Straw bale gardening

[Robin'sBrood]

Has anyone else ever done this? This is my first year doing it and so far, so good. Here is where I learned about it (click on "How to Grow a Straw Bale Garden") http://www.carolinacountry.com/curmag/past/march08.html

This is just after I transplanted my plants into the bales on April 29

and these were taken on May 23rd

tomatoes (Beefmaster & Better Boy)

okra

yellow squash

cucumber

cantaloupe

watermelon (planted 2 weeks later than everything else)

 

[Acre of Blessings]

Never saw that done, that is just to cool. That just gave me an idea for next year. Thank you.

 

[KingsCalls]

I've never done this but, I talked about it with my wife this spring and we are going to try it next year. I'd like to know how it turns out.

 

[s6bee]

I guess my question is, what are the benefits?

 

[Southern Gardener]

I've never seen that before - very neat!

What are the shrubs/trees growing in the background? I need something that tall and thick on the back perimeter of my property!

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

That is cool, almost a disposable garden.

 

[MRNpoultry]

We grow tomato plants in straw bales mixed with a little compost. We put in compost to give the plants nutrition to the straw starts to turn into compost. The main benefit to this is the straw release nutrition slowly.

You may get some more reponse if you post this at the www.theeasygarden.com

Good luck

 

[silkiechicken]

Looks good! If I left a bale to sit out all summer and winter, I'd probably just have a moldy pile of straw that was only 1/8th of the way decomposed.

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
No weeding! I do have wheat sprouting from the bales, but I just take scissors and give it a hair cut. I've only had to do that once, but it's about time again. Hey, would my chickens like some fresh wheat?

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
10 year old Leyland Cyprus trees. They were tiny when I planted them in October '97.