I too just recently stumbled upon this wonderful straw bale discussion. We live on old strip mine ground that is heavily wooded. There is some open space now but I would never even contemplate planting something directly into the ground. It is heavy clay on top and if you dig a bit deeper you may get lucky and find the greasy looking blue stuff. Everything in my flower garden is put in raised beds and I just never had the energy to do that to an area the size of a veggie garden. I am so excited by the thought of having my very own veggies! I know it is too late this year but I am going to read the threads and plan on next year.
Straw Bale Gardening (Part 13)
tetleytuna: don't give up on this year; fall crops like collards, etc will do well.
Kent
My Goodness Kent, is it really too late for Tetleytuna to put other things in the ground? (bales)? 5 days ago was our last "frost day". My sister, who is the same zone as me, doesn't even put her tomatoes in the ground until mid June. I see that Tet and I are both the same zone. I think the longest wait would be to prep, but from what I read above, some of the people on here are not even taking the length of time that you cited and most of us took.
If it were me, Tet, I would try it using milk jugs with the bottoms cut out to put over the plants like toamtoes. Just don't get discouraged if you end up with fried green tomatoes instead of ripe juicy ones this year. At least you would know why and you could get started earlier next year.
Jeanette
Hey Tetly
You should still have plenty of time to do some things in your area. Kent amd some good suggestions and you should still have plenty of time for beans.
Give it a shot if for no other reason to gain the experience. I've made a ton of mistakes this year. My last one being putting a little too much fertilzer near some of my pepper plants and having them drop all of their leaves.
Remember, the first few years you are gardening more for knowledge than for food
BB
Perry, my bales are just regulaar size. Probably 4 5 gallon buckets. So, does that mean that I sprinkle 1/2 cup of my good fertilizer on each bale and water it in? Each week. Right?
Jeanette
Jnette:
Yep - just keep it back a few inches from the plants & watch 'em gro :))
First of all, Hi all...you folks have a really good thing going here. I have gleaned much information just by browsing this thread alone.
This is my first year hay bale gardening and so far it has had its ups and downs but all in all things are going pretty well now.
My question arises from reading Bronx Boys' response to Tetly. Apparently I made the same mistake with regard to peppers and fertilizer. I had a Jalapeno pepper plant shed all its leaves. The 2 peppers and the remainder of the plant seem fine (I attached a picture). My question is; Will the plant make a comeback? and if so, how can I help it along?
Additionally all of my pepper plants seem very slow to grow but are producing fruit. Should I be harvesting these peppers early to allow more of the growing energy to go to the plant itself?
thanks in advance for your help
Ron
Jeanette: 10-4 on tetleytuna trying some bales out now. I didn't mean to imply it was too late. I'd go for it now AND in the fall.
Ron: Welcome aboard!
Picking your peppers will encourage the plant to grow more, so yes, pick them even when the plants are small. My peppers always seem to sit there and not do much until about now. They are really starting to grow.
As for the pepper in your photo, I'd leave it to see if it puts back out and plant another one next to it. If you have to buy a 4 pack, you can put 4 to a bale w/out too much of a problem.
I need to start staking mine now.
Kent
This message was edited Jun 8, 2007 8:12 AM
Thanks for the quick response Kent, I'll give it a whirl.
I've really wrestled with the peppers. I currently have 4 Jalapeños in a bale along with a couple of squash. They are right next to another bale containing 6 bell pepper plants. All the other plants (tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, etc) in the garden seem to be doing all right but the peppers seem very sensitive to apparently everything. I have had them be very perky and healthy looking in the morning and wilty and dying in appearance in the afternoon. They have gone from yellow leaves to green and are starting to yellow again. I thought I was over watering them so I cut back, then they looked wilty so I kicked it back on again. I am currently watering via a soaker hose for 10 mins every morning as we are knee deep in drought here in Northern Alabama. Additionally I have fed the whole garden (8 bales) on 2 occasions with 1 cup of 10-10-10 granules.
My questions are......how do I tell if I'm watering too much?, not enough?
I haven't set up a diary yet but I have been taking pictures on a monthly basis and am keeping them online. You can view them at the following link:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rm24to1
You can see the peppers in their current state in the June album
Myself and 3 other guys from work are gardening in hay bales this year. Only one of us has done this before and he's our Mentor.....We are having a blast! Your diary pictures have been an inspiration to us as well Kent, the tomato archway was something else!!!!!!
Until next time...........
Ron
If you all think it is not too late, I think I will try it out this year then. If nothing else it can be a learning experience, and I would be happy to have anything to harvest. The excitement of of eating just one thing of my own would be worth it. And it is not like I do not have many experienced folks to answer questions! Thank you for the encouragement. I will be shopping for bales this weekend! :^)
Ron, that is a really funny looking pepper plant. LOL, sorry Ron, but it is. If I look real close it looks like it is in the process of getting new leaves??
It is strange that it would drop the leaves and not the peppers.
Tetly, I would go for it. Try to get some good healthy plants and do it.
Thanks Perry!!
Jeanette
I told my Mom about straw bale gardening and showed her the pictures. She's thinking of trying it herself now. She wants to try half runner beans in the bale. Anyone have experience with those? She'll be starting them from seed on the bale (at least we are guessing that's how to do it). Does anyone have experience with growing half runner beans on the bale? Normally, in our area, you would plant the seeds around the 4th of July.
And what about leaf lettuce? Can you do that from seed, growing it on the bale? I'm guessing you prep the bale and when it's ready for planting, put down some soil and sow the seed. Will that work?
This message was edited Jun 8, 2007 11:59 AM
It is pretty funny looking, I have to admit LOL
You are correct it is trying to sprout new leaves. I've noticed quite a difference since Wed when I took the pics. I think Im gonna just let it go and see how it all turns out.
I just got finished reading this thread. Man, is there some good info here. Hopefully someone is compiling this information because it could easily be converted into a book, say the "Definitive Guide to Bale Gardening".
I really am glad I found this place. Hopefully we all have great harvests this year and even if not the information and camaraderie are well worth the price of admission.
Till next Time...................
Ron
There you go Kent. Something for you to do in your spare time. Write a book on it.
Jeanette
I'm sure you have LOTS of spare time, Kent! ;~D
Lana
Lana, I WAS being faceetious. LOL
Jeanette
I know, was just adding my sarcasm to it ;~D
Lana
Lana & Jeanette: spare time? what's that! :-)
Ron: 10-4 on the book; The title could be "Straw Bale Gardening" by Kent, Wayne, berrygirl, dmj1218, Danny, Melissa, Herbie43, jslocum207, roseone33, melody, dea, zeppy, Perry, swoznick, kimmers, pam, Big_Red, Nancy, Robin, Jeanette, ... etc. etc. (1st 20 people to post way back in Part 1)
Kent
Yah Kent I'll third or fourth that Heh Heh.
I'm doing something wrong, My peppers in the dirt are getting ahead of those in the bales. I don't know if the mushrooms getting their black gooie on the leaves has any thing to do with it or not. But wherever they touch, the leaves kind of curl up. I planted the "bale" peppers first.
Yesterday I mixed up a bucket of miracle gro. and tried to give them a boost. Watered them again today, of course I didn't expect any miracle over night. But still hoping for some improvement soon.
The ones in the ground were planted nearly a week later. I haven't done anything special to those. Tomatoes are going great guns though. Haven't given up yet though.
Let you scratch your head for a bit, stead of me. The bales are rotted pretty good. and are moist inside. I can shove my hand half way through the bales with ease. And sniff" yup they are rotted. No I don't mean stink. just rotted.
I planted some potatoes between the 2 rows of bales toward the one end. and covered with straw. And for when I planted them they are comming along good. Lets see, I watered in the nitrogen and some blood meal, while letting them cook. then some 10-10-10- watered that in and planted. been watering every other day. unless it rains. Kind of watching the mushroom growth, when they slow down its time to water.
Guess I'll have to take a pic.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Russ
Russ:
Potatoes really like bone meal. Give them a little.
I'm growing mine in cardboard boxes with compost and straw, Doing very well
BB
BB wrote "Potatoes really like bone meal. Give them a little."
I don't suppose I can just throw it on the plants and water it? I can't get into my "'Tater Corral" anymore, except at the very end :(. The plants on the outside bales are blocking me effectively. The patty pan squash were trying to invade and take over the Taters, and I had to wrestle them out yesterday. That was not pleasant! They're very prickly, and heavy. Next year they get trellised, because they are soooo good.
Margo
Sorry, if I included to much. My taders are doing fine. It's my peppers, that arent doing too well. It's like they are stunted. I'll get a pic, today, of both in bales and in dirt. Maybe that will help. ~~~~~~~~~~~Russ
Ok trying to get photo of peppers in bales. Whew I had to fight to get this. the computer was trying to hide it.
And here are a couple in the dirt.
randponder: Maybe someone else can come up with good suggestions for you. The only thing I can think of is that my bales need to be watered twice as often as the veggies in my raised beds. I have one of those probes I have been sticking into the raised beds and bales to check the moisture. The bales register "dry" every morning, even though they were watered the morning before. The raised beds after watering the morning before are still registering "moist" the next day.
Well, It has been windy. The moisture in the bales, is more prominate, the deeper I put my hand. I thought it was sufficient at the root level. But watering every evening wouldn't be a problem either. Guess I was wondering if the black stuff from the mushrooms had anything to do with it.
randponder:
I was having the same issues. Growth was slow and plants didn't seems as healthy as dirt or pot grown plants. Some plants had a yellow tinge. Somewhere in one of these threads Kent pointed out that the bales lose nutrients faster than if they were in the dirt. I started giving my bales drinks of a solution of alfalfa tea and fish emulsion at least once a week. The plants are doing very well!
The eggplants that got ravaged by the flea beetles are doing great. I'll try to post some pics later
Be careful with the 10-10-10. I put some on my bales and some of my pepper plants dropped all their leaves. They weren't planted too deeply and I think it shocked them. I am got to stick with liquid feedings as I have had better luck with it.
Catmad:
I got the advice about the bonemeal here on DG and all who suggested it said it should be applied at time of planting which is what I did.
BB
randponder:
I just took a closer look at your picture. I'd be very careful with the 10-10-10. Can you get fish emulsion where you are? Mine just seem to do better with the liquid feedings follwoed by a good deep drink at the root.
BB
Should I apply bone meal at planting with tomatoes, peppers, squash, and cukes, also? Planting in bales today, they're ready!
Lana
Russ: I agree with BB; I noticed alot of some kind of fertilizer on top of your bales; that could be part of the problem with the peppers.
Kent
Kent: Looks like potting soil to me.
Kent; That fert. is the 10-10-10. I just gave them a couple days ago, and started watering it in. again.
I think you may be right about alfalfa tea an fish emulsion. This is indeed an experiment and an experience. I can get the fish emulsion. I may have to get a bag of alfalfa pellets, an brew some up. Thanks
~Russ
Well, don't know if I was suppose to put bone meal in with everything as I planted but I did along with moisture retaining crystals. The bales were pretty nice inside. Needed more bales, had to plant 3 plants per bale on everything and still had to plant a few in the ground around the corn and beans which are growing like crazy :~) I have a few plants I don't know what they are, the vendor didn't have any of his veggies marked other than ID's at the market. I'll have to take pics so y'all can ID what veggie it is LOL I bought so many plants that day it's no wonder I can't remember.
Lana
I think I am missing something here you guys. Kent, was the planting in strawbales suppose to be "Jack in the Beanstalk" type plants? I didn't expect them to do any better, nor maybe as well as in soil. I just thought the whole idea was to not to have to, NOW ALL TOGETHER........ " No weeding, tilling, or hoeing" Did I get it right this time Kent???
It would be nice to have miricle plants but I never expected them. Clue me in please.
Jeanette
Lana: that's some awesome deer/moose/bull elephant-proof fencing! Opps, I just realized you're in "BUFFALO" WV. Now I get it!! :-)
Jeanette: you totally lost me on the "Jack in the Beanstalk" story. But I just got through chowing down on some awesome burgers, steak fries, and baked beans, so I'm kinda groggy from that! Waiting for some room for a little ice cream w/pralines.
Kent
P.S. - J, you got the motto correct, or at least all the terms!! :-)
No weeding, no hoeing, no tilling!
This message was edited Jun 9, 2007 7:36 PM
Well jnette I guess I just expected more from the strawbales, than they were willing to produce. Our temp. fluctuations, have not been the best, for good growth. And as long as peter piper has some peppers to pick, I won't be in a pickle. (:>)
I better go out and spray my new tomatoes with Jackalope retardent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~ Russ
Jeanette: now I think I understand your question.
From what I've experienced, seen, and read about since my very 1st post, bale gardening is and can be a postive experience with some great looking veggies.
It's not the bale's fault if whatever is planted doesn't do well. It's usually the person looking after the plants that did or didn't do something that produced the results they see.
This isn't criticism, but from my view point, just a simple statement of fact.
A prime example are my plants from last year.
I started out ok, just like my 1st year, and then the plants went south on me. I rearranged my feeding/watering schedule and things got alot better.
This year I'm having no problems at all, but it's been a 3 year learning curve.
1st time bale gardeners naturally are taking dirt-farming experiences into a new realm and not everything works the same.
So, to recap your question, Jeanette, yes, I think anyone can have "Jack in the Beanstalk" plants with bale gardening no matter where you reside.
And with the emails I've received in the last 2 years from some, bale gardening has been the only reliable gardening method due to their location, soils, or health condition.
Russ: is that jackalope retardant also good for snipes?
Kent
This message was edited Jun 9, 2007 9:33 PM
All: by the way, Ron, mentioned earlier about how, in addition to the info he gets here, he likes the camaraderie.
So do I. Always have.
One thing I think that would be a great addition to DG are "avatars", which are little personally-picked icons representing each user.
Here's a wikipedia definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_(virtual_reality)
An avatar could be anything from your photo to an icon representing your personality, to something totally off the wall and humerous.
A local website I post on has them and I love them.
I know it's off topic, but hey, it's Saturday night.
If interested, write Dave and suggest they add it as an option.
I personally wished we all had our photos under our username. It would feel more "neighborly" and "over-the-fence" type conversation. Putting a face with a name.
Kent
Kent; Your right it is Saturday night. Not quite a full moon though, So can't get too carried away. ((*-*))
Plan to get a few couplings then. Will connect PVC to a water tank and make a drip sys. for the bales. Then I can add some "TEA" to the tank once in a while. After all Can't let the bale garden take more of my time, Than the dirt garden. Heh Heh Right?
Russ
Kent, I remember your experience from last year. Wish we had a long enough season to do do-overs when we screw up. But, in the final planting yours came out great.
I guess I meant that we already get a whole lot by strawbale growing by not having to bend over to do the weeding or picking the produce; we don't have to hoe or pull weeds, nor do we have to do the tilling to be able to plant them. So, whatever each of us does to the plants in the bales determines what the end product is just as though we were planting in soil.
Last year, I have to admit, I had the best, and biggest tomatoes I have ever had. Was it the bales?? Sure could have been. Was it the hoophouse I had the bales in? Sure could have been because of the additional heat. This year I have Perry's recipe for fertilizer I am using so this year might be even better than last year.
As you said Kent, we each try for the best in our own way. Didn't you say that Kent??
It would be fun to have an avatar I think. Have you suggested it to Dave? Any opinions?
Jeanette