Straw Bale
Gardening
GETTING STARTED
You can use bales of grass hay as well as straw, however you should be prepared to do some more initial
"weeding" on these bales as some grass seeds may sprout. You can simply pull up the small sprouts as soon as they
show, or give your bales a haircut. Check to see what's available in your area, you may find that someone has a few
bales of grass hay to sell that's less expensive than straw.
Plan your layout carefully. I’ve never tried to weigh a soaking wet bale of straw, but that’s because I couldn’t even
budge it to begin with. You’ll not want to change your mind and move things around. Gardeners seem to be
divided on the best way to lay the bales down…string side on the ground, or string parallel to the ground, so follow
your fancy on this one. If you are laying out your bales in side by side rows, leave enough space to mow your lawn.
Think about what you’ll be planting in each bale. Remember that whatever you plant will want all of the sun
exposure you can find.
You can grow just about any vegetable or annual you choose with the straw bale method, however the taller the
vegetables the more attention you'll have to pay to staking or other support. You can plan on two to three tomato
plants, four pepper or cucumber plants, or four to six lettuce plants per bale. Remember that tomatoes will have
to be staked or on a trellis (always use the longest stakes you can find, the tomatoes will rise to the challenge and
grow to the top). If you live in a favorable climate, you could even grow an early crop of sugar snap peas on the
supports before you start the tomatoes.
PREPARE THE BALES
You’ll have to prepare the bales to make sure they’re past the initial heat of decomposing. With the proper
fertilizers and water your straw bale should warm up to a temperature of about 100 degrees. As in many gardening
techniques, there are proponents of several different methods. You can prepare your bales by just keeping them
wet for three to four weeks prior to planting. If you prefer a more proactive approach, here’s one widely
recommended method.
Days 1-3: Water the bales thoroughly and keep them damp.
Days 4-6: Sprinkle each bale with a 1/2 cup of a high nitrogen fertilizer like ammonium nitrate (34-0-0) or
ammonium sulfate per day, and water it well into the bales. If you’d like you can substitute blood meal for the
nitrate.
Days 7-9: Cut back to 1/4 cup of fertilizer per bale per day, and continue to water it in well.
Day 10: No more fertilizer, but continue to keep the bales damp.
Day 11: Stick your hand into the bale. If it has cooled down to less than your body heat, you may safely begin
planting as soon as all danger of frost has passed.
Organic gardeners often follow a similar method to condition the bales, substituting a natural fertilizer such as fish
oil or compost tea.
PLANTING
You can grow plants from seeds or transplants. To sow directly, top dress each bale with a couple of inches of seed
starting mix and water in well. To transplant, use your hands or a trowel to make a crack in the bale for each plant.
Add a little commercial potting mix around each plant. Do not use soil from your yard! It could spread diseases,
bacteria and weeds to the bales. Place the plant down to its first leaf, and gently close the crack back together.
Fertilize and water as necessary as your plants begin to grow. Don’t let the bales dry out, you may need to water
more than once a day in the beginning. As the bales begin to decompose, they will hold more water and you
should be able to water less frequently. A soaker hose placed over the tops of the bales is a great way to gently
deliver water to your plants.
There are a number of great online sites for further information, cultivating tips, and conversations about straw
bale gardening. Gardeners love to share their tips, triumphs, and tragedies. You’re sure to find some great stories
as you do your armchair gardening planning this winter.
http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/straw-bale-gardening.html
http://www.growandmake.com/straw_bale_garden
http://www.beginner-gardening.com/straw-bale-gardening.html