Still to wet to plant! (part 3)

A unique, fun, & functional option to raised beds!

Straw Bale Garden// Planted with Beets, Chard



When the weather just won't allow you to get in your garden and plant, try putting in a STRAW BALE GARDEN.



This is a great project that not only creates a unique raised bed, but also allows you to plant pretty much anywhere you want! Plant it on the grass (will kill everything underneath, including perennial weeds), concrete (think driveway), gravel, or other location where the ground is poor or cannot be dug.

When the bales colapse in on themselves, use the compost on your next SBG or toss it into your garden or flowerbed! This is the beauty of it - recycling at its finest!

 Great for kids or for adults that can't bend down to ground level.

{  Stack 3 straw bales side-by-side, cut side up (seed-free bales are best; baling twine should be facing outwards). Water down bales thoroughly.

{  Broadcast 3lbs bloodmeal, feathermeal or some other high nitrogen fertilizer over the 3 bales (5 lbs of used coffee grounds works too); then broadcast 3 lbs COF (complete organic fertilizer) over the bales.

{  Add 3 inches of soil, potting mix or coco coir over the bales, followed by 4-5 inches of aged compost (or last year's SBG material) to top it off. Water well again and cover (burlap coffee bags work well). The composting process will take place during this time, heating up the bales. Wait to plant until the process cools down, about 1-2 weeks.

Each bale should hold either...

§  (Up to) 6 cucumbers, trailing down

§  2-3 squash, zucchini, and/or melon plants

§  A couple of tomato plants per bale with one or two herbs and leafy veggies in between
§  Four pepper plants 

Summer planting of poppies, corn, tomato

§  12-15 bean or pea plants

§  A mix of the above or any other plants you like.

I put in this SBG June 2009 and planted it with some Winter crops (see pic above); the following Spring I planted lettuce in it. Summer 2010 I scattered some old California Poppy seed (which all germinated!), then stuck in some corn & a cherry tomato!  Note to self: corn does not do well in SBGs.

 Try it out & enjoy the rewards!


This is what the SBG looks like now... all collapsed in on itself. It's done it's duty and is now a lovely heap of compost! (you should see the size of the worms in here!) I will be putting in another SBG, so I will mix this loveliness all together and use it as my top (planting) layer. It's totaly recycleable!

Last year's SBG is ready to go on top of this year's bales!

Give it a try and let me know how it goes!  : )
Have any other fun and unique garden ideas? Let me know and I will share them!

PEAS OUT!
~GP