Hello. I am amazed at how many people are trying the strawbale gardening method. I now have mail from all over the world. Like anything it takes a bit of getting used to, but when mastered most people find it very productive. It is a form of container gardening and the strawbale is your container. It is not just veggies that love straw, oh no, try herbs and flowers to. It is a no soil needed method. So have your strawbale garden on you lawn, your patio, balcony, drive. Invite your friends around for a bbq and you will be the talk of the neighborhood. A bale garden looks great. I know people that keep one strawbale outside the back door and pull fresh lettuce and tomatoes for a salad. Likewise i hear from folk who have massive twenty bale systems. You can grow on the surface of the strawbale and also vertically.
A three bale system.
What vegetables can we grow in straw? Well pretty much everything. My real favourites are runner beans, onions, peas, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, marrows, cauliflowers and potatoes. Potatoes love strawbales. Pick a variety not available in shops. My favourite is pink fur apple, a small tasty salad potato. The most important part in setting up a strawbale garden is what I call the “maturing” process. Put simply this is when you encourage the bales to start the composting process by adding water and a nitrogen base feed in varying amounts over a period of time. I have devised my own maturing schedule that lasts about seventeen days. When that time is up, the bales should be ready to plant and or sow in. Due to the height of the bales this method is ideal for people with mobility issues. Likewise because you can site your garden on concrete it is very wheelchair friendly. No sharp tools needed so its great for children, or as a classroom project. I hope this has whetted your appetite and you will give it a grow. I am organizing some zoom workshops. I have also written an e-book on the subject. Please take a look here. Thanks.
Good growing.
Simon.
