Straw Bale Gardening

Straw bales are not just the container, but also the growing media. Straw has very little nutritional value; however, as the straw inside the bale decomposes, it provides nutrients for the plants. The bales can normally only be used for one year or growing season. After that, the straw decomposes to the point that it no longer provides nutrients. Then in the fall, whatever is left of the bale can be used as mulch or added to a compost pile. Be sure to use straw, not hay. Hay is usually baled grass or alfalfa, is green in color, and is fed to livestock as fodder. It is usually much more expensive than straw, does not have the water-holding capacity of straw, and contains seed heads which will sprout all over the bale...which is okay if you want a Chia Pet in your garden.

Straw bale gardening may not be for everyone, but our experience was very positive. Many home gardeners who visit the FOHC vegetable garden are very interested in our little experiment.

Resources

• Straw Bale Gardening (PDF) Garden Note 160, explains the basics for starting a straw bale garden in your yard.
  
  
• Return to our Straw Bales introduction for links to other years.
  
  
• There is also a free ANR publication on straw bale gardening (PDF).
  
  
• The book Straw Bale Gardens (Joel Karsten,  Cool Springs Press) provides detailed information about setting up the straw bales and all aspects of straw bale gardening. The author's website also provides information and photographs that may be helpful if you would like to try growing vegetables in straw bales.