Gardening by the Bale, using straw bales to grow your vegetable or flowers, is an interesting concept and it works very well. This is a great way to garden, see the list of benefits below.

You might be wondering why we want to talk about gardening at this time of the year, after all, it is winter and just before Christmas? There is one simple reason- Now is the time to put any straw bales, you and your friends have left from fall decorating, to good use. Yes, they may be soggy, wet and heavy but that is just what you want for Gardening by the Bale. If you don’t have any soggy bales, now is the time to get some new straw bales and put them in the garden, or anywhere you want to grow your garden plants next spring. These dry bales of fresh straw that you purchase need to sit out in the weather over the winter so they are in the best condition for spring planting.

Take a look at the many benefits of Gardening by the Bale:

Gardening by the bale allows all of us to grow something just about anywhere a straw bale can be located where there is plenty of sun.

Have terrible soil, or need to let the garden sit fallow for a year? Then Garden by the Bale!

Less bending, gardening is easier on the back and great for mobility challenged gardeners.

Straw bales will help to protect your plants from soil borne diseases.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, cabbage, lettuce all do very well in bales.

Straw bales are inexpensive. (Caution- do not use Hay bales.)

They’re instant, and besides watering and feeding, somewhat foolproof.

There’s no necessity to roto-till the garden and there is no digging in the soil.

You will find that there is very little weeding.

When you’re finished using the bales, after the 2nd year, just till them into the soil, use them as mulch for the next series of bales, or put them in the compost pile.

A conversation piece, who else do you know that is growing a garden using bales of straw?

One caution- root crops like carrots, beets, onions, etc. will not do well with this culture.

 If the bale is held together with wire or plastic twine you’re good. Sisal twine will rot so replace it with galvanized wire (14 gauge will work) and get it on as tight as you can so the bale does not come apart when the twine rots. Remember- Only Straw Bales…..NO Hay. Hay has too many weeds and will not work as well as straw due to the rate of decomposition.

 Once you have the straw bales in place go sit by the fire and read a good book. Early in March will be the next time you will have do anything. If you go to MVG’s website there is more information about the next steps so you can have a great harvest with less work.

 If you have a gardening question send it to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for a prompt response.

31 years of Growing

Meadow View Growers

New Carlisle, OH

www.meadowview.com

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