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 araised bed garden. If you are just getting your bales, give the bales a thorough soaking, and let thembegin to break down before you plant your vegetables. Hay or straw bale gardening is another greatway have your garden if you have limited space, terrible soil, a bad back or those who are confinedto 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 balesprovide 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 toget prosperous crops using nothing but wheat straw, potting soil, a little fertilizer and some tomatoplants "Every fall I get some bales and let them sit out all winter to get good and soggy, I plant a fewevery year and I've had real good luck. Another friend who was in the landscaping business showedhim how to use wheat straw to garden "He had all kinds of crops including cucumber, squash andgreen beans, you can raise almost anything except corn, because it's too tall and the bale will fallover .

Bales first should be situated in a full sun formation, with twine and wire ties kept in tact. Sincebales 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 beplaced with strings wrapped horizontally and straws set vertically. The next step is hydration, thekey to successful hay bale gardening. A form of hydroponics, the hay bale is like a sponge, and youcan'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 yourgarden 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 forthose who have either limited soil, limited space or have difficulty bending over. This is important ifyou 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 balegardening layouts can be placed end-to-end to create long gardens or grouped into traditional bedshapes or even set up as maze types of gardens. How crazy does it sound, growing tomatoes in balesof hay. I planted peppers, tomatoes, flowers and beans in the hay bales in different arrangementsthat were pleasing to the eye. Somehow I find it oddly interesting kind of like growing tomatoesupside down. In my garden adventures with hay bale and straw bale gardening I have tried severaldifferent gardening techniques. While I like growing melons and gourds in the bales both are heavyfeeder so I created a hay bale/ straw bale square garden technique to use with these crops. Lay thebales out to form a square with an open section on the inside. Now it's time to prepare the bales forplanting. Straw bale gardening has many positive aspects. Valerie Everett I prefer straw bales asthey contain less seed and last longer but straw is more expensive so my choice for the gardendepends on the best buy I can get or which crop I am growing. For squash plants and gourds I usehay bales. First get bales that still have the string tightly around the bale. And if you know whereyou want your garden position the bales. For more information and tips on gardening go towww.Teegoes.org