03/19/2024
Gardeners can make a quick raised bed by using hay or straw square bales! The bales hold water, and the added 1 1/2- to 2-foot height makes gardening easier for those who can’t bend easily.
Bale selection is important. Wheat, rice, and barley straw make the best bales because they drain well. Straw bales tend to have fewer w**d seeds than hay, but fescue, ryegrass, bermudagrass, and native hay bales also work.
Before you can start planting, you need to fertilize the bales. Use one pound (two cups) of 10-10-10 or 13-13-13 fertilizer per bale. Pour the fertilizer into several holes across the top of the bales. When you finish fertilizing, water the bales thoroughly to make sure the composting process starts properly. You want the bales to stay moist, so be sure to water it daily for three days. After seven days of watering, you can start planting.
If planting seedlings or small vegetables, add potting mix to the hole to help retain moisture. For large vegetables, you can plant them directly into the straw bale without adding additional potting mix. Consider planting tomatoes, broccoli, cabbage, greens, cucumbers, herbs, and flowers when using this method. You can plant using seeds, but it is generally more difficult. If you want to give it a try, place two inches of potting mix on top of the straw bales and plant according to direction.
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📸 Alabama Extension
