Can I Plant More Than Two Tomato Plants in an EarthBox?

EarthBox

• An EarthBox is a brand of container designed for growing plants while using less of resources such as water and fertilizer, according to the manufacturer. EarthBox kits include a designated growing box, aeration screen, water tube and mulch covers. A box measures 29 by 14 by 11 inches. It can support many small plants, three midsized plants; two slightly larger plants, such as tomatoes or zucchini; or one large bush.

Tomato Selection

• Small tomato cultivars do best in potted or container situations. If you want to grow two tomato plants in one EarthBox, choose small, controlled cultivars to keep the plants from crowding each other. Small cultivars include Roma, cherry and dwarf tomatoes like "Tiny Tim," "Pixie Hybrid II," "Cherry Gold" and "Red Robin." According to the EarthBox website's planting guide, two tomato plants is the limit for a standard EarthBox, regardless of cultivar.

Setup

• Put the screen in the bottom of the EarthBox, and secure the watering tube at one corner. Add quality potting soil until the box is full to within 1 to 2 inches of the top. Mix 1 lb. of dolomite into the top 3 to 4 inches of soil to add nutrition for the tomato plants, and then fill the box to full with potting soil. Dig a 2-inch-deep trench down one side of the box and sprinkle 2 cups of 8-32-16 or 6-24-24 granular fertilizer into the trench. Don't use slow-release fertilizer, as it won't work in this system. Pile more soil onto the base to build a 2-inch soil mound, and then cover the box with the mulch cover, black side up. Cut two holes in the cover, in the corners opposite from the fertilizer line, for your two tomato plants.

Placement and Care

• Tomatoes always require specific growing conditions to flower and produce fruit. Keep the EarthBox in a site that gets full natural or artificial light for eight hours a day, with temperatures over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Give the tomato plants stakes or cages for support, and keep the soil moist with consistent waterings. Use the watering tube to give the tomatoes at least 2 inches of water every three to four days.