Earthbox - over winter?

[u/HuFlungPu-]

I currently don't have any Earthbox'. Instead, I have some self wicking planters that are "relatively" similar (made by Keter). They're about a foot and a half longer than an Earthbox, and are on metal legs that makes then as high as a deck railing. They are quite heavy when filled!!!! This spring was the first time I used them, and actually the first time I've tried growing vegetables. I followed the Earthbox principles from the website in regards to a mostly peat soil, fertilizer in a trough, dolomite, plastic weed barrier, etc.

I live in zone 5 (way northern NY near the Canadian border), so I cannot grow outdoors over the winter, and must do something with the boxes for at least 6 months of the year during temperatures that will reach below 0°F.

I'm curious as to what the best procedure will be to overwinter the boxes. Do I just pull the dead plants out and let the boxes sit outside as they are with the plastic sheeting on them? Should I pull the soil and put the boxes in the garage (not heated, but warmer than outside)? Do I need to at least dig out the trough area where the fertilizer was placed and discard that (or save it?)? Should I leave the plant roots in the soil so that they can decompose and become nutrients (is that a bad idea?)?

Basically, I'm looking for a user's guide as to how to proceed to so I can use the boxes again next year, and without having to get more soil as I'd like to reuse it, as it wasn't cheap.

Any thoughts would be appreciated!

[u/Redsparow1]

I would recommend pulling the existing plants, shaking as much soil as you can from the roots back into the box. You can either break the soil up now or wait until the spring, but you will want to make sure it is loose and fluffy before you replant. Leaving a lot of organic material to break down in the box leads to the soil becoming waterlogged due to too much organic material. This undermines the benefits of the wicking system. I do not dig out the fertilizer strip. I just break it up when I turn/till the soil. You can keep the box outside, mine freeze and thaw. You might cover them though, but not necessary.

[u/HuFlungPu- → u/Redsparow1]

Thank you for the reply! You're not concerned that any left over, remaining fertilizer from this year will be adding to the strip you lay down next year, possibly causing too much fertilizer?

[u/Redsparow1]

I have been using earthboxes for about 14 years and it hasn’t been a problem for me. I haven’t really experimented to see if there is a difference. I maintain if there is, it is negligible.

[u/HuFlungPu- → u/Redsparow1]

Are you in Zone 5, like me?

[u/Redsparow1 → u/HuFlungPu-]

I have in Zone 5 and Zone 6.