Straw Bale Gardening: results from my first year

[@kimmieRH05]

I’ve used Straw Bale gardening in my garden for years. I live in the South where our summers are hot and humid, We have found putting composted mulch or raised bed dirt on the tops of the bales helps with moisture control. Cucumbers and beans grow AWE-mazing in straw bales. We have made cattle panel tunnel trellis’ for our beans, cukes, and sweet potatoes. We also use terra cotta spikes near root systems so if the bales dry out on a hot day our tomatoes always have the water they need.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Great tips, thank you! I'm going to try tucking in a few sweet potatoes this year as well!

[@Brenda0312F]

We are also in Texas. Eastern middle I guess. We also use a cup of dirt per plant on top of hay bales. We have grown some AMAZING squash, tomatoes, peppers and marigolds so far. This year...we are going to plant potatoes. 🤞🏻

[@sherrywoodbridge6886]

👆 I o. Mm m N. Jilllove

[@PNH-sf4jz]

Thank you, Jill. I enjoyed your presentation and found it informative and instructional. I am considering using the straw bale method or straw as a mulch. The ground that I have is heavy clay/gravel and will therefore be improved with the use of straw by either method. The relatively quicker improvement of the ground and crop production, by using straw bales, seems to be moving me in that direction. Thank you again for such an informative summary of your experience, presented in such a clear, concise and pleasant manner. Cheers, Peter (Western Australia, Mid-West Region. Hot summers, mild, low to moderately wet winters, mainly grain and legume growing country)

[@MrRockrobstr]

Thanks for your time and effort putting this together.

[@pixielass4606]

I use pea straw which is nitrogen so I just add comfrey and seaweed tea for conditioner and then some Epsom salts ( we have lack of magnesium in our soil in NZ) , some home compost etc …

[@thereddirtfarmer5502]

Great video. I read the same book about three or four years ago and experimented with the straw bales and had a lot of success with it. Later I tilled the bale rows under and the soil was amazing in those areas of the garden. Thanks for sharing.

[@rickpearce4653]

The bales made a compost tea for the plants in the ground beside the straw bales .

[@scooterocca]

Gooday from Australia and Merry Christmas to you all.

[@mompuff]

Thank you so much!! Great video!! I’m going to try it this year!! Much love ❤️ from Kentucky!! 🙌🏻🦋❤️

[@crouchingwombathiddenquoll5641]

Good idea planting a control crop to compare technique.

[@fullofgracehomestead]

Chicken poo compost has high nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Cuts out changing what you use.

[@rodneybray3245]

In the Midwest, few farmers spray any herbicide on wheat. They do spread fertilizers. Thanks

[@porchlightgardener]

This is great. I bought a bale of hay about a month ago and now I know what to do with it.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I'd be cautious about hay. Hay is often sprayed with an herbicide that can poison your garden/crops. I learned this the hard way. Straw isn't sprayed with the same persistent herbicide.

[@kathynix6552]

How did you go with the hay?

[@Brenda0312F]

I used my water hose...and hay bales...not straw. (Because we don’t have straw bales in my area.) By the end...my hay temperature was 120 degrees. The water from the hose does not effect the temperature. I grew TONS of squash in my first attempt at “straw bales”. No weeds and no seed germination from previous seeds in the hay..they burn up from the fertilizer process. I did have some white “cotton candy” looking mold for a few days during the processing stage..but in just a few days that was gone. I did have to put some stakes around a few bales since they wanted to “tilt over” as the composted. It was a fantastic experience! 🥰

[@missourihomestead4384]

What method did you use to compost?

[@dawnburkhalter7488]

How would using the straw in the raised beds work as far as water retention is concerned?

[@TheDistur]

cool overview of that method. thanks

[@jamesvatter5729]

Was the sprayed hay being sold for construction mulch? Trying to figure out why it would be sprayed.

[@regenasorrell4027]

I live in east central Indiana and bought a 50lb. bag of blood meal for $36 from a feed and grain operation. About 1/4 the cost of buying from a big box store. I had a lot of trouble getting the blood meal to soak into the bales. Wish I had thought of using a stake to punch holes in it. If I do it again next year I will definitely put it further from my house because while I was conditioning my bales, it did not smell pretty!

[@kathynix6552]

Thanks for those tips

[@racebiketuner]

Great explanation.

[@jwstanley2645]

Thank you for sharing your troubles with some garden plants over-shading other plants.

[@alanknight4418]

Can you tell me about the cart you are sitting on

[@davishomestead4147]

Great info...thanks for sharing

[@joannasheldon2146]

You say the disadvantage of straw bale gardening is the cost of the nitrogen needed. We're all putting out our own nitrogen (and phosphorus and potassium) every day in easy-to-use liquid form! Use your own urine, diluted 1:10 or 1:5 with water, depending on the needs of your plants. The pH of human nitrogen is not extreme one way or the other and the NPK ratio is roughly 11-1-2.5.

[@aroundmichaelsbarn601]

I love trying new ways of gardening! I've wondered about the straw bail garden but always worried about it drying out too much. Enjoyed seeing your test and results. Thanks for sharing!

[@tammyohlsson7966]

This is not as difficult as she makes it sound. I have back issues and can’t in ground garden. Straw/hay bales saved my love for gardening! Blessings!

[@dingo5842]

I don't think she makes it sound difficult, I think she's just very thorough. I'm glad this is working for you!

[@Fieldandfarm]

We bed our Horses/Broodmares with Straw and wood Shavings. Along with urine it is a perfect setup. I just need to figure out how to build beds around the manure. I believe it would be close to the same as this method.

[@dkmiller8420]

Great presentation! I have been strawbale gardening for the past 7 years. Fully organic the past 2 years. One thing I might suggest is using the tend post and wire trellis design in Joel's book as it allows for earlier planting and protection against frost or heavy winds by creating a greenhouse over seedlings or new transplants as well as giving the vines somewhere to climb.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Thanks! I'll have to look back at that!

[@coppcar]

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@MMMfollower123]

I love your chair on wheels, where did you get it?

[@theresarichards5549]

I think I've seen them at Gardener Supply Company?

[@ironleatherwood1357]

Which nitrogen source did you prefer? Did one work better than the other?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I didn’t really notice a difference.

[@emangarrison]

This is helpful. I was wondering what to do with my straw bails either compost or use as a garden. Would you recommend cured cow manure as a nitrogen source?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Probably, but I wouldn't know how much to use.

[@WeepingWillow422]

I have a questions. If you don't know, that's fine. I want to start gardening but since I don't have any grass available to plant in where I live, my options would be either straw bale or grow bag gardening. I see on your channel you've done some of both. Which method would you say is more cost effective? Or does it depend? Also, can carrots be grown in straw bales? My understanding is they need loose soil so was wondering how that works with bales. I hope these are not dumb questions to ask. I'm very new to all of this. I've never even thought of gardening until I saw the food shortages we've had.

[@RobertBray-t8t]

Can I put straw under the watermelons

[@jimchristensen965]

Thanks for the report. Sure seems like a lot of extra work and cost to grow tomatoes. I suppose there is a small niche for that method though such as poor soil, lack of space or growing on a rooftop. We gardeners like to try different vegetables or varieties and also experiment with different growing methods such as growing in bales. These projects are one of the enjoyable parts of gardening and I have tried many. So thanks for putting this out. It was very informative.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

It is work early on, but for the rest of the season it wasn't that bad. I think you're right about there being a certain niche. If we have good soil or raised beds to begin with, this probably wouldn't be as necessary.

[@LunaRock17]

THANK YOU!

[@dannyhughes4889]

Beginner???? You did a very Pro presentation.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Thank you, that's very kind.

[@MsViva710]

@@thebeginnersgarden you may be a beginner at this gard e ming but not in public speaking I bet.

[@mrinier71]

Very nice presentation. Thank you. Did you find any difference between the blood meal compared to the milorganite?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Yes, the Milorganite performed much better initially. I actually lost a couple of plants in the bales with blood meal. I replanted. Once the transplant shock eased for all of the plants, they all grew the same. I still don't know why the blood meal didn't do as well in the beginning, but it all balanced out in the end.

[@PEDELICON]

So what about the results, where are the tomatoes?

[@JP-kb4yi]

I’m new to straw gardening so I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure this is basically the same as the Ruth Stout method. I’m getting my 2021 garden ready right now using her method.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

There are some similarities, but I'm pretty sure her method uses hay/straw mainly as a deep mulch. In this method, the plants actually grow in the straw, which has to be conditioned first. (I haven't read her books so I could be wrong.)

[@JP-kb4yi]

@@thebeginnersgarden it’s definitely worth reading. My soil is absolutely garbage. There’s zero nutrients in dirt that’s about 6inches deep. Making things worse, after the first 6 inches is solid clay for about 4 feet then solid rock. I’m doing my garden a little different. I just put down about 6 inches of straw, 6 inches old moldy hay, 3 inches of shredded maple tree branches mixed with coconut shell medium, with goat manure and tilled it all together. Around Jan 1st I’m going to repeat this process again. Then in March I’m trying to decide if I’m going with the straw bales or full blown Ruth stout method but I’m hopeful that I’ll have nicely conditioned soil either way. Btw I have 3 Nigerian dwarf milk goats just so I have my own fertilizer and goat milk. In your video it appears you have a sizable yard and you might consider getting some goats. I’ve been using their manure in my flower gardens for about 3 years and the results have been amazing. Just something to consider if you have space. Added bonus is the hours of laughter they provide. They are absolutely hilarious to watch and interact with.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I think your process is a great one, assuming the hay hasn't been tainted with herbicide. Hopefully you'll see the decomposition you're hoping for in time for planting. And I've been trying to convince my husband to get goats for years. So far, no luck. :)

[@JP-kb4yi]

@@thebeginnersgarden the hay is not sprayed with any herbicides and I know for sure because it’s from a 6 acre field that I grow and harvest myself. Regarding the goats. Buy first and ask for forgiveness afterwards 😂 Besides once you have them your husband will love them. My family is spread out across 2 countries and they make the trip every year and I promise it’s because of those goats.

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

I'm doing this for the first time now. I'm struggling to determine which way is up. The straw seems to be going all in different directions.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I’ve seen conflicting advice on that…My opinion… it doesn’t really matter. It will work both ways as long as the string keeping it together is secure and doesn’t get cut.

[@MichaelJosephJr934]

Excellent thank you!

[@nancycloud360]

You sit on a green "thing" with wheels. How can I acquire one? Nancy in Kentucky

[@thebeginnersgarden]

The one I have is similar to this one on my Amazon favorites list: a.co/eC5uWen

[@nancycloud360]

You are a blessing to me.

[@Christian-jx3nx]

How many melons did you get? And how long did it take to condition the bales? Thanks! Great video

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I didn't count, but a few per plant I'd say. This post, where I interviewed the inventor of this method, explains how the conditioning process works. journeywithjill.net/gardening/2020/04/21/straw-bale-gardening/

[@mistersingh6470]

Can we reuse those bales in the same way, maybe by reconditioning?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Yes! While mine do not have the structure remaining for another season like last year's, they are great to use to condition the garden or mulch in other ways. I will probably use them as a base layer in a new raised bed but I imagine the possibilities are many!

[@mistersingh6470]

@@thebeginnersgarden Thanks for replying; I'm gonna try this technique right away, as it doesn't seem that expensive for me. Actually, I have chopped straw and half cut plastic barrels. I am seeing forward to try planting in those containers filled with chopped straw and conditioned. So, falling apart won't be an issue vut volume may get reduced... What do u think, will it work?

[@patriot20000]

No, not really. They have broken down, are falling apart, and turning to mulch. Good for the compost pile or to add to garden beds. Many people make a frame for them (I just bought plastic fencing, like poultry fencing, to cut and wrap around mine. I'll tie it on with small zip ties.

[@kathynix6552]

@@mistersingh6470only factor would be less oxygen getting through the sides.

[@kepstein8888]

Looks like you were just a kid when you were prepping the bales. Hope it doesn't always take that long.

[@TurtleMyrtle12]

Haha!

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Haha!!

[@carolinasunfarms8562]

Where did you get gardening chair

[@thebeginnersgarden]

My husband got it for me as a Mother's Day present from a local hardware store, but you can find them on Amazon as well.

[@toddafrog]

Could you let us know the lbs you harvested from each garden? You gave the percentages but not the weights of harvest.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I could look that up (and I'd be glad to if you still want to know), but I don't think it would be helpful for you. I grew indeterminate tomatoes in these bales, which don't ever produce the amount of tomatoes that my determinates do -- simply because of my hot summer (when tomatoes stop fruiting when it gets too hot) and disease pressure. That's why it's more important for me to compare areas in my own garden to see which is better yield. Depending on where you are, your crop could be much greater than mine, or smaller, and that wouldn't necessarily help you know what to expect in yours. In my experience, tomato harvests vary too greatly to truly compare across climates.

[@smokedgoudagrits]

So once the bales break down, how do you transfer the plants and their roots from the old bale into a new bale if you want to repeat this method for a new season? Do you just add the decomposed straw on top after you condition your new bales?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I only grow annual plants, so they get taken out before the bales ever break down. I cut them off at the stem-level and let the remaining roots decompose. From there, I add the straw from the old bales to other garden areas; I don't re-use them as in-tact bales a second season.

[@smokedgoudagrits]

That's informative! Thank you!

[@prasannakumaryr]

what is key advantage of straw bale v/s soil gardening?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

In my experience, it provides an option for you if you don't have great soil to garden in. It's also much lower of maintenance because of the decrease in weeds. I've also found diseases to be less present in my tomatoes grown in straw bales.

[@prasannakumaryr]

@@thebeginnersgarden thanks! :-)

[@chantaltulliez8066]

Thank you very much for sharing...great info

[@maranathamark]

Also, if you are planning on using Straw Bales and you want to go the ORGANIC route, get your straw bales in the late fall to early winter, and put them in place then check around for folks with horses, cattle or even chickens, a lot of folks with these animals would be glad for you to clean out their stalls for free. Of course you need a trailer or pickup to haul it. Collect the manure and then place it directly on top of your straw bales in the late fall/early winter and let nature happen. The rains will slowly wash the nitrogen from the manure into and through the bales, and by planting time the following Spring, your bales should be ready to go. If money is an option this is a way to lower the cost. Of course you wait til late winter or early Spring to start your conditioning of your bales, then you'll need to use a more aggressive method to compose/prep your bale.

[@Larry-d3i]

We still have a horse but no longer use the manure in the garden. I had some bad luck caused by feeding hay that had been sprayed with the broadleaf herbicide Grazon Next (Aminopyralid). Any hay you buy or manure you get could be tainted unless you are certain the seller is honest and well informed.

[@tracycoffie5805]

Jill, I'm not sure where you are, but here in Atlanta, powdery mildew is problematic. Did you see any with straw bales?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

No, I didn't. Powdery mildew was awful here on my squash, zucchini, and cucumbers, but it didn't show up on the melons I planted in the straw bales. However, I'm not sure I've ever had problems with powdery mildew on melons, so I'm not sure I can attribute the absence to the straw bales. Still, the straw bales themselves lend to less soil-borne disease issues in general, so it may be worth testing further.

[@Just-Nikki]

I’m from Atlanta and peroxide at 1 part peroxide to 5 parts water works great for that. I didn’t even get powdery mildew on anything on my homestead. I’m in Cobb County.

[@BergenholtzChannel]

It would seem them valuable just to fertilize the soul with the amounts you used with the state baked, then?

[@BergenholtzChannel]

Straw bales

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I'm not sure about that... it's a high amount of nitrogen because of needing for the carbon in the straw to break down. That much nitrogen wouldn't likely be necessary in soil.

[@donniecarter4981]

I'm going to do this but I'm gonna use chicken manure as my nitrogen source in a tea form.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I would love to hear your results.

[@diannereynaert9729]

What temp do you plant at? Ty

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I plant in the bales after they've settled back in to below 80 or so... probably the 70s if I recall correctly. They go up to the 90s while the composting is "hot" so I wait until it declines from that.

[@diannereynaert9729]

Thank you!

[@ericshoemake6090]

Doing this can also cause the bails to explode in bails of fire fact look it up they heat up to 200 plus degrees Fahrenheit

[@thebeginnersgarden]

Perhaps, but mine have never gotten even close to that hot. Maybe because I'm using organic inputs, not sure.

[@ericshoemake6090]

@@thebeginnersgarden look up why hey barns catch fire that's why you got to keep them wet the hole time otherwise its borderline TNT dynamite no lie look it up lol

[@kathynix6552]

I think that’s more of an issue with hay than straw.

[@misskittycatcat123]

Do you think you could have just added the nitrogen and other fertilizers straight into the soil to get the yields the plants next to the straw bales had?

[@thebeginnersgarden]

That's a great question. No, I don't think it would work the same. The nitrogen + water + straw = a nutrient rich compost. I'm afraid adding that much nitrogen to soil would create an excess of nitrogen, which in many plants (like tomatoes) could create lots of foliage at the expense of fruit production. Using that amount of nitrogen is much higher than the recommended application for garden soil.

[@hamaarahof5712]

Unfortunately, straw is almost always sprayed with glyphosate. We can not even use bedding in compost. Also hay can be spayed, you really need to buy from a certified farm. We finally found an organic source for grain and will try to get their straw. Also grow our own, to be sure it isn't compromised. Most foods in the store have been sprayed. So growing your own organic is very important. Just be careful what goes into the conpost!

[@jaydubs679]

I bet chicken poop could replace the nitrogen

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I used Espoma chicken manure this year and so far so good! I’m not using my own chicken’s manure because (1) the nitrogen content varies and (2) it’s mixed with pine shavings

[@susanneziebarth8379]

You just buy the cheapest Walmart fertilizer with 12 as the first number for nitrogen.

[@larathecool713]

From your results perhaps just grow in an area that has not grown tomatoes and treat it with nitrogen and all purpose fertiliser with grip irrigation

[@maranathamark]

Cattle Panel and T-Post will last 10+ years or more, so the cost of your Cattle Panel & T-post should be spread out across multiple years in all fairness.

[@fastflat4]

Why are you not pruning your tomatoes. You will get a much better harvest.

[@shineyrocks390]

You know you can pee on the bale to do the exact same thing. Some people believe the grid is eventually going down. No electricity or running water especially in cities. So if you didn't have running water or any other sort of nitrogen source it would work. Beech wood aged in an old crock 😁

[@garrybaker6725]

you put the bales wrong side down.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

You're right in that most recommendations are to do it cut-side-up. But I've done it this way ever since. As long as you don't cut the cords, it works great.

[@bbtruth2161]

Why not go with more of a Ruth Stout method and use that straw or hay to mulch and condition your soil. Your results to me just show that your soil is lacking.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

The Ruth Stout method doesn't add any fertility to the soil in the short-term like the straw bale garden does with the nitrogen and other fertilizer inputs. After the first season, I do use the straw to mulch other areas to continue adding to the fertility as the straw breaks down.

[@fullofgracehomestead]

Companion planting with gardens will deter peat and diseases.

[@ruggednorthman]

1 gallon of water per bale to water in nitrogen is not enough

[@thebeginnersgarden]

I'm just going by what the founder of the method, Joel Karsten, recommended to condition the bales. Once planted, I ran a drip system on it so I didn't measure precisely. Perhaps you're right and it may have received more during the growing season, but to condition the bales, the gallon per bale worked for me, on the days when it didn't rain.

[@kathynix6552]

I think initially giving the bales a really thorough soak means you don’t need as much water each day

[@hvacstudent967]

Just collect your urine, all the nitrogen you need. We waste so much fertilizer that WE produce. Organic as it gets. I think people will remember this or learn this very soon as the great-est depression becomes realized by the normies.

[@jasim1976]

Too complicated

[@susanmeredith5456]

Great informative video but get rid of those earrings. 4 people watching this video and ALL were distracted by the giant red blobs.

[@fieldsofgrace3342]

What a stupid comment

[@vesnasuselrozman7659]

You have to know nothing will grow just in straw bales without any manure or fertilaizers, lots of work and sometimes costs. I tried it. Beter spred this bales, top it with some manure and garden waist, mulch gras....and built up your soil. For me this metod was a waist of time and money.

[@thebeginnersgarden]

It is expensive if you're only doing a few bales, especially if you want to do it organically. But for 6+ bales when you can buy the organic amendments in bulk, it isn't nearly as expensive. I broke down the numbers on my blog post here if anyone is interested, because you do bring up a good point: journeywithjill.net/gardening/2020/11/10/straw-bale-garden-results-after-my-first-season/