CORVALLIS, Ore. — A lack of yard space doesn’t have to keep you from harvesting fresh produce. With straw bale gardening, you can grow nearly anything you would in the ground while avoiding the challenges of compacted soil.
“Straw bales bring gardening up to a more manageable height for people with disabilities,” said Brooke Edmunds, horticulturist with Oregon State University Extension Service. “They also provide an organic raised bed without the expense and permanence of building one.”
Choosing the right bale
Before purchasing, confirm you’re buying straw, not hay. Hay contains seeds that sprout into weeds. Even straw bales can have some seed, so ask whether they’re weed-free.
Once home, place the bales where they’ll stay. They grow heavy once watered. Most vegetables need full sun, though lettuces, herbs and greens will benefit from light shade during the hottest part of summer. If shade isn’t available, place them on the north side of taller plants for protection.
For stability, consider driving stakes or rebar around the bale. The wire wrapping helps hold the shape but won’t prevent eventual slumping as the bale decomposes.
Conditioning for planting
Fresh straw bales heat up as they begin to break down. They must be conditioned for 10–14 days before planting.
- Saturate thoroughly with water.
- Sprinkle the top with 1 cup of high-nitrogen fertilizer such as lawn fertilizer or blood meal.
- Water again to soak in.
Repeat until the bale cools to ambient temperature. Use a soil thermometer or your hand to check. Planting too early risks burning crops.
Cover the bale with 2–4 inches of garden soil — not potting mix, which sheds water and dries quickly.
What to plant
Both seeds and starts can be used in straw bale gardens. Good choices include:
- From seed: cucumbers, beans (on a trellis), smaller squash or melons, annual herbs.
- From starts: lettuces, greens, peppers, eggplants, determinate tomatoes, strawberries.
More difficult crops include carrots, beets, potatoes and corn. For those, consider stacking two bales.
To plant seedlings, dig out a small space, set the plant, add soil and tamp down. Sow seeds as you would in the ground, at the recommended depth. Avoid overcrowding, which increases disease risk.
Care and maintenance
Check daily for moisture. In dry summer weather, bales often need watering once a day, similar to container gardens. A soaker hose or drip system makes the job easier but isn’t essential.
Fertilize as you would for container-grown vegetables, increasing the rate during hot weather when frequent watering leaches nutrients.
Straw bale gardens face the same pest and disease pressures as traditional gardens, but slugs are particularly common. Monitor regularly and manage early.
Previously titled Straw bale gardens work where others won’t
