Earthbox Gardening

An easy way to garden by using an Earthbox, especially for someone who has killed a cactus. Earthbox is one of several self-irrigating planters available on the market today. Such planters hold water in reservoirs at the base of the containers. These boxes generally come with a cover that helps retain moist, but not wet too wet potting mix. I found the Earthbox very easy to assemble; it was a breeze to plant my veggies and herbs. The instructions that came with the boxes were quite easy to follow. You don't need to put the boxes on rocks or mulch; I just like the set-up in my back yard. The only problem I have had since setting up my garden less than a month ago is the gnats (look like fruit flies and they may in-fact be the flies). We've had a lot of rain and dew here in NC for the months of May/early June. The buggers love moist soil; as soon as it began to warm-up, they were less of a problem. I also had what appeared to be fungus; again, more from the environment than the box. Homemade fungicide solved the problem (3 T. baking soda, 2.5 T. vegetable oil, 1 gallon of water....mix then add 1/2 tsp. of liquid dish soap...mix then pour in spray bottle and douse plant after sunset or on an overcast day). I alos sprinkled cinnamon all over the plant immediately after I sprayed the solution; I read somewhere cinnamon had fungicidal properties.