This gardening is fun!

[MiHale]

Yeah, another straw bale post.
Second year fooling around with this method. Experimenting with high density planting along with combination planting.

Here’s an example.



Planted way more seeds than ever recommended on the package, second year doing this with butternut squash. Last year over 20 squashes from one bale. The vines cascade over the side of the bale leaving the top area available for different crops.



So we’re trying carrots. They are getting established under cover of the squash leaves as I’m encouraging the plants to cascade. All that requires is a simple push on the base of the squash plant toward the side of the bale, which is easy to manipulate. They will be exposed soon.

Another example.
This bale has ‘volunteer’ tomatoes that popped up in the compost pile. Have some idea of the strain only because of knowing what we grew. Could be Romas but more than likely Yellow pear. Little snacking tomatoes. We trying a green bean plant I the front and a lone zucchini tucked in between. It should cascade away from the tomatoes.



Better view of zucchini.




If this year is any kind of success we’re planning on expanding the straw bale area into better sunlight and growing more. Straw bales are an inexpensive way to have raised beds saving backs and knees on these old folks.

[amerikat]

1. Looks great.

I haven't tried this method. I have raised beds.

[MiHale]

4. We have raised beds in our other fenced garden...

We were going to build more but then the expense of filling it plus the materials for the bed itself. Straw bales solves those expenses. It just takes time to condition the bale for growing. I use a thin layer of compost on top to hold the seeds. Transplants from our nursery which were mostly peppers this year are kinda lagging. Gotta work on a better technique for those. Seeds seem to have no problem.

Tons of videos on YouTube.

[rampartc]

2. lovely, mihale

is that hawaii?

your garden seems similar to mine. i've seen the straw bale thing on video, but i use mostly the plastic tubs as contaioners or raised beds.

this will be my first fall with the butternut squash, fought the cucumber bugs for a few little zuccinis so far, but i do use that "crowdspacing. "

i like a few different tomatos. sweet hundreds is the best cherry type. i do celebrity and fantastic as well. and the little volunteer tomato plants keep coming. have a nice summer. we will be hot here in louisiana.

[MiHale]

5. Hawaii? No...Mi for Michigan... Hale for my town...

If you mean the bale…😂…

I’m in northern Michigan 15 miles inland, west of Lake Huron. Cool and spotty rain here today. Perfect gardening weather.

We raise mostly Romas that I freeze for winter sauces and such. I freeze whole right off the vine. In hot water the skins slip off easily. Some are dehydrated for tomato powder and making paste. This year we’re trying a new to us variety Heinz classic processor. We also grow Sub-artic and Yellow Pear for table tomatoes.

[Lulu KC]

3. Looks handy

How much soil do you put in each bale before planting?

[MiHale]

6. I layer...

about an inch on top of a well conditioned bale. Mostly to have a medium to hold the seed while germinating. I use screened compost from our pile. Transplanted plants carry their own soil from the germination pot so I gently nestled the root ball in between the layers of straw. Then spread the compost on top mostly to hold in the water.
Transplanted peppers they didn’t like it too much but they are getting better.

[AnotherMother4Peace]

7. Thank you for these beautiful pics. nt

[MiHale]

8. Thank you...stay tuned...

That’s only the bale garden. Never used gardening as an escape before but these days it kinda gets to be that way.