1st time bale gardeners - Who's trying it this year?

I'm in Gardenville (Bucks County), PA, and I'm definitely in! I've gotten several other folks excited about it, too! Looking for straw bales to get to start conditioning them this week- (I'll post pictures). I have a fenced (wire mesh) garden area that I'll use, to keep it easy for my landlord to mow, but I have so much available land- wish I had some of you here to help me do a bigger one!!!

Susan, regarding your gopher question on another thread, my sister said the gophers will stay away from Purge. I had never heard of it myself but she said it makes them itch and they won't go near it. She used to plant it in her yard.

Now, I am going to plant Caster Beans to keep the moles out of my yard. For some reason they don't like it. However, Caster Beans, all parts of the plant, are poison.

Jeanette

I think I will try a couple of straw bales this year. It's our fist year on our farm, and I'm trying square foot gardening, lasagna bed gardening, and then I think the straw bales, too.

Or hay bales. Depends on how fast the pastures green up - I have another 50 or so hay bales left, but if it doesn't turn into spring soon, they will go to my horses!

I have a question - how do you know when the bale is ready? And how do you get the plants to stay in there? I'd like to try potatoes and tomatoes in them. Or is there a better plant to start?

Thanks, all!

Beth

I have a question too! For those that use bloodmeal how much do you use? Also when do you start with miracle grow and is it the normal amount?

Lavendar: Kent has said that about 1 cup on days 4, 6 and 8 (of the bloodmael/dried blood) and then just fertilize as you plant and then as the plants tell you to.

Good luck! This is gonna be FUN!

Suz

Thats right suzan, 1 cup per bale. I found it took more like 3 weeks to cook the bales like this, not 2 like Kent said it would with the ammonium nitrate. I applied it in 3-4 day intervals, watering lightly on the inbetween days. A shovel of manure on top was great too, it dripped its lovely nitrogen into the bale evey time I watered.

Lena

So this is pretty cool! I just received this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgXnR5XEvmg

Straw bale gardening on YouTube! Good way to get the word out, Kent- you should definitely post one!

Peace! Suz

Suzan: Hey, I liked the youtube post. First video I've seen with someone bale gardening. I'd love to know where he got his idea. Did you notice strings ON the ground?!! :-)

Wonder if he's a DG'er?

Kent

P.S. - a major dislike about YouTube videos: no editing of the comments; anyone can say ANYTHING, no matter how crude, crass, profane, and distasteful, and there is usually someone who will gladly oblige you.

This message was edited Apr 1, 2008 11:31 PM

Thanks Suzan, that was interesting! I liked the part about eating lawn plants. I have always been doing this, my mother too. Theres so much more edible stuff in a garden than people realise. Chickweed, Puha, Dandelion, Wegerich, NZ spinach, Nasturtium, Petals of sunflower, calendula, pansy, mustard cover crop even! Then there are all the herbs and vegetables in the beds, like brocoli beetroot or kohlrabi leaves. I heard carrot leaves were edible too.
I was visiting a non-gardening friend last week, and she had no lettuce for salad to go with our lunch. I picked a lovely mixed salad just from her lawn and tiny neglected flower bed! She was amazed. The importance of avoiding poisoness pesticides and and sprays in your home garden (your food!) cannot be emphasised enough.

Lena

(edit for spelling mistake)

This message was edited Apr 1, 2008 11:36 PM

But Kent, since you're the guru of strawbaling, just think how many more back sufferers like me would be inspired by your video??
Thank God for DG, if not I'd never hear of this alternative.

Kent, you're much too modest. Seriously, through all the reading here at DG (and at 4042), and from my own trials, I hope to learn enough this year to be able to teach others for next summer. In addition to the physical factor, there's such a beauty to this method of gardening. I'm most grateful to all who post and share their experiences here.

Suz

Our bales reached 70º yesterday - Yee Ha, things are warming up

I was taking a walk today and picked some wild hyicinth with bulbs attached. I stuck them inbetween one of the bales with a little soil. Its the only thing going so far but it looks so pretty with these light yellow bales and purple hyicith flowers. Doubt that they will make it but just wanted to put something in them for now. Just to make me smile.

Jan, you must be hving spring by now. When can you safely plant your vegetables etc. in the bales?

Jeanette

ok got 5 bales wheat straw yesterday , and first water in! only straw they had,but nice,heavy bales.ought to be,$4.29 bale! i have paid much less in the past , but bought them at the barn .these came from farm co-op.can't wait to see if i can grow some decent tomatoes.done everything right in the past,but haven't had a decent crop yet.woo hoo! can't wait!!! sally

Good for you Sally!! Are you buying your seedling tomatoes or growing your own? What kind do you put in? How many?

Jeanette

Yes, I think I can start planting now. We are suppose to have nice days for the next 5 days so I am going to try and get some tomatoes and strawberries and what ever else the feed store has in seedlings planted and on their growing way.
I hope that the frost are gone. We shall see.
Jan
I will post some pics when I get them planted. I am dedicating one bale to herbs. I think that will be fun. I am wondering if I am going to have problems with slugs. I haven't seen any on the bales but then there isn't anything good to eat yet.

a widower neighbor grows hundreds of tomatoes and gave me 4whoppers from bonnie to try .i don't grow my own due to being gone until middle of march.i will buy some better boy in a day or two. i had 6 jalapenos last year and gave gallons away,that is,until i tasted the jelly . huh! 3.50 for 5 0z jar .shoot,i can do this.made 34 pints and took them to texas,where my son and grandson took them all and i got about 8 of them.like to use ritz crackers and dip um!! i use about 3 times the peppers in recipe.looks like grandma is going to be known now for pecan pie, orange marmalade,jalapeno jelly! want to grow lots of tomatoes and leave lots of memroies with them! hope these straw bales do the trick

ee gads ,gourdbeader,it's 70 outside in the shade and forecast 32 sunday nite .be careful !

I LOVE!!!! jalapeno jelly. it is one of my very favorites. I like the Ritz with a little cream cheese and a dollop of the jelly. Woo baby. So good.
Try it, you'll love it.
Yea I may better wait a little bit we'll see.
Jan

Sally: be sure to put those tomatoes down to the first set of leaves.

Kent

Jan, you might want to put Remay or something over them at night for a bit.

You guys try that Jalapeno jelly on pork steak. Wonderful.

Also last year I tried Roasted Red Pepper Jelly. Roasted the peppers on the BBQ and it worked wonderful. Found some red peppers for 50 cents a piece. Now those are good with cream cheese and Ritz crackers.

Digger, whoever told you that Jalopeno Jelly was good. But hey! If you are giving those ugly little peppers away you can send some this way. LOL

Speaking of good jelly for cream cheese and crackers... 2-3 years ago I made a merlot wine jelly. It was awesome with cream cheese on a cracker!

Darius, Sounds like just the thing. I love merlot and I love cream cheese.

The bush snap peas and nasturtiums finally sprouted from my mini-bales. I had about given up on them. These tiny bales are barely bigger than a bread box. I got them at Halloween to perch my smaller pumkins on, and was about to toss them when I read this forum. I realize this is hardly on a scale like the rest of you are doing, but if it works, I will get serious with it next year. The bales are just about the height for deer to browse the peas without bending their necks...how considerate.

I am going to try to grow some red peppers this year. I will need the recipe for the jelly. I don't think I will be able to grow the merlot grapes but it sure sounds good. No sun yet so I guess I am still playing the waiting game. They promised us sun for 5 days. I guess I will just have to have Faith cause I haven't got sunshine. Hehe

strawbaleman, i transplanted up to the 1st leaves ,into 8" x2" deep pots yesterday, and this is my 3rd day soaking.ought to have new roots ,and bales ready in 2-3 weeks. hope my timing is about right. whadda you think? sally

Sally: first off, please call me "Kent". "Strawbaleman" is just too long to type! :-)

Sounds like a plan. As long as you're safely out of the frost period, you'll be fine.

Kent

because i'm growing two of those peppers in bales, i'll stay on this thread a bit. golden rounds from dollar general are better than ritz,and cheaper,and not quiet as healthy. love that jelly on pork,chicken ,cream cheese ,beans .recipe is in the package of liquid jell .i use 3 times the peppers,and cook 1 extra minute on the final.please use rubber gloves to clean and prepare peppers,and when you split them, use grapefruit spoon to clean the ones you take the seeds out of .sure makes it easier.if you'all get lazy,come on down to my house this fall and we'll pig out. sally

Does anyone have the recipe for Red Pepper Jelly. Please.
Thanks
Jan

it's the same. sally

o.k.kent,knew you was a sweetie, to give all us your time on seeing we are sucessful with this endevor.thanks ,it is pretty long sally

Okay you guys, what is the trick to making the holes in the bales. I swear to who ever will listen that I worked myself into a sweat just trying to make the holes. Is there some special trick to this or am I just going to have to continue to wrestle these bales to get them to open up. I was almost tempted to cut the line. I DIDN"T but it was getting to be a battle between me and what ever tool I could find to make these holes. Okay, I have vented but please tell me the secret.
I planted strawberries, tomatoes, herbs and a few flowers today. I am worn out. You probably think I am some kind of wimp. YOUR RIGHT!
I had hand surgery last year and I broke my ankle 3 years ago so I am working handicaped. HELP!

Jan, I was super lucky and have it made. However, unless you spend some money you will have to continue to wrestle with them unless someone else comes up with an answer. I tried pruning shears, scissors, you name it I tried it.

Last year, before I did my bales, we stopped at a garage sale. My SO, Bob, came to the car with a tool, I looked at, and knew what it was. A compost mixer. It is an auger type thing. Very simply made, but I remember seeing a woman come out of a nursery a couple of years ago carrying one and just proud as punch. I have seen them since for about $25.

It makes the holes go down as far as I want them, about 3 inches across, perfect holes, pulls the straw out, and I put my tomatoes down to the bottom leaves and fill the hole with potting mix and Dynamite time release fertilizer.

You can try one of those things that they mix paint with, that "used car salesman guy" on TV sells something like it, even with a drill. $19..95, but watch out for the shipping.

Let me know what you end up doing.

Jeanette

Oh, BTW, Bob paid $1 for it.

Haven't got my bales yet but will next week. How about a "bulb auger"? I bought one several years ago for tulips and such. It's like a huge drill bit for dirt! Attach it to your drill and dig into that bale!!! Good luck to all with your bales this spring.

Doug

wonder if a key hole saw wouldn't work. several passes with it on the end of a drill ought to do the trick.i don't know how much one is, but gosh, we have several out in the shop of different sizes

Pruning shears is exactly what I ended up using. I shoved them down like a hole digger, then opened them up and began twisting them around and pulled out the straw. WHEW! It was a major ordeal. So I guess that there isn't any easy way around this, huh? Okay, pruning shears it is until someone can come up with a better plan. I like the key hole saw idea. I tried using a kitchen knife but with the damp straw it just wouldn't cut. Okay, if someone else has anybetter Ideas let me know. I'm up for suggestions. The augger type thing sounds great but I don't want to spend $'s that I dont have. Ya know what I mean?
Jan

You all have the idea. I am sure there are many things out there. I think tho, that if you like the bale gardening and decide to continue year to year or are doing a lot of bales, it would be worth it to spend a little money on something.

I did the same thing Jan and that was a royal pain. With the auger it made a perfect hole, as deep as I wanted, and pulled the straw out with just easy turns. Also, it got a nice amount of potting mix and the time release fertilizer into the hole and down around the roots where it was needed. I might get crazy and also put in a little bit of WaterSorb this year. Polymers I bought in the coop last year and haven't used any.

Jeanette

jnette, about those cattle panels,do you use two of them end to end wired together,or is one long enough to bend over? i havent seen them in years and didn't pay any attention to them . would have to shop around to find them in this area .seems i remember they would take a larger trailer than our 6x8 to haul them. also, about how much do they cost?sure appreciate the info>>>>>sally

Cattle panels here are about $17.00 each - they are 16 feet long and the ones I use are something like 4 feet high.
Tractor Supply has them.