Straw bale gardening

pinballlooking · 02-11-16, 11:39 AM

In my internet travels I ran across this.
Straw bale gardening
Looks simple enough to try. I did read where someone used hay and introduced weeds so only use good straw.

Here is a PDF that tells you what you need to know.
https://www.fieldmuseum.org/sites/de...ardening_0.pdf

http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublicatio...09E/FS109E.pdf

MEMPHIS91 · 02-12-16, 07:23 PM

I did this last year.
I learned a lot.
Used OLD hay bays, at least a year old, the weed/grass seeds will sprout and die and not come back.
Water some barn yard fertilizer in for a couple weeks before you plant.
They tend to attach ants and slugs. So have some corn starch ready to fight the ants off and I put left over copper at the bases to kill any slugs.

They do work. I have cherry tomatoes and green bell peppers do very well last year. Not sure if I took pictures or not. It was during the DX hotwater heater build.

jeff5may · 02-12-16, 08:18 PM

This method is perfect for urban gardening. It can be done just about anywhere the weather isn't super harsh. Imagine a square foot garden on a roof, in a wheelbarrow, truck bed, or wagon. There are very few limits as to where or how these powerhouses can be set up. Just when I thought I had seen them all, someone comes up with a new surprise design. They take a little more watering than a dirt garden in most climates, but little to no weeding. At the end of the grow season, the bales can be broken down and spread as compost or mulch. Super kool!

pinballlooking · 02-12-16, 10:18 PM

MEMPHIS91
I would like to see the pictures if you have them.

Jeff
Nice pictures.

I saw one setup where they took two bales stacked. They did not have to bend over at all. That would probably need even more water.

jeff5may · 02-13-16, 12:01 AM

For not huge grows, straw bale plantings go well with rain water collection barrels and drip irrigation. The combination lends itself to really low maintenance. I like the solar rainmaker. It's pretty durable and just works.

The one I bought cost more than they do now. Mine came with batteries, the new ones do not. Big whoop, the thing takes 3 AA rechargeables. I used mine for a season, then gave it to grandma when she showed lots of interest. Like I said, it just keeps working.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPOR9bu_wK8

02-11-16, 11:39 AM	#1
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	Straw bale gardening In my internet travels I ran across this. Straw bale gardening Looks simple enough to try. I did read where someone used hay and introduced weeds so only use good straw. Here is a PDF that tells you what you need to know. https://www.fieldmuseum.org/sites/de...ardening_0.pdf http://cru.cahe.wsu.edu/CEPublicatio...09E/FS109E.pdf Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Last edited by pinballlooking; 02-11-16 at 09:31 PM..

02-12-16, 07:23 PM	#2
MEMPHIS91 Journeyman EcoRenovator Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Oxford, MS USA Posts: 496 Thanks: 69 Thanked 87 Times in 61 Posts	I did this last year. I learned a lot. Used OLD hay bays, at least a year old, the weed/grass seeds will sprout and die and not come back. Water some barn yard fertilizer in for a couple weeks before you plant. They tend to attach ants and slugs. So have some corn starch ready to fight the ants off and I put left over copper at the bases to kill any slugs. They do work. I have cherry tomatoes and green bell peppers do very well last year. Not sure if I took pictures or not. It was during the DX hotwater heater build. __________________ שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ ה' אֶחָד

02-12-16, 08:18 PM	#3
jeff5may Supreme EcoRenovator Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA Posts: 2,428 Thanks: 431 Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts	This method is perfect for urban gardening. It can be done just about anywhere the weather isn't super harsh. Imagine a square foot garden on a roof, in a wheelbarrow, truck bed, or wagon. There are very few limits as to where or how these powerhouses can be set up. Just when I thought I had seen them all, someone comes up with a new surprise design. They take a little more watering than a dirt garden in most climates, but little to no weeding. At the end of the grow season, the bales can be broken down and spread as compost or mulch. Super kool! Last edited by jeff5may; 02-12-16 at 09:01 PM..

02-12-16, 10:18 PM	#4
pinballlooking Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: SC Posts: 2,923 Thanks: 172 Thanked 564 Times in 463 Posts	MEMPHIS91 I would like to see the pictures if you have them. Jeff Nice pictures. I saw one setup where they took two bales stacked. They did not have to bend over at all. That would probably need even more water. __________________ Current project Aquaponics system , Passive Solar Greenhouse build To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Solar Install 12.5 Kwh- To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Mini Split installs - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. EV Chevy Volt - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.