How do you condition straw bales for gardening?
Day 1-3: Soak bales thoroughly and keep them damp. Day 4-6: Sprinkle each bale with ½ cup urea (46-0-0) and water well into bales. You can substitute bone meal, fish meal, or compost for a more organic approach. Days 7-9: Cut back to 1/4 cup of fertilizer per bale per day, and continue to water it in well. The best moisture level for baling hay or green feed depends on the type of baler you use. If you have a large hard-core round baler, 15% moisture is optimum. At this moisture level, the bales will keep for an extended period. The lower moisture range is preferred in areas of low humidity.Use a ½ cup of a complete garden fertilizer or three cups of an organic fertilizer like Milorganite®. Then completely moisten the bale. The organic fertilizer feeds the microorganisms that help decompose the straw into a nutrient rich planting medium. Thoroughly moisten the bale.Bales must be dry, with a moisture content below 20%. Bales should be dense and compact. The baling machine should be set to maximum compression; in general this means bales contain about one third more straw than usual.
How long does it take to condition straw bales?
Condition the bale As soon as moisture hits the bale, it will start to decompose, and the inside will heat right up. Be sure to condition the bale before you plant it. This process usually takes around 10 to 14 days. Conditioning” the bales is basically the process of getting the inside of the bales to start composting. This process takes approximately 10 to 12 days. Since I was just experimenting, I didn’t worry about how long it would take, as long as the conditioning was done correctly.How long does composting the straw bale take? A gardener’s choice of nitrogen will determine how long the colonization process will take. Starting the recommended 20 days before your area’s scheduled last frost, the process should take about 12 days using lawn fertilizer.Day 1-3: Soak bales thoroughly and keep them damp. Day 4-6: Sprinkle each bale with ½ cup urea (46-0-0) and water well into bales. You can substitute bone meal, fish meal, or compost for a more organic approach. Days 7-9: Cut back to 1/4 cup of fertilizer per bale per day, and continue to water it in well.Condition the bale This process usually takes around 10 to 14 days. For the first 3 days, simply water the bale thoroughly so it stays damp. For the next 7 days, in addition to watering the bale, use a liquid or powder fertilizer dissolved in a watering can to speed the decomposition.
What are the best straw bales for gardening?
Wheat-straw bales are ideal, though other types such as alfalfa and buckwheat, are reasonable substitutes. Avoid hay bales, which are often quite a bit cheaper. They often include dried grasses with lots of seeds. In addition, they break down too quickly and become weedy. Wheat straw bales are the best choice for this type of garden. Pine straw bales do not break down as easily, and hay bales will host more weed seeds. Wheat straw bales easily are found at most home improvement stores or local farms. Make sure the straw bales are held together tightly with twine.Tama recommends: Grass bales (1. At least 2 to 3 full wraps. Straw Bales (1. At least 3 to 4 full wraps. Harsh-condition bales (1. More than 4 full wraps.
What fertilizer to use for straw bale gardening?
Apply fertilizer on days 1, 3 and 5, watering it into the bale. Use 3 cups of organic fertilizer per bale or 1⁄2 cup ammonium nitrate. A high nitrogen fish emulsion or blood meal would be good choices. Day 1: Sprinkle 1 cup of fertilizer evenly on top of bales. Water in with 1 gallon of water. Let it soak. Day 2: Soak bales with another gallon of water.Day 1-3: Soak bales thoroughly and keep them damp. Day 4-6: Sprinkle each bale with ½ cup urea (46-0-0) and water well into bales. You can substitute bone meal, fish meal, or compost for a more organic approach. Days 7-9: Cut back to 1/4 cup of fertilizer per bale per day, and continue to water it in well.Complete fertilizers, such as 8-8-8 or 10-10-10, is an option for maintaining plant health. Evenly apply ½ to 1 cup of fertilizer per bale each month and water in adequately.