Yesterday Cathy Isom told us how to set up our straw bale garden to prepare it for plants. today Cathy fills us in on what we can grow in a straw bale garden and how to get started. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
Using a straw bale is an easy, no digging, mess free, and alternative way to grow a garden. It’s also quite beautiful. And you can grow just about any vegetable, herb or annual flower in a straw bale that you would grow in the ground. However, there are some plants that do not do well in a straw bale, such as top heavy plants or plants that spread by growing offshoots with their own roots.
The plants that do very well on straw bales include, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, turnips. Fruiting plants are also excellent candidates. Such as strawberries, yellow squash, zucchini, and other squash varieties. Make sure you stake them if you don’t want them growing into your walkways. To get started, check with you local garden center or online and choose your straw bale from wheat, oats, barley, alfalfa or rye. You could also find a local farmer who does not use pesticides on his or her crops. And just a side note: even though hay is a lot cheaper, it is very seedy, which can attract weeks.
Next, you’ll want to choose the right location. Picking a spot in your yard that receives at least six hours of bright, direct sunlight a day. While some veggies such as lettuce and green beans can grow in partial shade, most need full sun to thrive. Also be sure to choose a spot with access to water. Once you water your bales, they will become too heavy to move, so decide on your location before you get started.