Got crappy soil. Want some quick results? Bale it.
http://www.resilientcommunities.com/extreme-urban-gardening-straw-bale-gardens/
http://www.resilientcommunities.com/extreme-urban-gardening-straw-bale-gardens/
Easy garden idea
- Thread starter begreen
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We did a variation of this 2 years ago for about 2/3 of our 1 acre garden, removed all topsoil first then laid down a 1' thick straw mat then put soil on top then planted the crops. Results were amazing from a poor brown sandy soil to a rich black soil full of micro life in 1 season, it looked as good as the 20-30 year old manure piles. We used the farm equipment but his is doable on a smaller scale with a shovel, fork & wheelbarrow. One thing you non farmers have to remember is be very choosey about the straw, get good clean weed free bales when you can, or be prepared to do alot of weeding, reason being that most modern combines push all the separated weed seeds out the back & into the straw. Great for crops that like warm feet as the composting will generate that. Also handy up here to shield against the effects of the first few frosts.
I've heard or using hay, but never straw. At 4 to 5 dollars a bale, it would add up quickly. I've grown potatoes using straw by dropping in a shallow furrow then placing 6 to 8" of straw on top. Using straw looks awfully easy compared to standard methods, but cover crops are inexpensive and build soil quality.
I put my tomatoes and peppers in 5 gallon buckets this year. I'm hoping it will be a low volume soil approach compared to a raised bed. I put in raised beds earlier and am not as happy with them as I thought I would be. This should make rotation to keep pests away easier also.
Matt
Matt
DevilsBrew
Minister of Fire
- Apr 21, 2013
- 687
On another forum, I have read others using bales for strawberries.
Matt, what type of tomatoes will you be growing in the containers?
Matt, what type of tomatoes will you be growing in the containers?
Interesting idea.
Would keep the rabbits from eating so much.
Might make it even easier for the deer though.
Raised potatoes in a stack of tires once. You start with one, as the potatoes grow you add another tire and fill it with compost. At the end of the season you unstack the tires and harvest the taters.
Would keep the rabbits from eating so much.
Might make it even easier for the deer though.
Raised potatoes in a stack of tires once. You start with one, as the potatoes grow you add another tire and fill it with compost. At the end of the season you unstack the tires and harvest the taters.
No. Tires are actually chemically very stable. That's why they persist so long in the environment...like trash bags. That's why they're recycled into playgrounds and such.
Was sort of half kidding there ,but still think id rather just keep piling compost around as i get it for free at our local recycle center,sometimes i get a ton or more and just bury the whole garden. I never need any kind of fertilizer when i use it nor pesticide either. Everything grows like crazy in it.
started straw bales 4 day ago. in the h2o and fertilizer stage. next bone meal and wait for bales to cool. expensive, but hoping increase in production will make the hobby worth while.
DevilsBrew
Minister of Fire
- Apr 21, 2013
- 687
DevilsBrew
Minister of Fire
- Apr 21, 2013
- 687
all planted, just cukes and summer squash to plant from seed . lost only one spinach plant so far! now we wait.
wish I could post a pic. week in on this after prep and all but the spinach have taken well. 100 % germination on beans and the cukes and squash all up.so far it's great. planted beans in checker board style per inventor of this method, 33 plant in a bale. a lot for 13 x 36 area? hope i'm still happy in a couple of weeks! thanks to OP
Straw bale gardens work well. Hay has more seeds and that may cause weed-like issues.
Also consider lasagna gardening- same idea, but no need to buy straw (also no weeding, tilling, etc to start!). You just use compostables (yard waste), compost, or half-finished compost. I construct it and plant right away without waiting- sometimes using small soil pockets.
http://organicgardening.about.com/od/startinganorganicgarden/a/lasagnagarden.htm
Urine is clean, high nitrogen fertilizer. Don't turn you nose up at it (nyuck nyuck). Think about it- everyone is OK with animal crap, but this stuff coming out of your own body is a problem? You going to infect yourself with something that you already have?
Also consider lasagna gardening- same idea, but no need to buy straw (also no weeding, tilling, etc to start!). You just use compostables (yard waste), compost, or half-finished compost. I construct it and plant right away without waiting- sometimes using small soil pockets.
http://organicgardening.about.com/od/startinganorganicgarden/a/lasagnagarden.htm
Urine is clean, high nitrogen fertilizer. Don't turn you nose up at it (nyuck nyuck). Think about it- everyone is OK with animal crap, but this stuff coming out of your own body is a problem? You going to infect yourself with something that you already have?
At night... when everyone is asleep... I pee in your garden
USMC80
Minister of Fire
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