If you’re an urban gardener, you may have thought of straw bale gardening. If you are hoping to find enough space to grow even a tomato plant or two, “building” a garden with straw bales creates a whole new range of possibilities.
For those with limited space, poor soil, or only one spot on your property that gets the proper sun exposure to grow food, it could be a great solution.
The bales (like most above-ground gardening techniques) will need extra water and fertilizer during the early period. However, those early water needs will decrease as the bale decomposes. Later, it will be able to hold MUCH more water.
Earthworms also known as nightcrawlers are attracted to the damp straw that shelters them during hot weather. Their casting help bales to decompose and improve the soil bed as the bales compost.
You can find out more of the details here. This is one of the better posts on the topic because they recommend use of bone meal, fish meal, or compost for a more organic approach. Others recommend urea (horse or cow urine often contaminated with antibiotics and hormones) or other harsh chemical to condition your bales, but I would not use it. The post discusses:
- Straw Bale Selection
- Curing the Bale including Soaking and Fertilizer
- Planting
- Watering and more
Straw Bale In Photos:
Joel Karsten’s Cukes and squash in double rows~
Cabbages, basil, and flowers~ tuck the flower starts right into the side of the bale and water.
(Wikipedia Commons)
Broccoli, and to the right, Lettuces, arugula, spinach for fresh salads daily~
Karsten’s Tomatoes in an arch with strong support~
Other vegetables to grow in summer straw-bale beds include:
- parsley
- green beans
- mustard greens
- peppers
- lettuces
- potatoes
- radishes
- beets
- okra
- spring peas
- zucchini
in winter grow:
- chard
- garlic
- kale
- leeks
(Note: you can see the orange polyester binding cord above if you look closely)
One Other Way To Use Straw:
Last year we used wheat straw effectively for growing heirloom French Charentais melons. The straw (heavily laid down under and around the plants) helped keep the plants clean and from exposure to squash bugs.
Same with straw under raspberries. We found a heavy (6″) layer of straw under our Heritage red raspberries keeps out weeds, and it breaks down to wonderful compost, holds water in the soil, and increases soil nutrition!
Even if you have space limitations and want to garden on a smaller footprint than most, you can save a decent amount of grocery money by growing your own food — more than $1,200 if you plant tomatoes, potatoes, zucchini, salad greens or strawberries, according to the analysis of one Maine gardener.
So why don’t you give straw bale gardening a try on the small scale and see if you don’t love being able to grow your own fresh vine-ripened tomatoes!
If you’ve been encouraged or informed by something you’ve read here at Deep Roots, please consider liking my page on Facebook, joining us on Pinterest, or subscribing to the helpful email resources. Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
Toni says
March 6, 2013 at 10:23 pmWe have a large garden and four raised beds, but I still want to try straw bale gardening. As it happens my husband just read an article a few days ago that explained the method, and had told me about it. (great minds 🙂
Under the “You might also like:” feature of your website I noticed and read the post you had done on making an arbor with cattle panels for plants such as cucumbers and squashes. That is a wonderful idea! I want to do that, too. I really appreciate the treasure trove of information I’m finding here.
Jacqueline says
March 6, 2013 at 10:42 pmThanks, Toni,
I am glad to be of help! We love our trellises, and I hope you do, too. I am a gatherer of information, so please let me know how you like the straw bales in actual growing conditions 🙂 Thanks!
Sarah says
March 7, 2013 at 10:39 amI would really love to try this method, provided I could find pesticide- free bales. Wouldn’t want a constant feed of chemicals leaching into my veggies! 🙂
F says
May 31, 2015 at 1:13 pmWe are doing a hay bale garden instead of straw bales because of the chemicals most people put into the straw bales when baling to keep them from growing mold. And the best part is most farmers have old hay bales they will give you for free!
Jacqueline says
May 31, 2015 at 7:26 pmDear F, I didn’t know that some farmers add chemicals for mold (fungicides?)…is this a widespread thing? We have made straw hay after organic wheat for many years and have never heard of that, but it is good to ask before buying! Thanks so much for the heads-up!
Blessings and have a wonderful summer!
Kelly says
March 7, 2013 at 11:04 amWhat a great idea! Thanks for sharing it!
Kelly
Kristen @ Smithspirations says
March 7, 2013 at 3:49 pmThis is so neat! I used straw last year to help with growing potatoes, but I’ve never seen plants actually grown in the straw. The tomatoes growing up in an arch looks amazing! I love finding new gardening ideas like this. Thanks for sharing!
Jacqueline says
March 7, 2013 at 4:04 pmYou are welcome 😉 I loved the tomato arch, too, but suspect it needs a strong trellis to hold it. I wondered about doing potatoes in straw, but never have done it…hmm..
Blessings to you, Kristen~
Mrs. Sarah Coller says
March 8, 2013 at 12:52 amNeat! I’ve not heard of this method but it sure looks nice! 🙂
Meagan says
March 8, 2013 at 8:03 amWow Jacqueline! I’m so impressed! Are some of the above photos of your garden? I’ve heard about straw bale gardens before, but I didn’t know they could look soooo healthy and full. Wow! Again, I’m really impressed.
My husband and I do raised beds for our gardens and we love them. We also use hay on top of our beds (thick so weeds don’t grow too much), and it’s worked great for us. I’m still trying to get used to figuring out how much to plant in my beds. These look packed!
Also, do you have to use straw bales or would regular hay bales work too. We have tons of them – organic and all – and I’d love to be able to use what we have instead of buying new. Thanks!!
Joel Karsten says
March 8, 2013 at 10:39 amThanks very much. Joel
Kathy Matthews says
March 8, 2013 at 11:05 amThis is wonderful! Thank you for your post.
Kathy M.
Jerica @ Sustain, Create and Flow says
March 11, 2013 at 7:23 pmI’ve always wanted to try that method, and I especially appreciate all of the helpful photos and tips! Thank you for sharing on Wildcrafting Wednesday
Joan says
March 12, 2013 at 5:24 pmWow! What a great idea! I’ll have to put this on my list of “have to try”! Thanks for sharing and for linking up!
Blessings, Joan
Kaye Swain says
March 15, 2013 at 8:07 amWhat a grand idea. My grandpa loved Organic farming and gardening mags and because of him, I have read many issues – along with several of the Rodale books. One of my favorite writers continues to be Ruth Stout, who also used this method, or something quite similar. Based on her results, I highly recommend it to everyone BUT with the caveat to be cautious if you have allergies. I did try it once, before I returned to “the Sandwich Generation” full of caregiving and much less time. I got the worst sinus infection ever! BUT if you take precautions to prevent that, it makes such wonderful sense and is a great option for all ages, including boomers and seniors. Thanks for the fun memories and lovely visit.
Jenn says
March 16, 2013 at 5:16 pmThat is a totally great idea. We have a garden plot … and were thinking of raising bed- that could be the way to go! Who knew! I’m so glad I stopped by. I’m visiting by way of Sarah’s Homemaking Link Up. Thanks for sharing … I visited one of the links that tells how – showed my husband – sent it to my mom …
😉 Thanks, Jenn
Jacqueline says
March 16, 2013 at 5:40 pmYou are welcome, Jenn! Maybe it it the thing for you, and I’m glad you a re sharing it with others! Thanks; many blessings to you as you plant your soil (or bales) this year!
Lauren says
March 28, 2013 at 7:56 amThis is amazing and impressive. I’ve seen plenty of raised bed veggie gardens, but I’ve never seen it done with the straw bales before. Very cool. My dad was just complaining that his soil isn’t doing so great this year so I’ll have to show him this, it could be a good option for him, and the added height would be better for his back since he had back problems last year.
Jacqueline says
March 28, 2013 at 8:55 amLauren,
I am so glad this might be an option for you and for your dad. It is a pretty viable solution for 2 years, anyway. Have fun!
Sara Shay says
April 4, 2013 at 11:55 pmAGAIN! I absolutely love this idea! It’s too bad I don’t live close to my grandma’s house to buy $4 bales from her farm instead of here in San Diego where I can only find them for $12
I think I will have to give it a try with at least one. Those crazy gophers get everything!
Jacqueline says
April 5, 2013 at 10:35 amSara, I hate digging and chewing gophers! But, shhh…don’t tell anyone…we trap and move them! The bales may just be a part solution 🙂 Good luck!
Elizabeth Morgan, Hyden Ky says
August 3, 2013 at 8:17 pmI started reading about straw bales gardening in a Magazine “The New Pioneer” and thought this was the best Ideal I have ever came across. Already planning to buy about 35 bales of straw to put in the barn for next spring. I only wished I had seen the Magazine sooner. thanks for all the neat tips. I live in the Appalachian Mountains, the soil is good here but this looks so much easier 🙂
Looking forward to the spring next year.
Megan says
April 7, 2015 at 11:12 amHello!
I just want to say “thank you” for writing, and let you know I’m looking forward to perusing your site further. 🙂 I’m relatively new to both homeschooling and gardening, so I think there’s quite a lot here I’d like to read! I found this article because we’re thinking of doing a few straw bales this year. My “coffee break” is over now, though, so it will have to wait! 😀
Jacqueline says
April 7, 2015 at 3:34 pmSo good to hear from you, Megan! I hope that you will find something helpful and encouraging. I love straw bales for so many reasons and think you will, too. Just keep them moist!
Blessings!
Diane Diggles says
April 13, 2015 at 2:34 pmHello,
We are hoping to add straw bale gardening to our garden this year. Your pictures are beautiful. I am concerned about buying straw bales without knowing what was used on the crop before it was baled. Have you been able to find “organic” straw bales?
In Christ,
Diane
Jacqueline says
April 13, 2015 at 10:15 pmYes, Diane,
We got our right out of our organic wheat pasture. After we took off the wheat, we made wheat straw, most of which we sold for bedding to an organic farm. It is out there, but hopefully not to far away. Organic is the best for gardening.
Thanks for your question.
jack majcher says
November 7, 2015 at 7:01 pmIt’s clear from your comments you are on a spiritual journey.
I’ve found so many people and contacts from discovering Joel Karsten’s book.
As a traditional gardener, I’m looking forward to dabbling with straw bale gardening, and growing potatoes in a sheet composted bed as Peter Cullen in Australia.
Very nice website you have here.
God bless your family.
Jourdian Lamar says
February 22, 2016 at 10:21 amHello, I didn’t even know this existed until this past week. I am relatively new at gardening, but come from a long line of gardeners. I am in Western Kentucky and have had horrible luck with my gardens the last 2 years. Besides being over taken with weeds, most of my seeds didn’t grow or fizzled out fast. My first year I had an excellent garden. I guess I’ve just been rolling the dice wrong the last 2 seasons. Anyhow, I just came across bale gardening and had some questions. I see many post about which is better, hay or straw. Your opinion? Next I see where some people like to have the baling string in the sides and some like it on top. Your opinion? Being that I am in Kentucky, is the climate too humid and hot here for bale gardening? In all the videos I have watched, most have a 2 x 6 on top of their trellis’ that they place at the ends of each row but no one explains why. Is this just for support or does it have another us that I am not aware of?
Jacqueline says
February 22, 2016 at 5:26 pmHi, Jourdian,
I am in a gardening zone two zones north of you, so I’m not sure about the humid climate. I would put the wires/twine around the outside to hold the bale together better and allow for tucking plant starts in on top, etc. Finally, I like hay better than straw, possibly b/c I feel hay has more nutrient value (decoposting hay) and less pesticides from corn crop spray also corn stubble (where straw comes from) is almost always GMO now. Happy experimenting!!
Start small and see how you like it!
Jourdian Lamar says
February 22, 2016 at 5:42 pmThanks. Do you ever have problems with some of the seed in hay sprouting? I’ve heard this can be a nuisance
Joe Giles says
August 27, 2016 at 6:14 amHi Jacqueline.
I actually have a question/ problem. This is my second yr. hay bale gardening. But I’m having problems with the bottoms of my bale tomatoes this yr. Most of them have been rotting on the bottoms. Even the young green ones that are growing.
Would please help me save the rest of my tomato crop?
Also note, that all of the other bales butted up against the tomato bales with other crops are flourishing nicely.
Thank you for your help.
Joe.
Jacqueline says
August 27, 2016 at 10:46 amHi, Joe! I think that is blossom end rot. If you see a dark, rotting spot on the bottom of your tomatoes, it’s probably that. This problem is caused by a calcium deficiency. This article tells you how: https://bonnieplants.com/library/conquer-blossom-end-rot/ I think you can solve it and may be save those still coming on. I hope this helps 🙂