Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I can kill a plant by driving past the nursery. Even mint shrivels when I cast my one good eye upon it. Until I discovered the Earthbox, the only thing growing on my patio was some kind of nasty looking grayish bump that I am praying does not house wasps. It's small, dark gray, about the size of a hand and in the corner of the overhang. If you know what this is and if it is home to a dangerous insect, please speak up. Now. But to return to the Earthbox. It's not foolproof, you have to put it together and it's not, shall we say, structurally elegant. And after you've put it together, the wheels will fall right off if you lift the box. Getting them back on once you've planted the box requires lots of yelling and a stiff drink. However, when it comes to growing plants, Boy Howdy, it's a winner. I planted tomatoes, scotch bonnet peppers and a small anaheim-stye chile in one box. The other I filled with lavendar, rosemary, basil (also lemon basil and pineapple basil), dill, chives. garlic and oregano. And almost everything thrived. The dill got squooshy and just disappeared one day. I think the Oregano ate it. It has that kind of look, the Oregano does. The Earthbox is self-watering and self-feeding, a trick children and houseguests might learn. The boxes are compact and take up very little room. After minimal labor and minimal attention (mostly snipping back the herbs and staking the tomato plants) I harvested tomatoes and peppers all summer long, and the peppers are still going strong. Can I tell you how Mother Earthy it makes you feel to serve a Caprese salad with your own basil and tomatoes! Now I want my own buffalo so I can make the mozarella too! Best of all are the herbs. The lavendar and rosemary scent the air and make sitting on the patio like being in a spa. Well, without the facials, the pedi and the massage. And no fancy robe. Okay, it's not like a spa at all. Get off my back. I'm thinking about adding another two or three Earthboxes and dreaming eggplant, beets, carrots, Sugar snaps, English peas, and pumpkin dreams. No zucchini though. You do know that Zucchini is not food. It is a vegetable prank. Anyway, next time you're in Southern California, drop by and say howdy. We're friendy, we are, us country folk. Free tip: Refill a plastic bottle with water, shove the opening (at about a 45 degree angle) into a large pot or planter. Presto, instant watering system.