This video will teach you how to condition straw bales for growing veggies from start to finish in 3 easy steps! Did you know you can grow vegetables in straw bales? Straw bale gardening is like container gardening, but it’s easier, cheaper, more sustainable and fits almost anywhere! If you want an exciting way to grow veggies in small spaces, or you don’t have good soil to grow in ground, a straw bale garden may be for you!
Please see the following links for items shown in the video:
Urea 46-0-0 (5 LBS)*: https://amzn.to/3FvnO9o
Urea 46-0-0 (20 LBS)*: https://amzn.to/3lnglCw
Naturally Derived Urea 46-0-0 (5 LBS)*: https://amzn.to/3lt0lyS
Written instructions on seasoning straw bales: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/know-how-know-more/2014-05-02-straw-bale-gardens
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 Reasons To Grow Plants In Straw Bales
1:44 Step #1: Days 1-3 [Watering]
4:33 Step #2: Days 4-9 [Fertilizing]
6:42 Fertilizer Measurements & Application
9:47 Checking Straw Bale Temperatures
12:36 Step #3: Days 10-14 [Cooling Down]
15:34 Adventures With Dale
If you have any questions about conditioning straw bales for straw bale gardening, have questions about growing fruit trees or want to know about the things I grow in my raised bed vegetable garden and edible landscaping food forest, are looking for more gardening tips and tricks and garden hacks, have questions about vegetable gardening and organic gardening in general, or want to share some DIY and “how to” garden tips and gardening hacks of your own, please ask in the Comments below!
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25 Comments
If you found this video helpful, please "Like" and share to help increase its reach! Thanks for watching 😊TIMESTAMPS for convenience:
0:00 Reasons To Grow Plants In Straw Bales
1:44 Step #1: Days 1-3 [Watering]
4:33 Step #2: Days 4-9 [Fertilizing]
6:42 Fertilizer Measurements & Application
9:47 Checking Straw Bale Temperatures
12:36 Step #3: Days 10-14 [Cooling Down]
15:34 Adventures With Dale
Could I use hay? It's cheaper and easier to acquire.
Looking forward to the updates.
Question… can you use straw bales that have been sitting for over a year?
I tried this. They last a season. The soil lasts forever. Then you have to replace and dispose of the bales. Bales cost $7, that’s what I paid, close to a bag of Black Cow. To me, this is a one bale patio project. Good luck. You can use milorganite also.
Step two surprised me.. don’t think I’ve ever seen you without a hat 😅
very interesting
Does it matter what type of straw you use??? For example oat straw vs wheat straw.
Urea is urine!
Interesting but I’m not sure why would you use this method. The quantity of fertiliser used seems enormous.
I've been looking forward to this for a few days. Still have a bit of time to go before I'm out of the below freezing Temps. But it'll get me ahead with getting the straw bales and urea. Thanks for the info
I'm so interested in your progress. Much of your advice on this method differs from that of Joel Karsten. I went organic with my conditioning. It definitely took longer!
Works great in east-coast gardens, I'm sure. Not so much in the west coast. If you have dry summers, don't bother. They just don't hold enough water (I tried!)
Love love love your videos. I noticed you planted your Meyer lemon tree up against your house. Can you do a video on if their are any dangers to the foundation of your home by doing so.
I live in Montana. The ranchers have used most of the straw to keep the cows and babies warm because our winter has been so cold.
The thumbnail with you and Dale is so sweet 🥰
Is this process safe for pets? My cat likes to stratch at the bales.
Last year I had super high hopes, dedicated half my garden area to bay bale gardening… followed the instructions carefully, only to watch an epic fail because the source of the hay bales lied to me- they were not organic, but treated with chemicals that prevented growth… not doing this again
Curious! Thanks!
I’ve been using straw bales for years between the roadway and sidewalk out front of my house (best sun). I post in local groups just before Halloween each year to try to solicit free fall decorations including pumpkins, squashes, fodder shocks and bales of straw. The straw bales are awesome scores when I get them. I align them in the same orientation as shown but disperse organic fertilizers and limestone pellets into them randomly in the fall through winter. The rain works these components into the bales so by the spring the bales are fully conditioned. Even easier than intentional watering!
I love the thumbnail for this video. Dale is definitely supervising!
I saw Dale had a subscription to treats and heavy chewer toys. What is the name of that place? Also, what is the best thing I can sprinkle around my Vegetable and Pepper Plants to deter my dogs from digging them up? I used to use black pepper and it worked OK. But since I have been using fish emulsion they get a little more excited about digging them up. Thanks for all your helpful advice which you present in a nice usable fashion.
Thank you so much for sharing this information. Your videos are so easy to understand!
I really need to give staw bale gardening a try. Craig LeHoullier is a big fan of it for tomatoes.
I never wasted more money and time than trying the straw bale method. I have been successfully gardening for over 40 years. At least the compost created by using all that nitrogen and straw created some awesome compost. Money is better spent on raised beds.