Table of Contents
How do I prepare hay bales for my garden?
The first week Water the bale thoroughly, until water runs out the bottom of the bale. Sprinkle the surface with a nitrogen source (see box), applying at the recommended rate. Every other day, add more of the nitrogen source; water thoroughly. On the days you don’t apply nitrogen, just water the bales thoroughly.
How do you condition a hay bale for gardening?
Place bale with cut end facing up. Bales placed on wooden pallets allows for drainage. Place the bale(s) in a sunny location receiving at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. It is recommended to place the bale(s) at least 2 weeks prior to the optimum plant date to allow for conditioning of the bale(s).
When should I start a straw bale garden?
You can start a straw bale garden in the early fall, but spring is the best time to plant vegetables.
How long does a straw bale garden last?
It’s the material left over after the grain has been harvested. As a byproduct, straw bales are less expensive. The grain stalks are hollow, so the bales are lighter too. Straw is slow to break down, and Joel has found they tend to last for two growing seasons.
How do you start a straw bale garden?
Tips for Straw Bale Gardening Use straw, not hay. Hay is made from alfalfa and grasses that still have the seeds attached, and these seeds will turn into weeds when the germinate and sprout. Locate the garden near a water source. Solarize the bales. Use short plants. Plant in full sun. Avoid pooling water.
What fertilizer do you use for straw bale gardening?
Use a ½ cup of a complete garden fertilizer or three cups of an organic fertilizer like Milorganite®. Then completely moisten the bale. The organic fertilizer feeds the microorganisms that help decompose the straw into a nutrient rich planting medium. Thoroughly soak the bale every day.
Does straw bale gardening really work?
As the straw breaks down over the course of the summer, it turns into compost that feeds your plants. They Work: You can have huge success with growing vegetables in straw bales. Although you have to stay on top of watering, compared to other container gardens, the bales do retain water pretty well.
What can I use to condition straw bales?
Fertilizer and water are the chief ingredients used to condition the bales. Joel recommends lawn fertilizer, blood meal or Milorganite®. Do not use “fresh” manure. He also recommends putting the fertilizer in a plastic container with holes punched in it to distribute the fertilizer evenly.
Can you grow potatoes in hay bales?
Hay or straw bales make an excellent garden for your potatoes. This method of growing potatoes is ideal for those with limited space or whose soil is unsuitable for growing.
Can you grow tomatoes in a bale of hay?
Growing tomatoes in hay bales is the most inexpensive way to get delicious fresh homegrown tomatoes. It is also the best solution for many problems such as small-sized garden and poor quality soil. It also allows gardening lovers to practice gardenings even if they don’t have gardens or yards.
Can you grow carrots in straw bales?
To grow carrots in straw bales, is simply a matter of cutting a trench or 2 down the length of the bale. Part the straw to form a ‘V’ shape and fill in with compost. Thinly sprinkle a line of seeds down the track and lightly cover over with compost. Water in the seeds and cover with garden fleece.
Can you plant potatoes in straw bales?
Whether you have grown potatoes for years or never grown a fresh potato in your life, growing them in a straw bale is an easy choice. Imagine pounds of beautiful fresh tubers that are crisper and tastier than any grocery store finds, all for less than the price of a bag of soil.
Why are my hay bales growing grass?
Seed of grain in bales of straw can be a result of it not being harvested properly. Or perhaps the grain head on the harvest machine was not set right. Another reason can be the use of older combines that leave grain in the field that are then picked up by the baler (machine) collecting the straw.
How big is a straw bale?
Size. A standard size bale should be 14 inches high, 18 inches wide and between 36 to 40 inches long. The modified post and beam construction that we design for our houses and buildings are design to accommodate this size of bales.
Is hay or straw better for garden?
I’ve seen such tenacious perennial weeds like thistle come into a garden as a result of their seeds hiding inside a bale of hay. Straw on the other hand, is much better for use as a garden mulch. Since wheat and other grain crops are so competitive in a field, they suppress the growth of many weeds.
Does straw rot down?
Straw will decompose like any other organic material but they’ll decompose a lot slower. As straw rots, it releases nutrients, feeding the plants growing in it. Straw actually makes your garden better.
