bale garden in a HOT and WET climate

I'm in Southeast Louisiana just north of Lake Pontchartrain. Are there any special needs or problems that I should be aware of for bale gardening in this climate? I'm from Tennessee originally and gardening here has been a real challenge for me.

Holly

Holly: welcome Aboard!

If you can elaborate, what has been the challenge?

The main thing to consider in bale gardening is to keep those bales moist and the plants fed appropriately.

Thanks for the welcome. I'm looking forward to doing this.

This will be my first bale garden. I was asking if I should expect any challenge specific to this climate. Keeping the bales moist will certainly not be a problem. The problem is likely to be that they stay overly moist. Our average rainfall is 65 to 70 inches/year. Summer temps in the high 90's with 80 to 100% humidity. Lots of stuff just doesn't work here. I was thinking (for example) that if those in dryer, less humid places liked the bales facing one direction to conserve water; I might need to orient them in another direction to encourage drainage. Just trying to plan ahead. The ground here can stay really soggy.

Holly: sounds like you're in an ideal climate for bale gardening.

I don't think there's any need to worry about too much water. The bales will drain just fine. The ground can stay as soggy as it wants.

Just don't assume that the rain is all you need. Keep a check on the inside of the bales for moisture. Plus, let your plants show you what they need.

You'll do just fine.

Take pics and post and we'll all learn from you, too.

Thanks Kent! All of that tilling was just more than I could face this year. I think the bales will be just the thing! I'll be sure to take pictures and should be starting this month. I've decided to let the wildlife have the back 1/3 of the yard.

Kent, in Holly's other post she mentioned framing the bales in like Doug did. Do you think, given what she has said about the moisture, that she should do that? She may have it too wet and have a problem with root rot??

Jeanette

Jeanette: Even if she frames in her bales, there's still gaps in the boards for air circulation. I just don't think those bales will be so saturated that the plants will drown, or have root rot, unless she has the bales in a swamp. JMHO.

I have to agree with Kent on that. My enclosed bales did not evaporate quite as much as the open bales, but they still would get dry if I didn't keep them watered. I'd say go for it Holly!

Doug

Don't make jokes about that swamp. We could have a "dig your own" crawfish boil back there.

I don't think I'll enclose them this time. Mostly because I don't have any power tools just yet. But I do think that I'll have better luck planting above ground. I have dry places but there are parts of the yard that stay soggy all of the time.

This is just a thought Lisa! Why not use Cinder blocks turned with the Holes facing up. fill the holes with compost and place the bales on top. Then you would have about 8 inches off the ground and drainage too. Your earth worms could come up through the tunnel of compost and get to your bales!

Eufaula that is a great idea!

Doug

That's the neat thing about Dave's. We help each other. One great mind helps another.

Jeanette

EUREKA! Excuse me all. I think I had an earthworm moment there...............Thanks Eufala!

Now can someone please tell me how to keep the donkey out of the hay?

Never mind....I don't care how much he eats. This is an experiment! If it works, next year I'll fence him off. If I can get a BLT out of this year then I'll be happy!

Glad to help out! I like the Idea so much that I just might try it out myself!! LOL!

Ohhhhhh,Shooooot! I now have those fire ants in my strawbales!!!! Haaaaayyyulp! I was about to get ready to plant , when I noticed the boogers. I put some Diamataceous earth down ( just on the nest) in between two bales, I also added some epsom salt, I hope this discourages the critters, and not the earth worms to come!

Eufaula I know that borax mixed with powdered sugar works on some ants, but don't know about the fire ants.

Jeanette

I remember a couple of years ago having the half red and half black ants in my bales. I just kept flooding them with the hose and finally they left. I am not sure what fire ants look like.

This message was edited Mar 17, 2009 10:54 AM

IT WORKED!!! No Fire Ants on or in My bales! I put the DE and Epsom salt in between the 2 bales on top of the nest Yesterday, and today NO ants !! Cross your fingers everyone that they stay away!

Wow, thanks Eufaula. I have been attempting to make some raised Lasagna Beds, and need something to go around the edges to get them deep enough. I will go right out and get some cinder blocks to surround them. I can not do the tilling and digging so I build them up from scratch, with newspapers, then the layers. I will also get some DE and Epsom salts while I'm out, just in case the fire ants come along! We do have a problem with them here in Coastal South Carolina.