Straw bales make excellent beds. Whether on the balcony, on the terrace or in the garden, the straw bale offers a perfect base for fruit, vegetables or flowers. Below you will find out how to plant your straw bale step by step.
Straw bales are ideal for planting
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 of which are good prerequisites for rapid, healthy growth and a rich harvest.
When and where can the straw bales be planted?
You should only erect your straw bales when it is no longer freezing. You should only start watering and fertilizing when no more frost is to be expected.
Put your straw bales in a sunny spot. Fruits and vegetables should have at least 6 hours of sun to thrive.
Planting straw bales: A guide
In principle, you can also plant all fruit and vegetables that you grow on a “normal bed” on a bale of straw. Due to the slightly higher soil temperature, you can even harvest earlier.
1. Set up straw bales
Tie the straw tightly together and place it in the desired location, straw ends up (and down). Alternatively, you can also set up your straw bales in bed borders (€12.90), e.g. made of pallets, to give them stability.
Place several bales of straw 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. Pour and fertilize the 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 only lightly watered, on the third day fertilized etc. One day fertilizer, the next day water until the 10 days are over. Water gently so the fertilizer doesn't wash out. Cover the bales in the rain. After 10 days, the bales should be warm inside and smell of rot.
3. Plant 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 pour and wait.