This Sub-Saharan Gardening Method Changed Our Garden FOREVER! (Core Gardening)

[@KristelViljoen]

I am from South Africa. I go every second weekend to our municipality garden dump site. Pick up shredded plant material. I dig large and deep holes in my garden soil and then bury it in the soil. At least a meter deep. Afterwards I wet the soil and let it stand for 2 weeks. Then I plant my seeds and seedlings. Since our climate is semi arid, it is the only way of vegetable gardening that have worked for me throughout the years. It's initially hard work but it always pays off. And no, we do not buy compost or fertilizer. Who can afford it these days?

[@jonisolis9645]

Wow, you dig a whole meter deep. That must take forever to do.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

Living in an urban area, we have no local farmers. When I ask the people who do sell bales of straw within an hour's drive if their straw is clean, they can't answer accurately because they source from 5 or more farms. So I ALWAYS plant some bean seeds in a pot with a 1" deep mulch of the new straw before using it. The beans sprout quickly and you can easily see if the bean leaves are warped or stunted. If they're healthy you can be sure your straw is free of glyphosate (Grazon). 💚

[@grannysweet]

Bless you!! I moved to a 🏜️ city and they don't have hay bales or feed stores😢.

[@BilboOutdoors]

@@grannysweettime to move again. The collapse is near my friend.

[@elizabethlane8690]

I buy mine from TSC.

[@marktaylor2645]

Grazon isn’t glyphosate. Glyphosate is roundup, Grazon is aminopyralid.

[@sowingtreesinstorms]

Thanks, ​@@marktaylor2645I was going to mention that.

[@StevenMitchell-gb3yp]

I use fall leaves and dead plants for my core. No Grazon risk.

[@joshuahoyer1279]

You can do the same thing with finely sifted wood chips. And they'll last a lot longer as a sponge. When I made our last raised bed, we filled the bottom with wood chips, sticks, branches, shredded leaves, and smashed pumpkins from halloween (borrowing a tip from one of Luke's previous videos). Even in our super dry summers, these plants haven't shown even a hint of water stress. The only time I've added extra water has been when we are starting new plants whose roots haven't reached very far yet. Hugelkulture for the win!

[@bethanderson1377]

I usually fill my raised bed about 1/3 with wood mulch. Did they do this last time because I had it. Actually did wood chips then much more than soil. I hope I can keep up the nitrogen.

[@notbarbie582]

@@bethanderson1377dilute urine ten to one with water. Great for nitrogen

[@FlowerxLady]

I love Hugelkultur!!

[@joshuahoyer1279]

@@notbarbie582 or just let your kids pee on the chips 😂

[@ArtFlowersBeeze8815]

Yeah this method is also known as double digging. I use whatever I can get too. Sometimes I bomb in well aged manure in the very bottom, then leaves, grass, chips or straw. Attracts all kinds of good critters..microbes, worms. But as the top layer, I found alfafa pellets and wood chips save me weeding and watering time as well.

[@alecpelok5125]

Very cool! Reminds me of the hugelkultur method of building a garden bed

[@phildwyer1488]

In Australia we use sugar cane mulch which is the chopped up canes left over after processing the sugar. It’s excellent to retain moisture in the soil, decomposes well and adds nutrients to your soil

[@MIgardener]

Oh cool! I imagine that would be so similar.

[@Lunasgarden2021]

Yes I love my sugar cane mulch as well

[@anniemills2522]

One passionate gardener to another...Love your Dirty Knees.🥰

[@michaelgraham768]

This is such a classic migardener method and video, I used this method for raised beds and melon mounds, didn't have to water once, even through practically drought conditions and some intense NC sun, fantastic yields on the plants too, it's absolutely one of the best methods for saving water and time, blood meal is a great fertilizer to pair with this because of its high nitrogen and relatively low cost

[@Perseverance4477]

BS

[@DGibsonxio]

​@@Perseverance4477why do you call it that?

[@jessicashepard4137]

I used this method when setting up new raised beds for raspberries this spring. Instead of straw I used dried ornamental grass that I cut down from two huge plants I have (have to cut it down every spring anyway so new growth will come up looking good). I've definitely noticed that I haven't had to water those beds nearly as often this summer as my other beds.

[@petuniahead9982]

@@jessicashepard4137 great idea

[@ChefIsaac925]

I’m did this with my goat bedding from the goat barn and the worm activity is insane! Also it’s been over 100 degrees for a 3 days and there’s no mulch on the bed but when I dig where the straw is, it’s super moist and fertile

[@ikke.gernoasje]

Every autumn I lay a layer of straw with a layer of mulched grass on it on my beds. The nitrogen of the mulched grass leaks into the straw so no problem with nitrogen absorption from the soil. It keeps the soil under it nicely warm in winter so soillife keeps on thriving and by spring I get a big new layer of composted material with wormcastings with all nutrients plants need. Simple and no digging needed.

[@kelliepatterson1142]

I've been mulching my corn stalks and sunflower stalks for this purpose. Did it last year for my pepper bed and I was very impressed with the lesser requirement of watering. I hope to have enough to do all of my beds if not just the four new ones I just bought and assembled.

[@joanl2057]

Our town also has a landscape waste area.... ❤ to gather from.

[@janetwise3248]

We don't have access to free straw, and I'm concerned about Grazon. But leaves are plentiful and free for the raking, so I use leaves.

[@DerrickNYC]

Same here. Leaf mold is the best. If you put your autumn leaves in garbage bags, add some water and let them over winter, you get leaf gold in the Spring.

[@WithrowUrbanHomestead]

Same here. Free fall leaves are my go to mulch prepping my garden in the fall for an abundant spring/summer garden.

[@cinbob00]

I'm also worried about Grazon also I use the straw only in my potato bed. When I asked the man where I bought it about grazon looked at me like I was crazy and said no

[@nadinehansen9241]

I did this years ago, I think after you recommended it. It worked really well. At the end of the gardening year the straw had completely broken down. I'm not sure why I didn't do it again, but I think I will do it next year.

[@860178432]

I do bokashi composting in 5 gallon buckets for all of the stuff that isn't supposed to go into the compost pile, in the spring i bury the contents in a similar way doen the middle, I usually add some leaves or straw to help hold some of the moisture. Plants love it 😁😁

[@BNM-b7t]

WOW I could imagine using this method as my compost pile. I could use all of my chop n drop greens and food waste to fill the core garden hole/trench and once it's full, I move to a new location and make a new 'core' in the garden. Thank you so much!!!

[@sunsetsky594]

Very interesting method. Thanks for the info and for testing it out.

[@tthappyrock368]

Core gardening and hugel kultur have worked really well for me. While my area gets a good amount of rain most of the year, it also experiences drought three months of the year where we get no rain. Our summers have grown hotter and there is significant pressure on the region's hydrological systems too.

[@cragar]

Hi Luke, I've added perlite & vermiculite into my raised beds a couple of years ago with the idea to help regulate moisture and drainage. Some also got some coconut coir & peat moss, but were plant dependent - looking for extra loose soil and slightly more acidity. It has seemed to work quite well, and most of the hand watering that we do is only when the plants are young, or when it is quite hot out. Last summer we had quite a lot of rain here in New England, and our garden seemed to fair better than most. This summer we barely watered at all with at least weekly overnight showers. Thank you for the tip on the STRAW - will consider it in the future.

[@deblovesthis]

I'm going to try this. Ty

[@janetwestrup411]

Great show! I’m learning a lot! The Amish use a similar method called Hugelkulture which means mound culture. Inside a ditch or raised bed small logs, branches, smaller twigs, brush, soil, compost and straw are added ontop of all. Plants and seed may be planted closely and a sprinkler or rain does the rest. The layers hold moisture like a sponge and the organic matter breaks down over time. It works wonders for the soil and warms the soil way faster in the early Spring.

[@rebeccasullivan4882]

I have done part of my garden as Hugelkulture for many many years, and I am always amazed at how much better anything does in that part of the garden then any other part of the garden. hopefully next year I have time to set up another part of my garden as more of the same. I also have my compost raised bed. What that consists of is all the garden scrap from the last year plus The partially decomposed stuff from my compost bins that I don't bother to mess with enough to finish them. and then I covered all over with good compost and that is also amazing too plant into. and then in the late fall I dig all that wonderful compost and spread it all over the rest of my beds. and then I start all over. so I get good growth while it's all composting, and then I get the good compost to spread over the rest of my beds. because I do no till. one spring however I got the bed done and it was time to plant my potatoes so without thinking I planted my potatoes and the freshly made compost bed and I cooked them! My compost bed had gotten up to about 165° well it was still only like 35 outside. sigh! I should have checked the temperature first oops

[@DeborahRomig]

Thank you! I live in the desert in California and I have needed a solution to help with keeping the plants with a water resource when the temperature it 110 plus during the summer. This should help a lot. I have to plan my garden for September to June, because nothing does well in July or August. I can hardly wait to use this method.

[@Lunasgarden2021]

This is going to be so helpful to me for our long hot summers here in South Australia . Thank you

[@mywoolmitten]

Growing up on a farm, we grew wheat and baled our own straw. My Dad and Granddad always wanted the straw to get rained on before baling (unlike hay) because Dad always said it made better bedding (for the livestock) if it had a good rain on it 😊 It absorbed better. So I smiled when you talked about the waxy coating

[@kelleclark]

The last bales of wheat straw I used contained GRAZON and killed my plants :( Make sure your straw is clean, if you can. Also use Ollas with clay pots :)

[@juneramirez8580]

Always do a small test spot. Plant something in it to see how well it grows.

[@wonderingtig3200]

Same here. This summer I purchased a bale of straw that was treated with grazon. Needless to say, it killed everything that the leaves touched. There is no way to know if the straw is treated. I contacted the company but got no response. I now stay away from straw. Some states have outlawed it, so check to see where it came from.

[@mikkelstargaard4422]

Same thing here, was using barn compost from goat pellets, killed that garden for several years. I am now very particular where I get my hay from. Grazon is evil!

[@jaydeemarie]

How Awesome! Great job boys!

[@its_not_it_apostrophe_s]

Watching this as the temperatures here in Southern California climb into the triple digits... definitely something I want to try to conserve water. Thank you, Luke!

[@Readrose8]

Needed this- its been dry this half of the summer and even the trees are struggling

[@amykru]

Thank you, Luke! God Bless you and your family.

[@samanthashaw4669]

I use compressed pine bedding pellets for this. They'll get wet in store and I'll get them for free! They're kiln dried so I assume fairly sterile. It's the same bedding I use for my chickens. That gets composted and then used for core. Saves me so much on watering. You can definitely tell what beds don't have it yet.

[@GardenDiscovery]

Important topic. Thanks. I often use the trimmings from my ornamental grasses ( they're sterile varieties ) in the same way in my veg garden. Great information, much appreciated.

[@gerrymarmee3054]

You are a great teacher.

[@Dash22448]

Ive been using this method since i saw your older video. It works wonders in all my beds.

[@kimnenninger7226]

Great video.

[@laddieokelley6095]

Perfect timing. I have year-old straw used for animal bedding and soil in my beds seems hydrophobic. I am following your advice immediately before planting fall turnips. (In the past, I have used the hay/manure combination obtained around the feeding stations where my neighbor feeds round bales to his cattle.)

[@dhansonranch]

Interesting! I had not heard of this before although I do use trench composting a lot. Very similar concept. I could see a well rotted bale working well. Similar to bale gardening as well, but in the ground. Thanks for sharing.

[@Over2kFarms]

Yes! I put new straw bales in the chicken coop. When I clean the coop, I create a pile to allow it to age for a couple months. I then use it as a top dressing in the summer & winter. In the fall & spring, I put compost right on top! Works great!

[@helenmcclellan452]

I put straw down when I planted my fall garden three years ago and it resulted in adding more pests (slugs, snails, etc.) to our garden because of the over abundance of rain and humidity in TN. I would caution those living in areas like mine to test a small section of your garden before putting straw down. Fortunately we only added straw to one bed that year and removed it when we saw the problem. 😂❤

[@bethanderson1377]

I found that about the snails as well in places where I put it on top of the garden. Not sure if it would do the same under the soil.

[@kaaylaskorner]

Same here. I only put straw in my pumpkin patch and the pests destroyed it. I didn't use it anywhere else and everything was fine. We had a lot of rain this year too.

[@priestesslucy]

Sounds like you need ducks. Run them in the mulch for a week, then run them in a moat around the garden while sprouting seedlings As the seedlings mature you can let the ducks back in

[@marktaylor2645]

This video is about burying straw UNDER the soil, not mulching with it.

[@ashleyk8710]

Did this and slugs were awful!!!

[@bethanderson1377]

Used hay to help fill my raised beds. Didn't realize what a good thing it was. Soak the hay before covering with soil. Was just trying to fill my bed cheep and got some free hay after a work event glad to hear it was such a good thing. 😂

[@HomesteadImaginations]

Great new concept for me to try! Thank you for the video!

[@debraguerrero9950]

I’m in South Texas, and I definitely will try this.

[@MIgardener]

It will make a huge difference in your garden.

[@terridean4784]

I bought 2 bales of straw from the large farmers market near me in Metro Detroit (1 farm only) last year. I mulched some tender perennials with one bale and left the second for core gardening in the spring. I only watered my entire garden once this year. It helped of course that we had tons of rain this year which is unusual.

[@tonyajackson8827]

Thank you as always for the information!

[@jamestboehm6450]

I grow in 10 gallon containers and do the same thing. 6" of soil in top of the straw keeps plants happy, use 1/2 the water i used to. Win win.

[@gkarenstratton]

Doesn't the straw grow lots of it's grain up through your 6" of soil???

[@katiem9644]

What a great idea!

[@jamestboehm6450]

@@gkarenstratton not really a problem, if something comes up I usually pull it out. It's a small price to pay for saving watering time.

[@jackparton3198]

Yes I use it in my grow bags too help with conserving water.

[@WelcometomyCapeCodlife]

I’ve used this method and it works. I might have to redo some beds in the spring.

[@yellowbird5411]

Ruth Stout years ago wrote some very interesting methods of using straw for "no work" gardening. She was still gardening into her 90's through layers of straw. The use of heavy mulch is wonderful for growing and conserving water, and populations that have not had plentiful water have had to find ways to grow crops. It is different than what he is describing here, however. Another interesting method is "dry land gardening," used by the American Indians. But it is very different than the method of using straw/mulch for growing. In exploring ways to grow without a lot of water, straw and mulch are at the top of the list. I also like drip irrigation, which has been used in some of the driest areas of the world.

[@carolmilburn489]

Interesting addition to your garden

[@alexispaquette7959]

I’m excited to try this. I’ve been learning about hot beds this year, and this information answers some questions I had about the hot bed process, as well (which in an ideal situation makes use of straw and horse manure). This was a FANTASTIC video. Thank you!

[@grannysweet]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@mikkosgarden]

Another great example of natural gardening. Also, if you have chickens then that saves you from that nitrogen dilemma, by using their manure.

[@notbarbie582]

If you don’t have chickens, urine, diluted 10 parts water to 1 part urine, is a great substitute. Nutrient profile similar to miracle grow.

[@brandywineblue]

​@@notbarbie582🤯

[@LifeSpringFarmsllc]

Great explanation!

[@kristhorn2211]

Unintentionally did this when filling my raised beds using the round bales of hay

[@thanhthaonguyen6971]

Yes, i tried core gardening and it works well, thanks Luke.

[@patwalker9890]

I think you did a video on core gardening some years back. I've been doing it since then. I just pick up a couple bales in the fall and let them weather till spring. It's working great here in the inland valley of Southern California. Not just for moisture, but helps enrich the soil in my raised beds.

[@grannysweet]

Thank you for this timely reminder. What little rain we get will be in the next 3 months. Im using grow pots and a moisture sink is essential. 🎉😂❤🌵🌺👍🏻

[@susandavis2128]

I have been getting E-Z Straw from Menards and Farm & Fleet. $12 per "bale. One year I had seeds. That was fun. 😅 This is a great idea. I have a couple of beds that I need to revamp for next spring. Thank you! The $12 bale of straw will be much less expensive and much more beneficial than just adding in soil and compost!

[@baneverything5580]

I add all my grass clippings and leaves (chopped) to my garden and under fruit trees. The surface stays covered and the plants thrive. Louisiana.

[@Mynx5050]

Thanks Luke!❤

[@MIgardener]

Welcome!

[@christianschmidt1556]

I am doing raised beds in Dallas/Fort Worth and every summer day is like the Sub-Saharan area hot, hot, hot. This might help since we must water twice a day during the high point of the summer which lasts about two and a half months most days over 95 and many days above 100. I have already tried doing more regionally suited veggies like Malabar Spinach and black-eyed peas plus sweet potatoes. Yet, all are water dependent. I hope this will change things and I will start it in early spring. I just need clean straw.

[@mythiccass3837]

I do happen to have some dried grass, partially decomposed & cut up sticks, & pellets of chicken manure so I guess there is no harm in trying it out in a spot. They'd otherwise just be sitting in a pile slowly breaking down or getting added to the compost pile.

[@shep6123]

Awesome

[@earthisflat]

I live in Phoenix Arizona and implemented a core garden with my bed but I'm finding I'm still having to water it literally everyday otherwise if I go a day or 2 without watering, the leaves of my plants go limp although it did add quite a few mushrooms, pill bugs and centipedes into my raised bed

[@ruthwolf1958]

I'm really intrigued by this and when I lived in an area where I could do in ground gardening, we did do similar things to this, but I'd given it up when I had to move to intensely urban areas. I don't have a choice except to use grow bags & I tend to use a combo of bottom watering (sitting in a deep tray) and "drip irrigation" from something like a milk jug or bottle, with sand as a top mulch (anything else on top and the pest problem was intense, especially fungus gnats and earwigs.) I overwinter my grow bags (Oregon) then dump and refresh the mix and re-fill in early March. I'd love more detailed info (from anyone with experience, really) on how to do this method with containers/grow bags and what materials other than straw might work OK in a grow bag (that gets at least some bottom watering--or if I try this in grow bags, might I not need to bottom water at all? Would it just retain the drip watering from the top better?) and not cause a rot or pest problem (ants? earwigs? other?) What proportion of material to soil? Where to layer/place it in a grow bag? Adjusting nutrients/fertilizer? And I'd need an alternative to "get to know your local farmer for clean material" because that simply is not practical where I am and I don't have the room or capacity to test an area or leave a bale to rest (my landlord would have a fit & I wouldn't blame them given the local rat issues. I'm not allowed to compost for myself in any way, either.) I love the IDEA of this and saving expensive water is always worthwhile but it does seem to have some challenges for containers/grow bags and urban folk?

[@ebradley2306]

Interesting. Might give this a try next spring. Lately we have been in a cooler, rainy period. I already heavily mulch with straw in my Gulf Coast garden. I am thinking I could put a core down the middle of my big pots.

[@anneyday3493]

My soil doesn't hold water at all, so I've just stopped this video and tracked down straw bales for sale in the area to pick up tomorrow. The garden is going to get a make over.

[@MIgardener]

You will really love it!

[@Jacqueline-nk1pt]

I accidently did this and I now have the fluffiest soil. I protected my perennials with straw for the first time. In the spring I didn't know what to do with all of this straw so I mixed it into the soil of my new beds that I was setting up.

[@barbaracoates6814]

I use wood shavings from the chicken coop.

[@kh6qmchristophercolquhoun695]

I use Coco Coir Chips as cheap here.

[@reneem1607]

I do this with the used bedding from my chickens. My plants love it! My question is, can I use sawdust? My partner does wood crafts and I have an abundance of sawdust.

[@michaell1665]

How would fresh or brown grass clippings work in this sub-Saharan method in place of straw? Here in SE Louisiana, it will be a while before I trust straw or hay! I used an old Halloween straw bale a couple of years ago as mulch and that section of the garden was a poor producer for a while. To this day I do not know for sure, but I later heard about Grazon! I bag and compost a huge amount of untreated grass clippings from my lawn every week!

[@laurasinkins]

Oh my gosh THAT'S what happened!! I have been perplexed all year about why my one new bed out of 3 seemed "wetter" than the others. Just in that one bed i added a ton of leaves i happened to have on hand before adding the soil. And when I added mulch on top anticipating a hot dry summer that didn't come to fruition, i had a slugfest that decimated my peas. It was the leaves underneath acting like straw. 😮

[@kathyengland3534]

FYI--you think it is hot there--I live in So. Calif. with temp getting up to 108' this week!

[@SamClemens-id3cl]

Anyone ever try a version of this for container gardening?

[@aphillips5376]

Yes, I place 3 - 4 inches of straw in the bottom of a 10 gallon fabric grow bag. Works great!

[@SamClemens-id3cl]

@@aphillips5376 thank you!!

[@gerrymarmee3054]

Very interesting!!!!

[@johnshopkins554]

Given that my garden is a small space in the city, can i use the plants that ive let go to seed instead? All edible weeds like like lambsquarters and perilla? Or does it have to be straw?

[@brianbarker2670]

Thanks for the video. The straw is eventually going to break down, so how often do you need to repeat this process?

[@dawnburton5961]

Im going to be moving my concrete raised beds. Can I use rotting logs on the bottom then a layer of straw then fill it with soil?

[@tomnovak9071]

Hi Luke, thanks you always for reaching us. I’ve learned so much from you in the last five years. I got a straw bale from Michael’s which states it is natural but the company website has no information on if it is treated like you said. Would you think it’s OK to put this into the garden? Don’t wanna take a chance.

[@BrentHasty]

Toss in biochar hydro nutrient sponge charcoal chunks while you're at it! Water retention that lasts 10 generations! On top of the surface mulch layer, lay planks of wood that you plant in the space in-between. The solid wood planks are the ultimate of slow biodegradable weed suppression hydro rhizome retention mulch available

[@hearttraveler1548]

Looks similar to a "Hugle bed". .... Sepp Holzer

[@hollynelson543]

Thanks Luke would it work to do this with grass cuttings.

[@joeyhardin1288]

Thanks! I live in Kentucky, what about Grazon down here? How do I find out from my local Southern States Co-op?

[@IAMGiftbearer]

I have never heard of this method but will definitely try it, as I use straw already for mulch. I wonder if this will work when your plants dry and have stopped producing to use those in place of the straw?

[@cathysmith1796]

Would leftover straw from this summers straw bale garden work the same way you just described in next spring’s garden?

[@milo-qh7cv]

shredded paper also does this

[@aphillips5376]

Maybe shredded cardboard boxes too?

[@kenbrown9773]

I'm curious if you have any ideas for how to apply this to something like a lawn? My parents accidentally built a French drain that was WAY too good at it's job and the yard stays incredibly dry no matter what. I'd imagine that you could rototill just a few inches deep and mix in the straw in, but I also imagine it'd be more effective to shave the first few inches off of the yard and add a layer. On a lawn-scale that could quickly turn into a lot of straw added.

[@Foolish188]

With lawns think mulch, mulch, mulch. Grass is adapted to grazing herbivores stomping on it, eating it, and adding urine and manure. Way too many people bag up the grass clippings, grass needs the mulch to thrive. If you have trees, whose fallen leaves don't create a thick carpet on the lawn in the fall, mow them with your mulch setting to add more mulch. And let the grass grow taller by setting your mower blade fairly high, the grass will pick up dew and water itself and shade the soil. And let the weeds spread, "perfect" lawns are unhealthy and need lots of time consuming and expensive care. At my old house, I had a green lawn, without ever watering, even during droughts, while my neighbors struggled. At my new house, the previous owners always bagged their clippings and raked the leaves. So it will be a few years before the spots that dry out in the summer become healthy. But it is already responding, during this, my second summer here.

[@shirleyk623]

This sounds like a great idea except for us old gardeners that have trouble digging a trench like that. I know I would never be able to do that. Its very interesting but I don't think this is ideal for me.

[@juneramirez8580]

I was thinking the same thing! Too much work for me. I think it would be a great idea if making a new bed. Put the straw down and add whatever you would use to fill your raised bed. But in time the straw would be gone and the soil will be greatly improved! By the way if using decomposing straw, REMEMBER TO WEAR A MASK SO YOU DON'T BREATH IN THAT BLACKENED MATERIAL! Happy gardening!

[@grannysweet]

Me too. So I switched it up so I could do it from my walker. Cloth grow bags, straw etc on the bottom, soil and plants on top. I'm in low desert zone ten.

[@aphillips5376]

I'm in my 50s and have used this 2 years in a row. Works great but I have thought I won't be able to do this much labor as I get older. I have tried it as well in the bottom of grow bags. Does a great job.

[@celinar5507]

You know I’ve seen a pressure washer make a pretty big and precise hole/trench with not much labor. Maybe that could be an option? Now that I think about it this seems like a lot of trouble also…

[@kamlee4010]

In Northern Ontario I have bought wheat straw for my core potatoe garden. There will be no herbicides on the wheat from a local farmer in Thunder Bay , Ontario. Thanks to Migardener , my potatoes are large in n size

[@zannaB60]

Could the straw be replaced with dried leaves? I get those in abundance.

[@mickichikwinya5519]

How often do you need to redo the straw in each bed? Once per year, every three years, other?

[@ratled1]

Just curious why don't mulch to help water conservation too?

[@MIgardener]

Because we generally plant very closely to eachother and the plants act as a mulch.

[@cindyleedavidson7394]

I'm wondering if this would be good to do in containers'grow bags to help retain water longer? And is there a benefit to doing this prep in the fall for next year or in spring when prepping for the new year? Either or?

[@catharinephoto]

I have gotten straw Or hay with Persistent herbicide. How do you know the Halloween straw is safe. Oops, keep watching!

[@nickanderson8305]

Could you do the same thing with grass clippings? I have more than I know what to do with

[@chrismill232]

Could you also lay down the straw on top as mulch and let it decay overtime?

[@sandraanderson2136]

Luke, I will be doing this method, but....how will this effect potatoes? I am assuming the straw will break down enough for planting potatoes deep next year if you do this now. However, if waiting to do this core gardening next year, digging deep enough to plant seed potatoes, it will disturb the core when placing potatoes in ground. Also, I hope to plant garlic when I can get some from you, so this should enhance the developing garlic over winter. I have been wanting to do core gardening for sometime now, but it doesn't seem like it would be deep enough for planting some things. Please advise.

[@MIgardener]

Potatoes love it!

[@sandraanderson2136]

So potatoes can thrive in straw instead of soil?

[@christinathompson3458]

Do you replace the core yearly? Or with what frequency? Thanks!

[@helenswanson1403]

Can ashes from burn barrel be used. I have herbicide free lawn clippings. Does that work?

[@mercurybard9794]

Hmm... I think once my tomatoes come out, I'll give this a try in their bed

[@LindaBunch-f1o]

health, mobility issues, and pocket gophers require me to garden solely in containers. Could I use the core method in a scaled down application in my half barrels and grow bags? Also I live in the zone 9a area of the California high desert ( near death valley) and water is a very important consideration for my plants.

[@DGibsonxio]

I can't do raised beds because of the gophers and fire ants. If you don't know fire ants, I say lucky you. Their bites burn like a little ball of fire dropped on you. Then a pus pocket develops under the skin with swelling. They invade every raised area, often building under an object. And moving into any pot placed outdoors. I have seen fire ants build nests under a fence wire 8 inches off the ground. I don't know if it's because of the shadow during the day or the heat radiated from the wire at night. Rocks and farm equipment are other favorites of places to set up house keeping. I have plenty of branches blown down from the last wind storm. I will be burying those with some soft spongy rotten logs and leaves. Maybe some chicken house bedding on top of that. That should hold water and last a lot longer than the straw. And chemical free.

[@LindaBunch-f1o]

@@DGibsonxio You win, the worst I face are black widows that LOVE the desert but they are easily spotted with their "chaos" webs. just never put ungloved hands where you cannot see. works for our rattlesnakes too. But is there any natural repellantg? can chickens eat them? plants deter them like garlic or lavender which work to deter squirrels and other rodents? soap sprays to kill them off? Good luck!

[@DGibsonxio]

@@LindaBunch-f1o I have yet to see the ants in the chicken run. The run is because of Hawks, dogs and foxes. I have tried Sevin dust and Eight and some formula for fire ants that stinks to high heaven. But I don't like those in the garden. Also used cinnamon. They moved. They were in my garlic bed this spring. They did kill off a dozen or so plants. Might try to put the chickens in that spot this winter. And I know about that chaos web! I stick my hand in one that was on a Roma tomato. Then I noticed that spider. Scared the daylights out of me! Will never do that again. And I educate anyone around when I see evidence of them!