Don't Have Soil, Try Planting in Straw Bales
2024-05-28
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1You do not need good soil - or even soil at all - to grow plants. Straw bales can work, too.
2Straw is the dry stems of wheat and other grain plants.
3Straw bales are made of straw that has been tightly pressed together.
4They can be used to grow vegetables in a cost-effective and easy-to-care-for way.
5If you are going to use straw bales for your gardening needs, it is important to know what to look for.
6Avoid bales made of hay.
7Hay bales contain seeds and are meant for horses.
8Straw is for gardening. Most of its seeds have been harvested.
9There should not be many (or any) remaining seeds in the bale.
10Straw is less likely than hay to have been treated with chemicals that could slow your plants' growth or even prevent it.
11To be sure, it is a good idea to ask the seller if their bales have been treated with chemicals.
12It will take about two weeks to condition your straw bales.
13The process turns it into a fertile bed for plants.
14Choose an area that offers the correct amount of sunlight for the plants you will be growing.
15You can place the bale on any flat surface.
16But keep in mind that after the bale is wet, it will be very heavy and difficult to move.
17Set the bale with its cut end facing up, then begin the conditioning process.
18During the first three days, apply water slowly and evenly until it begins to run out the bottom of the bale.
19You can use equipment like a hose set over the top to do this.
20On days four through 10, spread 78 milliliters of herbicide-free grass fertilizer that contains at least 20 percent nitrogen.
21Spread it across the top of the bale.
22If you do not want to use chemicals, you can also spread a 50/50 mix of ground bone and blood.
23Water the bale to spread the fertilizer. But do not overwater.
24That could wash out the nutrients.
25Continue to water the bale daily.
26The nitrogen will break the straw down and make the bale into a nutrient-rich environment for plants.
27As this happens, the center of the bale will heat up and then begin to cool.
28It will be safe to plant seeds or young plants when the temperature drops below 38 degrees Celsius.
29Some mushroom growth at the beginning of the process is normal.
30They will die down on their own.
31But do not eat them.
32Finally, it is time for planting.
33Make holes or cut open the top of the bale and plant your seedlings.
34Fill each hole with soil.
35If you are planting seeds, make holes that follow the depth suggestion in the directions.
36Drop larger seeds in, and then fill each hole with soil.
37If you are planting smaller seeds, spread some soil over the bale's surface, plant the seeds, and then spread more soil to meet the suggested depth.
38Continue to water your seeds or plants daily to make sure the center of the bale and the area around each plant are kept moist.
39Depending on the weather, additional watering may be necessary.
40Do not let the bale dry out.
41Add fertilizer and amendments throughout the growing season as you would with normal plants.
42Many flowers and vegetables grow well in straw bales.
43But vegetables that have heavy tops and shallow roots should be avoided.
44I'm Gena Bennett.
1You do not need good soil - or even soil at all - to grow plants. Straw bales can work, too. 2Straw is the dry stems of wheat and other grain plants. Straw bales are made of straw that has been tightly pressed together. They can be used to grow vegetables in a cost-effective and easy-to-care-for way. 3If you are going to use straw bales for your gardening needs, it is important to know what to look for. Avoid bales made of hay. Hay bales contain seeds and are meant for horses. 4Straw is for gardening. Most of its seeds have been harvested. There should not be many (or any) remaining seeds in the bale. 5Straw is less likely than hay to have been treated with chemicals that could slow your plants' growth or even prevent it. To be sure, it is a good idea to ask the seller if their bales have been treated with chemicals. 6Preparation 7It will take about two weeks to condition your straw bales. The process turns it into a fertile bed for plants. 8Choose an area that offers the correct amount of sunlight for the plants you will be growing. You can place the bale on any flat surface. But keep in mind that after the bale is wet, it will be very heavy and difficult to move. 9Set the bale with its cut end facing up, then begin the conditioning process. 10During the first three days, apply water slowly and evenly until it begins to run out the bottom of the bale. You can use equipment like a hose set over the top to do this. 11On days four through 10, spread 78 milliliters of herbicide-free grass fertilizer that contains at least 20 percent nitrogen. Spread it across the top of the bale. If you do not want to use chemicals, you can also spread a 50/50 mix of ground bone and blood. 12Water the bale to spread the fertilizer. But do not overwater. That could wash out the nutrients. 13Continue to water the bale daily. 14The nitrogen will break the straw down and make the bale into a nutrient-rich environment for plants. As this happens, the center of the bale will heat up and then begin to cool. It will be safe to plant seeds or young plants when the temperature drops below 38 degrees Celsius. 15Some mushroom growth at the beginning of the process is normal. They will die down on their own. But do not eat them. 16Planting and growing 17Finally, it is time for planting. Make holes or cut open the top of the bale and plant your seedlings. Fill each hole with soil. If you are planting seeds, make holes that follow the depth suggestion in the directions. Drop larger seeds in, and then fill each hole with soil. 18If you are planting smaller seeds, spread some soil over the bale's surface, plant the seeds, and then spread more soil to meet the suggested depth. 19Continue to water your seeds or plants daily to make sure the center of the bale and the area around each plant are kept moist. Depending on the weather, additional watering may be necessary. Do not let the bale dry out. 20Add fertilizer and amendments throughout the growing season as you would with normal plants. 21Many flowers and vegetables grow well in straw bales. But vegetables that have heavy tops and shallow roots should be avoided. 22I'm Gena Bennett. 23Jessica Damiano reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 24______________________________________________ 25Words in This Story 26apply - v. to put or spread (something) on a surface or a part of the body 27herbicide - n. a chemical used to destroy plants or stop plant growth 28mushroom - n. a fungus that is shaped like an umbrella 29moist - adj. slightly or barely wet: not completely dry 30shallow - adj. having a small distance to the bottom from the surface or highest point