How much water for straw bale garden?

by Jonatha
(Sonoma County, CA, USA)

Water is an issue for me as I don't have a whole lot. How practical is straw bale gardening for me and which plants (edible) would be best with less water? I have very heavy soil and a gopher/mole problem that won't quit so you can see the appeal of straw bales for me. I also love the idea that the bales will decompose where they sit! Is there any hope for me?

Doug says - "is there any hope for me?" - hmm, I don't know but there may indeed be hope for your garden. :-) Straw bale gardening will take up the same amount of water as any other form of gardening. Plant needs don't change - they draw up the same amount of water from a bale as from the ground. Given the bales are exposed to drying winds, my guess is they'll actually use more water (but I haven't run trials on them)

So while they have some appeal, they aren't a problem-free solution. Here's the article I wrote on them some time ago

You can try them and see but my guess is you'll be better served using the straw as a mulch to reduce water loss and working hard to control the pests you do have.

I do sympathize with your problems - good luck.

Comments for
How much water for straw bale garden?

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Strawbales are thirsty
by: JoAnn

From my personal experience after strawbale gardening for 3 years, is that they do require more water. It does help to place your bales on the ground so that the straw lies horizontally vs. vertically. In other words, place the bale so that the baling wire/cord touches the ground. Once my bales are in place, I run a soaker hose under the wires to help keep it in place. Then I plant my vegetable plants. Too bad we can't add pictures here.

Strawbale Gardening
by: JoAnn

The latest I've read on another gardening site is that it helps a great deal if you build wooden boxes around your bales (or put the bales in boxes :-).
This helps tremendously in keeping the bales from drying out too quickly. Hope this helps.

Water for straw bales, ctnd.
by: Carolyn

The bales also harbor slugs.

Water for straw bales
by: Carolyn

They do require more water. Until the internal decomposition is well advanced, a lot of water runs right through the bales. It's hard to get plants started in them, but if they "take" and you keep them hydrated, they can grow very well. My best tomato plant ever grew in a haybale, but that was a one-time fluke.

I experimented with bales for three years and finally gave up because I found them too much work, and the results too inconsistent.

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Doug Green