After reading the article in last months Garden magazine I have decided to have a go and have 2 bales soaking.
Wondered if anyone has experience to share?
I'm also wondering if it would work with a large bale for a community project. Can you imagine one planted with squash plants? Would it just get rolled down the street?
Wet straw can spontaneously combust, has anyone considered this possibility when considering strawbale growing?
Interesting question. I know a stack can combust, but I wonder whether a few bales spread out on the ground could generate enough heat?
It's far more common for bales to spontaneously combust within the first 6 weeks of making/stacking them when the straw or hay is curing & even then there usually needs to be a stack at least 7 feet square or the bales need to be stored in a very poorly ventilated area for combustion to occur. Having said that even a pot full of compost can spontaneously combust (http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061125/potting_soil_061125/20061125?hub=CTVNewsAt11) in certain circumstances so there is a slim possibilty a single bale could generate enough heat.
As for the original question straw bale gardening works well but it does need far more watering than other methods do. Tall crops such as sweetcorn don't do that well though.
This link might help; http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Growing%20on%20straw/Growing%20on%20straw.htm (http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Growing%20on%20straw/Growing%20on%20straw.htm)
Saw the article in a clients magazine, and will give it a go
Should be able to pick up a couple of bales next week to start soaking - thought we would leave them in an empty wheelybin for a couple of days each
We've got watermelons and cukes in mind for ours
update on the straw bales - Both were soaked for about 3 weeks with added nitrogen. One was planted with 2 squash which can trail up and over the compost heaps, the other was planted with 2 courgettes.
All are growing well - in fact better than others planted in the ground at the same time, probably due to some heat from continued breakdown of the straw.
Did anyone else have a go?
Yep
Bales didnt fit in wheelybins well, so we soaked with a hose every few days for a couple of weeks, added nitrogen, bit more soaking, and a bucket of multipupose in the top of each
Made a sturdy beanpole/chickenwire frame at the back
Planted 3 Burpless Tastygreen cucumbers and a Blacktail Mountain watermelon at the back, and half a dozen basil plants in front :D
All looking good so far - fingers crossed for a long summer 8)
I wonder is it too late to start this? And where would you get wheat straw??
Not too late if you start soon - we paid £1 bale for barley straw from the farmer across road from our allotments