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Sage Hermit
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Hay Bail container gardening :link:
[url=https://www.kare11.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=47326123001#/Swapping+soil+for+straw+to+grow+a+garden+of+veggies/47326123001]MN's Joel Kartsin[/url] uses hay bails in an interesting gardening way which cashes in on the nitrogen released in decaying hay as well as added heat for the plants.
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rainbowgardener
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I wonder if there's a glut of straw bales on the market? 
There certainly isn't anything intrinsically "wrong" with the concept, but it seems preferable -- to me, at least -- just to compost the straw naturally, without all the added commercial fertilizer, and then amend your soil with the compost. Not a "hurry-up" solution, of course, but a more natural method in the long run. JMO!
There certainly isn't anything intrinsically "wrong" with the concept, but it seems preferable -- to me, at least -- just to compost the straw naturally, without all the added commercial fertilizer, and then amend your soil with the compost. Not a "hurry-up" solution, of course, but a more natural method in the long run. JMO!
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applestar
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I have to comment that the original concept was to put manure on the STRAW bales, with a bit of buffer soil on the top (like 2"). Somebody obviously figured out a way to make it more marketING-friendly.
It's one of the experiments on my list that I never quite seem to get to because of the manure thing.
It's one of the experiments on my list that I never quite seem to get to because of the manure thing.
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Sage Hermit
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I like the look. Beans would look really rustic in a hay bale, wouldn't they! The bag of miracle grow is not needed nor is any fertilizer. Its going to compost add heat and improve the soil quality regardless of any added ingredients. Those skeptical about this shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the genius behind hay bale container gardening. I'll test it out and report back with my finds.
this is basically fukuoka method of non till minus the cardboard and mulch.
Beans would look really rustic in a hay bale, wouldn't they! The bag of miracle grow is not needed nor is any fertilizer. Its going to compost add heat and improve the soil quality regardless of any added ingredients. Those skeptical about this shouldn't be so quick to dismiss the genius behind hay bale container gardening. I'll test it out and report back with my finds. this is basically fukuoka method of non till minus the cardboard and mulch.
I think that this is an update of an old idea.
Years ago we used straw bales to grow cucumbers under glass.
The bales were watered and dusted with nitrogen fert to get the bales to ' cook '.
They were monitered with a thermometer until the internal temperature had started to fall...then they were topped with a layer of soil or peat and the cues planted into the topping.
Their roots would travel through the bales very fast and the warmth from the decaying straw produced a very fast crop.
Main minus was the mess that neaded cleaning up after the crop was finished.
Jona
Years ago we used straw bales to grow cucumbers under glass.
The bales were watered and dusted with nitrogen fert to get the bales to ' cook '.
They were monitered with a thermometer until the internal temperature had started to fall...then they were topped with a layer of soil or peat and the cues planted into the topping.
Their roots would travel through the bales very fast and the warmth from the decaying straw produced a very fast crop.
Main minus was the mess that neaded cleaning up after the crop was finished.
Jona
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applestar
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"Under glass" means "in the greenhouse" right?
So "Main minus was the mess that needed cleaning up after the crop was finished." wouldn't be an issue outdoors where you would just scatter the remains to become part of the surrounding soil?
This gives me an idea. I was going to build more Ruth Stout style raised beds with HAY mulch to plant hot peppers, but maybe I don't have to.... I have both straw and HAY bales. I might be able to manage the high nitrogen with DROWNED WEED (and maybe alfalfa) TEA.
Sage Hermit, you titled this thread HAY bales and you keep saying HAY bales, but even in the video, one newscaster was corrected by the reporting newscaster that it's STRAW, not HAY. Are you thinking of going with HAY anyway, as per Ruth Stout?
So "Main minus was the mess that needed cleaning up after the crop was finished." wouldn't be an issue outdoors where you would just scatter the remains to become part of the surrounding soil?
This gives me an idea. I was going to build more Ruth Stout style raised beds with HAY mulch to plant hot peppers, but maybe I don't have to.... I have both straw and HAY bales. I might be able to manage the high nitrogen with DROWNED WEED (and maybe alfalfa) TEA.
Sage Hermit, you titled this thread HAY bales and you keep saying HAY bales, but even in the video, one newscaster was corrected by the reporting newscaster that it's STRAW, not HAY. Are you thinking of going with HAY anyway, as per Ruth Stout?
I think they should work outdoors just as well Star.
I have not heard of hay bales being used though. Even if they worked they would cause a huge amount of trouble with all that grass seeds.
One thing to remember is that you have to allow for the bales to sink as they rot.
So if your plants are supported with ties or string you must allow for the dropping. If not you can find the plants are left high and dry with their roots exposed.
Jona
I have not heard of hay bales being used though. Even if they worked they would cause a huge amount of trouble with all that grass seeds.
One thing to remember is that you have to allow for the bales to sink as they rot.
So if your plants are supported with ties or string you must allow for the dropping. If not you can find the plants are left high and dry with their roots exposed.
Jona
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applestar
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I think you mentioned this before. I meant to respond then that, for me, it *sometimes* help if I click on PLAY, then immediately click PAUSE and walk away -- go prepare some tea, take a bathroom break, etc. 
When I come back, a large portion of the video would be loaded/buffered, so there aren't as much of the annoying stops and starts. If you're on a modem link, though, the connection would be too slow for the amount of data transfer needed for videos.
When I come back, a large portion of the video would be loaded/buffered, so there aren't as much of the annoying stops and starts. If you're on a modem link, though, the connection would be too slow for the amount of data transfer needed for videos.