Day 1 – Yesterday I got my first straw bale garden bed cooking. Literally, I guess. Per the instructions in Fine Gardening (This video is not as complete as the article in the magazine), I set up the bales, filled the hole and covered the top with compost, sprinkled it with granular fertilizer, and watered it thoroughly. During the next 10-14 days, as I continue to douse it with a diluted fish emulsion fertilizer solution every day, it is going to go through a chemical cycle that breaks down the straw and generates some heat, but not enough to lead to a fire, as sometimes happens with hay or straw stacked for storage when it is too moist.
My straw bales must have been longer that those used in the tutorial, because my space in the middle was comparatively huge . I dumped about 8 -10 wheelbarrow loads of compost by the time I filled it and covered the top with a layer. However, limited space is not an issue for me. I am interested in this method as a way to create a nice, warm mound for a large squash plant at the entrance to our driveway. It looks like I will also have some room for some flowers, like giant zinnias, that can poke up through the plant and add some color.
I’m considering putting some rocks or something around it, since it might look to the neighbors like I’m putting out my harvest decorations too soon…. It will be another couple of months before the squash and flowers come close to covering it. Meanwhile, it’s kind of like gardening crock-pot style.
Yay Laura, you rebel, what if they explode and burst into flames?? Quick call Zamzows to put out the fire!!! I’m excited to see the results of both our straw bale gardening this summer. Happy Mother’s Day <3
you say it won’t lead to fires, but we don’t know for certain yet…
FIRE!!! AHahahaaa! oh, wait… that’s not a good thing…*sigh* no more fire…
Oh, look out for pyromaniacs! I didn’t even consider there “could be a fire!” Well, let’s hope not. Looking forward eventually to seeing the growth results of things planted.
I’m already working on a posting that will address this “issue.” 🙂
This is fascinating. I have seen photos of straw bale greenhouses but never straw bale gardens.
Congratulations! I started a straw bale garden with strictly chicken manure and chopped compost straight from the kitchen (including coffee grounds and egg shells). I kept “feeding” the bales bi-weekly layering chicken manure and rough compost and water. The primary cooking process is very important-and should not be overlooked. In the meantime I rooted seeds in paper egg cartons, that could be transplanted directly into the bales. In three weeks I had a garden ready to go. My straw bale plants are superior to any of my other garden plants. Now the bales are on a second round of planting , but have really broken down as they are composting down. They are now filled with wonderful earthworms that are feeding the plants. Absolutely no plant food was necessary with this process. Additionally the bales are warmer than the ground soil (part of the composting process) everything grows faster. Very rewarding. I’m hooked- going to buy more straw bales
Jean, thank you for giving such great details of how you put yours together. It is so useful to get everyone’s ideas in the mix!
Love your ‘grandma’ name!
Hi! thanks, it is fun. Hope you found something helpful here, too!