Anyone do straw bale gardening?

...never heard of it.
14%
1
Yep, its awesome.
29%
2
Tried it; it's okay.
No votes
0
Tried it; really didn't like it.
No votes
0
Been meaning to try it.
29%
2
Heard of it; not interested.
29%
2
 
Total votes: 7
Nightowls
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Location: Zone 7 (Long Island)

Anyone do straw bale gardening?

I just read about it earlier and it sounds really neat! I'm already imagining where to put them - edge the pathway to the house? - and what to put in them - the three sisters? :D

So, who else has tried - or still does - straw bale gardening? How did you like it and any hardearned do's - and don'ts - that you'll like to pass on ?

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LA47
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Location: Idaho

I don't think I've heard of it before so I had to look it up. It sounds like something I'd like to try just because of my bad back. We plan on building raised beds but, because of price, it will take a while to totally change over. Maybe this would be something to use until we can afford to get all of them built. I hope other people has tried it and can give some 'hands on' advise.

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rainbowgardener
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lorax
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Location: Ecuador, USDA Zone 13, at 10,000' of altitude

I use this technique primarily for strawberries; it's fantastic in that respect.

Nightowls
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Posts: 28
Joined: Sun Jun 10, 2012 11:53 am
Location: Zone 7 (Long Island)

Here are some links that I also bookmarked:
https://anr.ext.wvu.edu/lawn_garden/straw_bale_gardening

https://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load ... 24909.html

https://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com/s ... ening.html

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010 ... expensive/

:( Most do not recommended corn - too top heavy - so the three sisters are out. But that still leaves plenty of possibilties. :wink:

Speaking of which, Lorax can you tell me a little bit more about how you use it with strawberries? I do have some woodland strawberry seeds and a bought a few different strawberry plants at the end of the summer. Thanks!

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lorax
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Location: Ecuador, USDA Zone 13, at 10,000' of altitude

Sorry to be so long getting back to you! Life's been really hectic on my side of the planet.

For strawberries, I take a square bale, wrap it in black landscaping cloth or plastic, then cut small x's on top, where I want to put in the plants. Move the straw off to one side in there to make space for the rootball, and pop! in they go. I can fit about 8 plants comfortably on a 2x2x4' bale, in two rows of 4.

Baling elevates the berries and helps to prevent slug and snail attacks, improves ripening, makes it waaay easier to pick, and also seems to produce healthier, more vigorous plants. I use everbearers in my bales because I'm a lazybones and prefer to plant and forget....

Gardener123
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Joined: Fri Feb 08, 2013 2:07 pm
Location: 25 miles west of CC Philadelphia

This is an old thread, but I was searching for straw bale gardening and decided to revive it by saying that I just ordered 10 bales of straw for $4 each..... if I need delivery, and I might, add $35.... still cheaper than new raised beds when you consider the price of wood.



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