How to Make Hay Bale Gardening a Success

Whether you are an experienced gardener or a first-timer, there are some tips you can use to make your first straw bale gardens a success. The bales themselves need to be well-constructed to maximize the space available. They should not be overwatered since this can cause water to run through them, removing nutrients. You should treat the bales with dolomitic lime and a balanced fertilizer once a week.

After potting the bales, sprinkle them with organic fertilizer on days four and six. You can choose between half a cup of urea (46-0-0) or one cup of ammonium sulfate (21-0-0). The numbers after the names of the fertilizer refer to the amount of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potash the product contains. If you choose a high nitrogen source, it will speed the process of decomposition and conditioning. You can water the bales every day to keep the mix moist and free of weeds.

The bales should be watered daily. You can sprinkle with fertilizer every day. To keep the soil moist, you can add a bit of seaweed or compost tea to the mix before you plant. You can also add a piece of old cloth, which will decay along with the straw. When watering your bales, monitor them on a daily basis to make sure they have enough moisture. You can use drip irrigation to ensure that the bales stay moist. You can also fertilize your bales with the same kind of organic fertilizer you would use for a typical in-ground vegetable garden.

Once you’ve planted your straw bale garden, you can start planting your seeds. You can also plant seedlings or transplants. Always remember to leave sufficient space between each plant to avoid overcrowding and disease. The most important part of your straw bale garden is to water it properly every two to three weeks, because the soil will dry out and break down over time. And of course, you can reuse it again by covering it with landscape fabric.

You should wait until the straw bales have reached a temperature of 150 degrees before you start planting. By Day 10, the temperature will be too hot for the plants to grow. Soak the bales in water for a couple of days to get a desired pH level. Then, it’s time to plant them. Then, it will be time to re-moisturize the soil in the bale.

When planting your straw bale gardens, you need to make sure you’ve chosen plants that require a lot of sunlight. While you may be able to grow tomatoes without using any special fertilizer, you should also plant vegetables that need six to eight hours of sunlight a day. This is because you’ll need to be careful with the soil because the bales are heavy. Once watered, you’ll need help to set them up.