strawbales and cowpots?

Whew! I've just spent a week reading all of the old posts and making notes - I stumbled on this topic trying to find information on growing potatoes above ground (and yes I see the irony that root crops don't do super well in bales). I've just convinced DH that the front yard would be much nicer if converted to garden, and the veggies would go in the center where it gets plenty of sun. We were going to try EBs in the middle of the yard this year (the neighbors already think we're strange, so no worries there) to make sure it was a good spot, but this sounds even better. Heck, it sounds wonderful (and much cheaper)! I've been emailing my mom in OH and trying to convince her to give it a try with her bionic knees.

I've just ordered a crate of cowpots and am wondering if anyone has transplanted into bales using these? I'm thinking it would work fine but I can always use regular pots for the plants for the bales if anyone thinks I should.

what is a cowpot?

Never mind... I just googled it.
Never heard the term before, we always called those peatpots.
When I plant peat pots I gently break up the pot before planting, just to help young roots break free.

No, cowpots are new - they're not made out of peat, so they don't deplete peat reserves, and you can plant them directly (like a peat pot) so they don't use a plastic pot either. I've had the same trouble as you with peat pots being too strong for roots to break through, and these are supposed to break down much more completely in about 12 weeks, so they sounded perfect - and it's a completely renewable resource!

newthumb: cowpots sound great. Post some pics for us.

Kent

yeah, it sounds good... I'll have to ask the local nursery if they can get them

I'll post pics - of course, we still have lots of snow around, although it's been much warmer of recent. I got the cowpots from Grower's Solution, which had a special deal with free shipping if you ordered a case. They come in 3" and 4" sizes - I got the 4" because it was more useful to me and because there are 300 in a case of 4" and 700 in a case of 3". I'm going to have a hard enough time with 300, although my mom and MIL are interested in taking some.

There's a cowpot co-op going on right now at: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/811970/

Check it out.

JoAnn

That's how I ordered them. I think the special pricing ended March 12th, though.

You will have to let us know how you like them. I have heard they fall apart very easily also. Maybe if you don't get them wet until after they are in the ground? Let us know.

Jeanette

I will, Jeanette - I'm so excited to start! This morning almost all of our snow had melted, and now there's 8" on the ground. It's coming down like crazy! Hopefully this is the last big snow, though, and we can start thinking about spring. How much snow do you still have?

Chris

Chris, we must be in the same latitude is it? We got 4 inches this morning. But that is almost gone. We still have quite a bit here and there. Obviously I feel it is all in my yard. But each day I see more and more ground. I never thought it would look so good.

The big piles will still be here for a while.

Jeanette

Thursday I walked to the post office and saw a bluebird. The snow was almost gone and it really felt like spring. Friday we got 15" of snow. I'm keeping myself sane by looking at my seed packets and planning my seed starting. Keep repeating: It will be spring soon!

Chris

But Chris, it is warmer when it snows isn't it? i.e. the snow doesn't last as long as before?

It has been snowing here all day long but it is mainly slush.

No, it isn't lasting nearly as long - although the ground is still completely covered with several inches and the pile of snow next to our mailbox is taller than the mailbox. It's supposed to be 40 degrees today and sunny, so that will help. However, it snowed again last night - another inch or so! At least it's warm enough so that when we shovel the driveway it stays clear. The chipmunks emerged last week - how surprised they must be now!

Wow, your chipmunks are out? Not ours. They are the last little things to show up.

Jeanette

You mean you all's mater ain't blooming yet??? Shucks mine are almost knee high. English peas are running taters are about three or four inches high. Blueberries are blooming like crazy grass is greener than a gourd, dog woods are in full bloom along with pear trees, peach trees. Of course you must understand I live so close to Heaven I can almost see the Pearlie gates.

Whitewidower: I'm already getting tomatoes in NC! In my dreams! :-)

Kent

Whitewidower, your peas are giving me fits - I can almost taste them! One of my students is from Huntsville and he asked a couple of weeks ago if spring was going to come soon. I explained about March snowfalls, and he looked so disappointed! I told him that it would warm up in May, which of course seems ages away. At least he saw plenty of snow this year! Our latest batch is melting fast, but there's more on the way. C'mon, spring!

Chris

Well we had a pretty good frost night before last and it did a little damage to some plants but the good news is it is not supposed to get below 45 to 50 degrees at night for the new 10 days. Where I live anyone north of Birmingham is a Yankee lol.

Is that your family? Pretty cool lookin'. Very nice.

Jeanette

God gave me and my Wife two girls of whom I am very proud of and they inturn gave me three Grandsons. I have nicked named them Bad far right, Worse middle, and Trerrible far left. Boys are so much different than Girls. Would not take a Brass Monkey for any of them.

Yes, indeed, boys are much different than girls. I never had any boys, but from what I hear, I will take girls any day. But those boys sure do look like some swell fellas. I wouldn't trade them either.

Jeanette

OK, I need encouragement - there's a blizzard outside my window! To make matters worse, we're supposed to get another couple of inches tonight! I'm glad I can live vicariously through Whitewidower and Kent - nothing's in bloom, even the snowdrops and crocuses aren't out yet. I think I'm going to start my seeds this weekend to cheer myself up. I like winter, but enough is enough!

Chris

I don't think we have had one like this before Chris. I have seeds in all phases of growing. It sure does improve my disposition. Not totally but a lot. LOL

Jeanette

WW
I am pea green with envy over your harvest - that's just beautiful.
But, I am even more envious that you're grandchildren are so close to you... oh how I miss mine.
Cheers
Dove

Dove last Sunday my oldest Grandson came into Church all dressed up and I walked up to him and ask (How does it feel to be the second best looking man in Church?) He said I don't know How does it feel? You don't get ahead of that boy.

I love it!
It sounds like you have a very special bond with your grandsons.
He's as quick witted as he is good looking.

The cowpots sound neat, but I'm operating on a shoestring . . . have any of you ever started your plants in compressed paper (not styrofoam) egg cartons? Any luck?

I'm in Bucks County, PA- any other Pennsyltuckians out there?

SusanSkylark:

Unfortunately, My egg of choice is still in styro & I use those with great success....plant starting is the one use I can find for the darned things! We'll have our own eggs before long, though. I'd think the paper/cardboard ones would last long enough to start seeds & they'd probably decompose if you stuck them in a flat of soil....maybe cut off the bottom for the roots to expand quickly....
Foggy

whitewidower,what was going on at church that sun? looks like a wedding and yes boys are special.i have one child only and he calls me coupla times a week .sometimes for advice .big feat for a man his age (51) now if i could just intrest him in gardening,ahh ,dream on he even found some cow pots and got them for me cause he remembered i wanted to try them

You all are so blessed. I lost my only dear son almost 11 years ago, but can almost feel his wonderful hugs when I read your posts. (I probably would've had grandchildren by now.) These are beautiful 'gardens' you're growing - enjoy every single day you have with your children - you don't ever know how many more of those days you'll have.

Suz

you have a d-mail ,suz,i looked very close and that picture tells a loving story.

So sorry Suzan. Life sometimes deals us some pretty tough blows. Jeanette

I am so blessed by this new 'community'. Isn't it a wonder how/where we find support and new friends in this life?

I wish you could all have the weather we have here- boy! Do I love my yard! My birds sing me the most entertaining little arias while I'm watering my bales . . .

Namaste- Suz

I have a lot of birds also Suzan, but all they do is eat at the feeders. 'course, maybe they are singing and I am not out there to hear them. Too cold.

But, I see my Helebores are starting to bloom out there. All they need is for the snow to get off of them and let them up.

Jeanette

I'd like to share the view of spring from my front porch......

my new bale garden is peeking out at the top right

my last years bale garden can be seen middle left

Foggy

Foggy, very nice picture. Really tough to look at huh?

Jeanette

i got it ,youall, i happened to buy some very heavy,tight bales,and was killing my hands and back trying to get holes in them. along came dh and saved me from giving up .out came the chain saw and two passes about 4 ins apart and the width of the blade made short work of those buggers .sure hope somebody can use this .got a (One) very loose bale from sil that was well seasoned,had no trouble at all with that one. tomatoes are in,squash is in .cant wait for the fruits of my labor.thank you kent,for starting and sharing all this and everybody for all the input and questions i wouldn't have thought to ask>>>sally

OK Sally, you're on your way. Don't forget to fertilize and water now. Also post pictures.

Jeanette