Starting A Straw Bale Garden How To Plant Straw Bale Garden Beds

For effective 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.

How do you plant straw bales in a garden?
When should I start my straw bale garden?
What vegetables grow best in a straw bale?
How long does a straw bale garden last?
Can you plant carrots in straw bales?
Does straw bale gardening really work?
How much is a straw bale?
How do you plant tomatoes in a straw bale?
Do tomatoes plants like coffee grounds?
Should you put straw around tomato plants?
Can you grow potatoes in straw bales?

How do you plant straw bales in a garden?

To plant seedlings — tomato, pepper, eggplant and greens — make a gap or divot in the top of the bale and set the roots in place. Fill in around the roots with a good-quality, peat-based potting soil, ensuring that the seedlings are well-seated and level with the surface of the bale.

When should I start my straw bale garden?

You can start a straw bale garden in the early fall, but spring is the best time to plant vegetables.

What vegetables grow best in a straw bale?

Best Plants to Grow in a Straw Bale Garden

Tomatoes. Tomatoes are cheap to grow but expensive to purchase from a store. ...
Root Vegetables. ...
Potatoes. ...
Strawberries. ...
Eggplant. ...
Peppers. ...
Lettuce. ...
Spinach.

How long does a straw bale garden last?

Store for up to 6 months in a cool, dark place. The U.C.

Can you plant carrots in straw bales?

Growing carrots in a hay bale is an easy way to create a garden even if you have very little space. ... All you need is a bale of hay and a sunny place to set it, a few carrot seeds and some water, and you're ready to grow. Carrots love cool weather, so they fare best in the early spring or in the fall.

Does straw bale gardening really work?

Garden Anywhere: You can put a straw bale garden anywhere sunny. ... 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.

How much is a straw bale?

Bales cost as much as $9 apiece here. The cheapest are 4 and that's if you buy a bunch and you know the guy. A few places here are either out of straw all together or they are charging 11 dollars and change for a bale.

How do you plant tomatoes in a straw bale?

Remove straw to form a hole that is as deep as rootball of your plant (though if you're planting a tomato, of course, you'll want to go deeper.) Place the plant in the hole, add some quality potting soil around it for extra nutrients and stability, then fill the rest of the hole in with some of the straw you removed.

Do tomatoes plants like coffee grounds?

Glad to hear coffee grounds are working for your tomato plants! ... Nevertheless they're often used on acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, blueberries ... and tomatoes. Be careful, however, not to overload tomatoes with too many coffee grounds. Tomatoes like slightly acidic soil, not overly-acidic soil.

Should you put straw around tomato plants?

Straw: Straw makes great mulch for tomatoes. But stay away from hay, as it's full of seeds. Spread a 3-6” layer around tomatoes. Newspaper or Cardboard: Newspaper is best for blocking weeds.

Can you grow potatoes in straw bales?

In a straw bale, we simply plant the potato cutting deep into the bale. While a bale may be 20″ high, we will plant 16-18″ deep in a “crack” in the bale. The looseness of the bale will allow the stem to easily reach the surface, and the potatoes will form along this stretch of stem, filling the bale with potatoes.