they won't grow huge and produce tons of tomatoes, but not everybody wants that. Smaller plants and fewer toms are just fine with some. This is my general opinion. I don't know anything about the size of San Marzano plants specifically. If it's a smallish plant it might do ok.
...See More
Earthbox or Earthtainer + 5-1-1 - Do I add the additional Lime?
Q
Comments (3)
Thanks Raybo! I didn't realize you were on this forum. I haven't paid much attention to SWCs until recently. As soon as I pickup the netpots tomorrow I will be building my first 2 Earthtainers in addition to the 2 earthboxes I'm trying. I will use the 3:2:1 in one of them as you suggest (with Pro Mix BX). The Pro Mix is 85% peat which means that when mixed as you suggest the overall ratio should be something like: 42% peat, 33% pine bark, 24% perlite (assuming most of the the remaining 15% of the Pro Mix is Perlite, which is probably a bad assumption). So if I want to build my own in the future it's something like 4:3:2 (peat, pine bark, perlite)?
...See More
Is Al's 5 1 1 appropriate for self watering buckets
Q
Comments (6)
You have already many good feedback. I would like to share my opinion too. It depends on the SWC features, container size and climatic condition, indoor or outdoor. SWC without a drainage hole is very problematic when accidentally or by rain over-watered the container there is no way to fix the problems as far as I know. For regular container we can use wick to solve the over-watered problem. SWC with overflow feature such as the EarthTainer v. III will be the best, it has overflow hole and it has space between the water reservoir and the medium for air, only the Wicking Basket connected between the medium and the water reservoir. It is an awesome system. I have used homemade SWC without overflow holes, they are about 23 gallon. I have use medium 3:2:1 (homemade) I do not have problems in the rain, my stem cabbage and chili plants enjoy it. Caelian This post was edited by chilliwin on Thu, Jun 6, 13 at 9:06
...See More
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
14 years ago
Hi, Amanda. How well the 5:1:1 mix works in SWCs depends in large part on the size of the bark you are using. Very fine bark might use 1 part peat, while very coarse bark might need 2 or even 3 parts peat to wick properly. I believe JaG is using a combination of bark (I think Fafard's) and Turface in his. You can also use a small vermiculite or Turface component to increase absorption if you find it necessary. There is some guesswork in it, and there is a fair degree of benefit in being able to mix your soils consistently (consistent bark size, primarily), so taking notes on what you use and how much of it will help you when you make subsequent batches. You'll very quickly get a feel for what works best for you.

Al
amandab123
Original Author
14 years ago
Raybo, Mike & Al, thank you for the advice. Husband and I are new at the SWC gardening and need all the help we can get. Can hardly wait for next Spring!

I am very interested in knowing how your soil experiments turn out Raybo.

Mike, I will remember to lay in a supply of dolomite lime. Not planning to mix everything until next Spring, much neater to store all the supplies that way.

Al, I'm using your 5-1-1 mix in a couple of containers now. Discovered this forum in the summer so I don't know if the plants will do as well as they would have had I started in the Spring. We'll see. This is all an adventure isn't it? ;-D

Thank you for your help!

Cindy
rnewste
14 years ago
Cindy,

You can get the Espoma Dolomite Lime at Home Depot for about $3.75 for a 5 pound bag. Be sure to use 3 cups per 'Tainer.

Right now, it looks like Sta-Green potting mix (Lowes $11.00 for a 3 cubic bag) is the best bet. If you have a source for Pro-Mix BX at a reasonable price, that will do fine as well. Miracle-Gro potting mix on its own, holds too much moisture.

I'll post more results based on actual growing out of my Fall tomato and corn crop later this year.

Raybo

Related Stories

SHOP HOUZZ Houzz Products: Al Fresco Happy Hour

Make your own backyard the best tapas bar in town with these outdoor furnishings and entertaining essentials

BATHROOM WORKBOOK 5 Ways With a 5-by-8-Foot Bathroom

By Mitchell Parker

Look to these bathroom makeovers to learn about budgets, special features, splurges, bargains and more

HEALTHY HOME How to Childproof Your Home: Expert Advice

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Safety strategies, Part 1: Get the lowdown from the pros on which areas of the home need locks, lids, gates and more

OUTBUILDINGS The Glass-Walled Cabin That Romance Built

By Vanessa Brunner

Envisioning sunsets and starry skies, newlywed artists construct a 1-room retreat on a family farm

WORKING WITH AN INTERIOR DESIGNER 5 Qualities of a Happy Designer-Client Relationship

By Nicole White Designs Interiors LLC

Cultivate trust, flexibility and more during a design project, and it could be the beginning of a beautiful alliance

GARDENING GUIDES 5 Ways to Naturally Win the Weed War

By Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Show irksome weeds no mercy with these tricks for combating them sans chemicals

INSPIRING GARDENS 5 Gardens to Inspire Your Outdoor Rooms

By Annie Thornton

Get a peek at some exceptional Silicon Valley gardens and borrow ideas for your own landscape

HOUZZ TOURS Houzz Tour: A Portland Bungalow Gets a Major Lift

By Becky Harris

Raising a whole house allowed 5 extra bedrooms and a walk-out basement — plus a boost in income

HOUZZ TOURS My Houzz: A Tower Home Rises in Downtown Toronto

By Andrew Snow Photography

Aiming high, a Canadian couple builds a 5-floor residence on a compact, neglected urban plot

FUN HOUZZ Everything I Need to Know About Decorating I Learned from Downton Abbey

Mind your manors with these 10 decorating tips from the PBS series, returning on January 5

Sponsored

More Discussions

Fertilizing in a self water pot?

5

was just gifted a starter gardenia bonsai

1

How do I post a pic of a sick plant?

3

How to prune dracaena

0

Pine fine paralysis

3