Straw bales are ideal as beds. Whether on the balcony, on the terrace or in the garden, the straw bale provides a perfect surface for fruit, vegetables or flowers. Below you will find out how to plant your straw bale step by step.
How do you plant straw bales for growing fruits and vegetables?
Planting straw bales is easy: place the straw bales in a sunny location, water and fertilize them for 10 days. Then apply a thin layer of soil and plant plants or seeds. Regular watering promotes growth and harvest.
Why plant straw bales?
Straw bales are particularly suitable as a base for tomatoes, lettuce etc. because fertilizing and watering starts a rotting process inside. This creates heat and nutrients, both good conditions for fast, he althy growth and a rich harvest.
When and where can the straw bales be planted?
You should only put up your straw bales when it is no longer freezing. You should also only start watering and fertilizing when frost is no longer expected. Place your straw bales in a sunny location. Fruits and vegetables should have at least 6 hours of sun to thrive.
Planting straw bales: instructions
In principle, you can also plant any fruit and vegetables that you grow on a “normal bed” on a bale of straw. The slightly higher soil temperature means you can even harvest earlier.
1. Setting up straw bales
Tie the straw tightly together and place it in the desired location with the ends of the straw up (and down). Alternatively, you can also place your straw bales in bed borders (€76.00 on Amazon), e.g. made from pallets, to give them support. Place several straw bales close together to create a larger bed. Make sure that you can easily reach the middle from all sides so that you don't have any problems later when harvesting.
2. Watering and fertilizing straw bales
Now the straw bales are watered and fertilized for 10 days. On the first day, the straw bales are watered thoroughly and then fertilized, on the second day they are only watered lightly, on the third day they are fertilized, etc. Fertilizer one day, water the next day until the 10 days are over. Water carefully so that the fertilizer is not washed out. Cover the bales when it rains. After 10 days, the bales should be warm inside and smell like rot.
3. Planting straw bales
Now a thin layer of soil is placed on the bales and the seeds or plants are planted. Then it's time to water and wait.