First a couple of Earthboxes means 4 plants total and you are listing several indeterminate varieties rather than determinate varieties too so that will greatly affect which varieties you can plant if you plan to put 2 in each box. ie: Brandywine will take up 1 box all by itself and 2 Early Girls in one box is 'possible' but not ideal despite what the company claims. I have used several Earthboxes for years and quickly learned that some of the EB advertising is hype. They can work wonderfully well but less is more when it comes to type and number of plants in them.

Question 1: probably multiple plants that didn't get thinned out properly. I would pass on those.

Question 2: No pinching, Just plant them deeper. Strip off the lower leaves and bury as much of the stem as possible. Pass on the really leggy ones in favor of shorter, stockier plants.

Dave

alina_1, if the stems are pliable enough, you can plant the bottom of the plant horizontally in the hole, with the top of the plant sticking up vertically. BTDT.

I own several Earthboxes as well as several Garden Patch containers. While I think they are great, I quit trying to cram 2 indetermant varieties in them, although thats what both companies say to do. I now plant 1 per box, or grow something like Patio 2 per box.

I don't want to discourage you, but you might want to rethink the 2 per box idea.

Lew