Straw bale gardening is fairly easy. Make sure you use wheat straw and not pine straw! Also make sure the bales are where you want them! Wet bales are impossible to move! The formula written up in a local magazine that seems to work really well is this—For the first 3 days, jsut soak the bales with water. Days 4-6 add 1/2 cup ammonium nitrate per bale and water in thoroughly. Nitrate of soda is usually availabe in 4 lb bags. You probably won’t be able to find 50# bags of amm. nitrate anymore. It’s what they use to make bombs, so it’s gotten really regulated. The soda helps the bales break down. Calcium nitrate works well too, and the added calcium is great for tomatoes. We only have it in 50’s, but check around. Days 7 and 8, cut the soda back to 1/4 cup per bale. 9 and 10, just water. Day 11 you should be able to plant. Work your hand or a small gardening implement into the straw to make a crack. You can add a handful of good potting soil—not soil from your garden. Plant your plants, and enjoy! We’ve found that you need some 10-10-10 or something, just a light app about 8-10” away from your plants. You can always use miracle gro, and mix a tablespoon of Epsom salt in with it. If you go that route, make sure you do it about once a week.
The straw bales eliminate soil borne diseases. the worst thing is that the wheat grows! You can keep it trimmed with a pair of scissors or grass shears. Usually one tomato per bale, but you can do 2 or 3 peppers. Viny stuff does good but it has to be trellised or it will take over your yard!
Ever used a compost pile?