Customer Reviews

EarthBox 1010053 Staking System In Terra Cotta for the EarthBox Garden Kit

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I received this with my Earthbox. Since I have had this over a month now, and my plants, (tomatoes and peppers) are needing staking, I have discovered that I don't need to spend the extra money on this. They don't hold up the plants as well as the stakes I bought at Home Depot. If you just like to spend the extra money, then go ahead, otherwise, I would just buy the box and buy your own staking sticks with some twine, works just as well.

the earthbox itself is terrific...but the staking system they sell for thirty bucks is a ripoff big time. Flimsy and cheap--not even wire or rubber mesh, but string. For an investment of thirty bucks you can buy some heavy duty staking poles and cages at a hardware store and you could make enough for three or four earthboxes. outrageous price for the shipping and this piece of garbage. It does not deserve to have earthbox name affiliated with it.

Forget the cost for a moment, this product works as it should. The kit comes with some nice feet for the Earthbox. The poles attach to these feet, and there are two handy clamps to hold the support poles to the top of the box. I don't use the trellis netting for tomatoes. For tomatoes I put two stick supports near the plant stems and attach those stakes to the Earthbox support system. This provides a total of 4 vertical supports and the one horizontal support at about 42 inches, roughly speaking. The stakes are five feet, or about four feet above ground. The stakes stick up above the horizontal support. I then use ties to support the tomato plants. If the tomato plants grow beyond the four feet, I extend the support with an extension kit.

I do use the trellis for sugar snap (snow) peas and other climbing plants. It works good.

Now the cost. This kit contains various parts. I purchased a different trellis net at my local garden center for about $10. This kit comes with a similar, but smaller, trellis net. For what it's worth, I have a friend who creates his own nets. I guess one could come up with a different system, but how much time do you want to spend to try and better a good working system that is under $50? Gardening stuff is almost always "expensive." Is it cheaper just to use two poles without this support system? Yes. Would it be as effective? No.

If I wanted to reduce cost, I'd probably just plant in the ground. The results wouldn't be as good, but it would be cheaper, or would it?

I own several of these kits.

Product works as described but is pricey. Also is not tall enough. However, does provide support for plants.

While you can make your own cheaper it will not look as nice as this. The staking system is functional and works.

Product make specifically for Earth Box, which I received as a gift last Christmas. Works perfectly for holding up my tomato plants, which are growing like crazy!

I received this item as a gift to go with my terra cotta earthbox. In theory, it seems like a great idea. It matches and was made to fit the earthbox. However, now that my tomatoes have grown for a month I'm running into trouble. If the stalks are centered or long enough to be manipulated through the staking system it is great. Unfortunatley, a lot of the stalks are not. I had to go old school and tear up an old t-shirt in one inch strips and then tie that around the staking system and stalks for support. Next year I plan to just use the wire cages or a regular stake. I'll use this for my peppers and see if I have better luck.

I was skeptical about these staking systems until I bought my first one. These are very sturdy. Just to be able to have the wider base with the wheels is worth it because you can move the boxes around easier. In my case i have them on the grass, so when we mow i need to move them. The trellis part itself is plenty sturdy enough for all of the plants i have used so far and it helps to brace plants that you wouldn't use a trellis with. For example i have 16 stalks of corn in an earth box. with the trellis i can use the garden velcro to secure them and keep them upright. These will be reusable for years and are securely and very nicely attached to the box. I have since bought them for all of my boxes. You can also either buy the netting part yearly through earth box or make your own with garden twine found at your local home stores.

I bought three complete kits on the recommendation of a friend who has about 15 of them in his back yard. If this is your first Earthbox be sure to read through the forum on Earthbox's website, especially the posts for new users, before you put them together. The staking kit was easy to set up and appears pretty solid. I will be curios to see how the nylon "net" holds up with exposure to UV. (Try to install the staking kit before you fill the boxes with soil and water or else it will require two people, one to pick up the end of the box and one to install the base)

System is easy to install and works well. My only reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is the cost.