You know what?
Using straw bales for growing plants is fantastic. Straw bales gardening is another option for those who have poor soil around their yard. Also, it is an inexpensive method of growing organic plants.
However, some people may be confused about the difference between straw and hay, which usually leads to a wrong purchase. Always remember: straw is stalk and hay is grass.
Before starting to find the answer for the question “where to buy straw bales?”, you may need some information:
Equipment and materials required for straw bales garden
An average straw bales garden will require you some equipment and materials including:
- A garden hose
- A hand trowel
- Available newspapers or cardboard to place under the bales
- Soil or compost if you need to direct-sow seeds
- Bone meal or blood meal fertilizer (Organic fertilizer)
- Straw Bales
- Seeds
Where To Buy Straw Bales For Gardening?
Finding the right place to buy straw bales may be your most challenging task as there have been recently thousands of stores selling them. The first thing to look out for is making sure to buy organic straw bales because lots of farms are using pesticides on their crops now.
It is not a good idea to purchase straw bales in some “big-box” stores. These stores don’t usually provide the organic straw bales as they don’t specialize in garden supply. One more thing to notice is that you need to confirm from the seller that the bale is 100% straw and not hay.
Another place recommendation is garden centers, home improvement, and plants nurseries. You can also find straw bales at animal feed stores or your nearby local stables. If they don’t sell them, you can ask them to give you the name of the supplier.
Want to know the best part?
The best place to source your bales is organic farms. The first advantage is that you’ll be getting them at cost. What’s more, you can avoid purchasing straw bales with toxic fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
How Much Does A Straw Bale Cost?
The cost will depend on where you buy. The price would be not too high which range from 1.5$ to 12$ for a piece of straw bale. The organic farms tend to sell straw bales much cheaper than those in the “ big-box” store.
Best Plants To Grow In Straw Bale Garden
Fruits
Fruiting plants are good options for straw bale gardening. Always bear in mind that if it’s a climbing fruit, it needs some supports.
During your first year of attempt, you should avoid tall plants which could lead to weakening the straw bale. It is highly recommended that you use these plants: squash, strawberries, eggplants, peppers, etc.
Tubers and Root vegetables
Root vegetables and tubers are two excellent candidates that can grow in straw bale gardens. Their roots can stretch easily in the underground, and their stems can approach the surface to grow into a plant.
All kinds of root vegetables grow best in plowed soil which not only can maintain moisture but also drain quickly. Carrot, potato or turnip are excellent choices for growing in straw bale gardens.
Raw vegetables
Leafy greens, or fresh vegetables, can grow in straw bale gardens. Here are some raw vegetables you may like to grow: lettuce, kale, and chard.
Cruciferous vegetables
Like leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables can grow quickly with a wide range of applications. They usually perform well in fall and winter which help you lengthen your growing season. Some typical cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, cauliflower, and broccoli.
Don’t Grow These Plants
Not all veggies and fruits suit to a straw bale garden. The fact is that some do not produce well when planted in straw bale gardens.
- Straw bale garden is only suitable for low and lightweight plants. If you grow plants like corns, your straw bales garden will eventually collapse because corn tends to be too tall and heavy.
- Too many carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, turnips, and other root vegetables grown in straw bales garden are not the right choice. Instead, try to rotate these crops to make your garden more various.
Final Word
The question: Where to buy straw bales for gardening is now answered. All you need to do now is to go out and find some organic stores or farms nearby to purchase them. If you find this information useful, share it with your friends!