Hay bale gardening technique is a low-cost and convenient way of growing flowers and vegetables. Gro...

1. Gardening :: Hay Bale Gardening
Hay bale gardening technique is a low-cost and convenient way of growing flowers and vegetables.
Growing vegetables in a hay bale garden is similar to the technique used to grow vegetables in a
raised bed garden. If you are just getting your bales, give the bales a thorough soaking, and let them
begin to break down before you plant your vegetables. Hay or straw bale gardening is another great
way have your garden if you have limited space, terrible soil, a bad back or those who are confined
to a wheel chair! So much time is saved by not having to weed or hoe or even water as often as well.
This project was first researched by a Dr at the University of Minnesota Extension says, "Hay bales
provide a well-aerated, disease free growing medium that is perfect for growing vegetables.
The popular method of hay bale gardening is getting more popular in town, a friend told him how to
get prosperous crops using nothing but wheat straw, potting soil, a little fertilizer and some tomato
plants "Every fall I get some bales and let them sit out all winter to get good and soggy, I plant a few
every year and I've had real good luck. Another friend who was in the landscaping business showed
him how to use wheat straw to garden "He had all kinds of crops including cucumber, squash and
green beans, you can raise almost anything except corn, because it's too tall and the bale will fall
over .
Bales first should be situated in a full sun formation, with twine and wire ties kept in tact. Since
bales may be used two seasons, synthetic twine can be used to provide the most durable binding.
For optimum root penetration and plant growth throughout gardening months, bales should be
placed with strings wrapped horizontally and straws set vertically. The next step is hydration, the
key to successful hay bale gardening. A form of hydroponics, the hay bale is like a sponge, and you
can't let them dry out, or your crop just does not work. While watering the bales twice per day,
fertilize them every other day for six days with one-half cup each of a high nitrogen fertilizer.
Working with the bales is much easier than working on a traditional garden. You're putting your
garden at eye level, you can see your progress, you can weed it a lot easier and harvest easier.
(Posted by Denise in Creative Organic Gardening). Straw bale gardening is an interesting option for
those who have either limited soil, limited space or have difficulty bending over. This is important if
you intend to get two years possible out of each bale in your straw bale gardening efforts.
Remember several things about placing your bales in your straw bale gardening layout. Straw bale
gardening layouts can be placed end-to-end to create long gardens or grouped into traditional bed
shapes or even set up as maze types of gardens. How crazy does it sound, growing tomatoes in bales
of hay. I planted peppers, tomatoes, flowers and beans in the hay bales in different arrangements
that were pleasing to the eye. Somehow I find it oddly interesting kind of like growing tomatoes
upside down. In my garden adventures with hay bale and straw bale gardening I have tried several
different gardening techniques. While I like growing melons and gourds in the bales both are heavy
feeder so I created a hay bale/ straw bale square garden technique to use with these crops. Lay the
bales out to form a square with an open section on the inside. Now it's time to prepare the bales for
planting. Straw bale gardening has many positive aspects. Valerie Everett I prefer straw bales as
they contain less seed and last longer but straw is more expensive so my choice for the garden
depends on the best buy I can get or which crop I am growing. For squash plants and gourds I use
hay bales. First get bales that still have the string tightly around the bale. And if you know where
you want your garden position the bales. For more information and tips on gardening go to
www.Teegoes.org