Growing Vegetables in Old Straw Bales

Can growing vegetables in straw bales truly have great results? I set up my own straw bale gardening experiment this year to see. Some vegetables worked better for me than others growing in straw bales- see which ones in this video. I explain my straw bale garden setup from start to finish, as well as some tips for success and vegetables which performed very well grown in straw bales.


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[bekind]

I am trying for the first time and so far I'm loving it. Everything I've planted is doing well and Who wouldn't like knowing you're going to have wonderful compost in the end. Id say it's a win.👍

[deweydecimal]

I am trying something completely new this year for my fall/winter garden. I laid down a thick mat of straw, then soil in a long row. I closed it all in with straw bales and I planted my fall/winter crop of cabbages, bok choy, and lettuces. Once it gets cold enough I will bend 1/2” PVC pipes to make it an enclosed hoop house for winter. I figured that straw would make a great insulator to hold in the heat. Hopefully it works!!

[akhtarali]

Just I have watched your one year old video, Growing vegetables in straw bales, in fact it is very very informative video, I have too, collected a lot of straw for example wheat straw, risdue of rice & dry grass . Now I, m binding them into bales ok thank you for knowledge of benefits of straw bales

[davidporter]

I plan on doing this with cucumbers, Swiss Chard and onions. I'm so excited. I live in Southern Michigan so we have the same climate

[rebeccaklepper]

Since I moved to AZ, it's been a little difficult to do any gardening, work and all. But now that I am retired and have plenty of time, I'm going to try this straw bales. Thanks for the tutorial :)

[violal]

I did straw bales and hay bales last year for first 2 growing season. It was a big success for beans and tomatoes along with marigold! Also my bok choy, salad greens, herbs as well. I was amazed by how everything turned out! I did big hay bale for 1 long row for my potatoes, Ruth stout method, it was pretty good considering I have clay, poor soil. I loved it, I think this gardening style are brilliant by using leftover hay/straw bales for growing and then add to compost or ground cover especially when the soil conditions are not that good! We did get a lot of rain in eastern KY, it also helped with drainage! Looking forward to see you do this again and share with us !

[rhondafinnerty]

Hi Jenna! I loved your straw bale gardening tour! I am curious about gardening in this straw bale gardening style! Thanks for sharing!

[wingrider]

I think you hit it on the head when you observed some things take better to this than others. It is a very handy approach, and as you shared, some parts of a garden may be better suited to this approach. Food for thought :)

[CBsGreenhouseandGarden]

One of these days I'm gonna give this straw bale gardening stuff a try. For the effort you gave your bails shows just how well they can do not matter if it is not by the book. Oh by the way no book for me. I was challenged by two certified straw bale gardeners that my setup would never work as it was totally against the book. I was so happy to see Mr. Joel himself stopped by to say how amazed he was on my straw bale gardening. Awesome job done my friend on giving them a try. Stay safe and have a wonderful weekend!

[davidward]

That is awesome I might put a a few bale's along side of my Garage not for sure what I'll plant yet

[theusconstitution]

First year straw bale gardening in New Hampshire I didn’t pay attention to the temperature and I may have planted a day or two early but after those failures the re-plants are going like crazy I have onions I have potatoes I have pumpkins and squash and now I’m going out to put in some tomatoes and peppers thank you

[brianseybert]

I did 3 separate inorganic straw bale gardens 3 years ago, they did OK. The thing that really bothered me is after I stored the straw over winter, in the spring there was not one worm in that straw. I also had bags of leaves stored at the same time and they were full of worms. As it turned out, all the salts from the inorganic fertilizers, wiped out the natural fauna.
I am going to try using straw in 25 gal grow bags for sweet potatoes this year. I picked up a couple bails from neighbors decorations and I bought one last summer to let sit for a year. I am composting some chicken manure for nitrogen and have worm castings and compost for the other good stuff.
Plan on doing a video.
Stay Well!!!!

[marywiley]

Thanks Jenna for the video. I've never grown anything in straw, but a friend of mine was telling me about it. Looks very interesting. I live in Southern Alabama and it might be a good idea for my area. We have a garden in the back yard and our soil is not the best. I might give this a try in the future. Thanks for sharing.

[delphine]

I will try this in the summer lord willing. I'm only getting four bales though I don't need much.I do mostly buckets and grow bags.

[philbrownred]

I've been watching a lot of straw bale gardening videos because I want to try it. Yours is one of best and you have beautiful toes! 😜

[michaelmarchione]

Like your videos. It is always fun to try something different. Good info! I'll be waiting for the next one.

[Bobcatina]

I am trying a couple of bails this summer--will try the bell peppers--I also heard that you can put the straw (after it has been conditioned with urea 4600) and put it in grow bags--I will try it and let you know how it did!

[nancycodispot]

Ok im very late getting started because it took me a while to convince my husband but will it still work if i don't do conditioning for as many days as recommended ? Plz help me 😭 and ty i enjoy your channel you have given the best explanating

[bobbiwest]

After seeing your peppers, so huge, i cant believe you arent going do more, more, more.lol i let my bales sit out and weather year before last. Then planted in spring. I mostly had cucumbers and delicata squash.they did great. Then over this last summer i used the hay in a big pile for cucumbers and planted tomato romas on both shorter ends. I got more than i could eat. Right now, i have 17 bales, im building beds around. Again, i will let them winter over. I am using reflective insulation to hold them together, and stakes on all sides for form. In spring, will plant. Peppers, squash, melons, tomato.im not much an eater. Except i love bell peppers. Will try a few of what i know i will consume.for me, its the watch it grow. See what works, for the experience. Good luck on yours, and take care.

[scottb]

Great video. Just started using straw myself so can’t wait to see how it turns out! Cute feet by the way