What On Earth.
Strawbale Gardening is a fairly new concept in the UK. The no soil needed grow anywhere method is now catching on. Over the winter months I will be examining what I have learned, the mistakes I have made, (lots), and some new ideas I have been trying.
PHOTO CAROLYN REIGE. NEW MEXICO
In my next blog, we will start at the beginning, Where can I put my strawbale garden.
Hello.
I have been busy experimenting with certain aspects of the method. There are a few things I think might help you.
1. You MUST soak the bale completely when you first start to mature the strawbale.
2. When growing potatoes cut the top twine.
3. Use the best quality compost to sow in you can afford.
4. Use the whole of the bale, think space.
I am experimenting with Strawbale Gardening under cover, and will keep you informed.
Like all forms of growing, strawbale gardening is a slave to mother nature and nothing in gardening is set in stone.
GOOD GROWING
Simon.
Vegetables like tomato's, runner beans etc need support. Here I have erected a T POST support frame. It covers five straw bales so needs to be fairly strong. Polythene can be draped over the wires to help the tomatoes. Normal garden cane just is not strong enough if you are using more than one strawbale. I go through all stages of Strawbale Gardening during my workshops. If your group or organisation would like more information on these please use the Get In Touch page.
Romaine lettuce in well "matured" straw. Thanks to Pete Darker for pictures.
Don't sow too many at once you don't want a glut. Rather sow every few weeks. Lettuce perform very well in straw bales.
Grass pushing through.
During your "maturing" process its normal to see grass coming up. This dies off when you plant and sow.
This StrawBale is halfway through the "maturing" process. The surface will become much darker. Inside, the bale will heat up considerably, so its important to be patient and not plant or sow too early. You can use a soil thermometer, but a simple finger test should suffice.
ABOVE. I'm going to be planting Pink Fur Apple potatoes. This is a main crop potato with a distinctive pink skin and creamy waxy flesh. It has a lovely nutty flavour and is perfect for boiling or chipping. Eat hot or cold. They are delicious boiled, and eaten cold in a salad. Below. This is my StrawBale AFTER the "maturing" process. It is important that you get this process right. I have adapted this stage of StrawBale gardening for our UK climate. If you do not get this stage right it will seriously affect your growing. A full day to day explanation of what to do over the 14 days maturing e.g. what to add and when is given in my Instructional DVD. Here's a great little tip. When you have completed the "maturing" process and are about to plant your seed potatoes. Cut off and remove the TOP bailing twine. see below.
ABOVE. Make initial hole with a dibber. BELOW. Start pulling out straw.
ABOVE. Pull out a good amount of straw. BELOW. Widen hole with dibber.
ABOVE. You need a nice deep hole. BELOW. Some organic compost in hole.
ABOVE. Put the seed potato chit end up, in hole which should be 5 to 8" deep. BELOW. Back fill with a mixture of straw and compost.
ABOVE. That's almost it. BELOW. Just a little more composr.
ABOVE. Water in well. Below. Don't forget to label your StrawBale. Plant out March onwards. Harvest Sept/Oct. That's it, now we wait for a StrawBale packed full of quality potatoes. Don't over water during growing.
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A good shot of peas growing, and the Carrot Gnome!! But I should have sown a few more in. Think space.
I am now some 11 days into the "maturing" process. The StrawBales are starting to heat up and compost ready for planting and sowing. This process must be completed for best results.
In our DVD you can see me opening a StrawBale full of potatoes. It was my first try with them. Pick an unusual verity such as Pink Fur Apple, which are delicious served cold with a salad. The bale MUST be fully "matured". Don't over water. Remember to still "chit" the potatoes before you plant.
Due to the height of a StrawBale, it is ideal for people with mobility issues. Also because you can site your bales almost anywhere patio, lawn, drive etc its very wheelchair friendly. StrawBaleVeguk was proud to be mentioned in the March/April edition of enable magazine. In our DVD we show StrawBale systems that are easily acessable from all sides.
Its a cold and blustery day here in Lincolnshire. I have started the "maturing process" on my Strawbales. Remember to cover your bales if there is any chance of rain. For the full story on how to grow tasty vegetables in Strawbales, purchase our unique instructional DVD.
One Strawbale used carefully can yield a good amount of produce. Think space.
Runner beans in a single bale.
