How to Grow Vegetables in Straw Bales
Whether you're looking for novelty or functionality, growing vegetables in straw bales is the way to go. These square bundles provide the perfect medium for most vegetables, including tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. By using straw bales, you won't need to till up part of your yard or spend back-breaking hours hunched over while weeding. Hay bales do need a few days of preparation before they can be used as modified containers for gardening, but within two weeks you'll have a weed-free and visually interesting garden on your porch. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Soak the straw bales. Straw gets hotter when re-hydrated, so it's vital to cause the reaction long before planting your seedlings. Keep the bales soaked for three days.
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Apply ammonium nitrate. On the fourth day through the sixth, add one-half cup ammonium nitrate per bale and soak again. On days seven through nine, use only one-quarter cup ammonium nitrate.
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3
Apply fertilizer. On the 10th day, stop applying ammonium nitrate and use one cup of fertilizer. Soak the bales again.
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4
Weed and position for planting. Remove any weeds or wheat sprouts. Position the bales so the straw is vertical.
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5
Plant the seedlings. Transfer the seedlings to the hay bales, using a trowel or other tool to create a space for the seedling. The first set of leaves should lie on top of the straw.
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Water and fertilize regularly. Because of the exposed surface area, hay bales lose moisture quickly and must be watered often. Apply fertilizer about every four weeks to provide adequate nutrients for the plants.
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Tips & Warnings
Reduce the surface area for moisture loss by lining up the bales so their sides touch.
Purchase bales with synthetic twine to increase their useful life.
Root plants, like potatoes and carrots, will not grow in straw bales.
