You might have said this and I just missed it, but it's also important to be careful where you source straw bails. Many farms use long term broadleaf herbicides in their grain production so it's important to check what was used or most garden plants will be killed by the herbicide.
I did straw bale gardening several years ago. Grew some amazing tomato plants that avoided a lot of the fungal problems I had had with in ground planting. Only thing is I had to water much more frequently but that was ok. Well worth it to me!
This looks like a fantastic solution to a lot of problems I've come across in my years gardening. I was wondering if I could use chicken manure in place of nitrogen rich fertilizer?
Absolutely! Chicken manure is a nitrogen rich fertilizer. Not everyone has chickens, but if you do we recommend composting the manure and bedding and using it as fertilizer in any type of garden.
Good morning, good information, thank you. However, I do have a question: some grain crops are sprayed with Round up to kill them back, so that the grain dries out for quicker, easier harvesting. Wouldn't this affect the straw, making it not usable for growing vegetables?
Does the straw bale have to be on the ground, or could it be Elevated ?...if it could be elevated, the planter stand I'm building might just work for this, it has a built in Trelis to support tomatoes and cucumbers, I might experiment...my video is up tomorrow on the planter stand and trelis.
@HobbyFarmGuys it's a 2x6 foot metal planter platform with built-in trelis with DIY tomahooks for string trellising, I believe it would work perfectly for straw bail gardening.
@HobbyFarmGuys different trelis designs can be made for it, I will be experimenting in the future with this, this planter platform is for a rooftop garden I'm going to start building this year.
While that sounds disgusting it would probably work great. Urine is high in nitrogen. Not sure it will actually help the ph, but it would definitely help supply nitrogen.
If the bales are conditioned properly, fertilizer is added and it isn't overwatered, it shouldn't negatively affect the nutritional value of your harvest.
Fascinating! I never heard of this before! Thanks for this great video! As always, excellent info!
We’re happy you enjoyed it!
You might have said this and I just missed it, but it's also important to be careful where you source straw bails. Many farms use long term broadleaf herbicides in their grain production so it's important to check what was used or most garden plants will be killed by the herbicide.
Awesome information I am going to try this. Thank You !!!
We hope you have great results!
Im in florida so iv just started my germinting and its always exciting
I did straw bale gardening several years ago. Grew some amazing tomato plants that avoided a lot of the fungal problems I had had with in ground planting. Only thing is I had to water much more frequently but that was ok. Well worth it to me!
Glad to hear you had such good results!
This looks like a fantastic solution to a lot of problems I've come across in my years gardening.
I was wondering if I could use chicken manure in place of nitrogen rich fertilizer?
Absolutely! Chicken manure is a nitrogen rich fertilizer. Not everyone has chickens, but if you do we recommend composting the manure and bedding and using it as fertilizer in any type of garden.
@HobbyFarmGuys Thank you so much and thank you for having the most accurate information on the most useful subjects. I am grateful for you guys.
Good morning, good information, thank you. However, I do have a question: some grain crops are sprayed with Round up to kill them back, so that the grain dries out for quicker, easier harvesting. Wouldn't this affect the straw, making it not usable for growing vegetables?
I imagine it might affect the plants, nut I've not heard of anyone having this problem.
Does the straw bale have to be on the ground, or could it be Elevated ?...if it could be elevated, the planter stand I'm building might just work for this, it has a built in Trelis to support tomatoes and cucumbers, I might experiment...my video is up tomorrow on the planter stand and trelis.
You can elevate it. Looking forward to your video.
@HobbyFarmGuys it's a 2x6 foot metal planter platform with built-in trelis with DIY tomahooks for string trellising, I believe it would work perfectly for straw bail gardening.
@HobbyFarmGuys different trelis designs can be made for it, I will be experimenting in the future with this, this planter platform is for a rooftop garden I'm going to start building this year.
I used to work for a taxidermist who grew corn this way. I think they had said they peed in the bales to adjust ph.
While that sounds disgusting it would probably work great. Urine is high in nitrogen. Not sure it will actually help the ph, but it would definitely help supply nitrogen.
I would wonder if the food grow on the straw bell would have less vitamins and minerals in your body. just a thought
If the bales are conditioned properly, fertilizer is added and it isn't overwatered, it shouldn't negatively affect the nutritional value of your harvest.