Strawbale Planters

[jettgirl24]

Hi All,

A couple of weeks ago on my way to work I spied some super cool old solid wood doors out on the parking strip with a free sign on them. My boyfriend had the day off and was kind enough to rush over with his truck and snag them for me. I'm going to make them into a big planter to grow corn in.

I'd rather not cut the doors in half because they're so cool looking but it would cost me a fortune to fill them up with soil. This has kept the project on hold for two weekends now while I debated what to do, then the other day I noticed that my neighbor has planted a bunch of veggies in straw bales and it dawned on me that straw would be the perfect (read cheap) filler!!! This brought me to yet another dilemma that I couldn't find the answer to though. I could plant stuff directly into the straw bales but what I'm wondering is if I can open the strawbales and fill the planter 1/2 or 2/3 with loose straw, then throw some soil and compost on top to fill the rest.

Does anyone know if this plan will work or if I should keep the bale whole and just plant directly into it?

 

[tortoise]

I think that would work. It would SLOWLY decompose and you'd someday be able to work it into the soil as a compost.

I would totally go for it.

Or ... you could plant potatoes in the bottom (in dirt) and mound up around the. Can you mound with straw? that would make harvest easier!

 

[Wifezilla]

I'm wondering is if I can open the strawbales and fill the planter 1/2 or 2/3 with loose straw, then throw some soil and compost on top to fill the rest.

That's what I did in my sweet potato tubs. The straw wasn't brand new, but had been in the duck pen so it was a little decomposed. I think new will be fine if you have good dirt on top and don't plant really deep rooted veggies OR go all out and do taters like tortoise suggested.

 

[jettgirl24]

I'm planning to put corn in the planters paired with cukes. I know they say not to do corn in strawbales because they make them top heavy. These doors are super heavy though... They definitely dont' make them like that anymore! So ithink with the planter to hold them in place they'd be fine even if I left the bales intact. I bought enough soil to fill the planter if I cut the door in half to 18" tall so I think I probably have enough for good soil depth.

I'm a little fuzzy on the tater strategy. If I planted them in the bottom could I still layer some straw and then plant corn and cukes on top?

 

[Mackay]

It certainly should work and do a search on lasagna gardening and you will get more ideas.

I am in the process of filling my beds right now. They are 18 inches tall. Placed cardboard on the bottom to keep weeds from coming up. layer of staw, layer of leaves. few shovel fulls of dirt so it would not blow away till I was ready for the next layer..
Layer of homemade compost, layer of alfalfa hay, and this is an important layer and your corn will love it as it is high in nitrogen.

You can also use grass clippings but not too thick as they will matte up. Better to put them on thin and frequently between each layer if that is what you are using.

If your planter is deep you can just repeat all the layers. Some people like to use a soaked peat moss for a layer or two.
Then for the top pick up a few bags of planting mix. you only need about 2 inches.

Keep your bed moist. Next year you will have great soil to plant in and if it has shrunk down just build up again with more layers.

Now hay and staw may contribute to weeds, best to go after them when they are small, or just mulch with more straw or compost on top around your plants and that keeps them down..

Here I am blah blah blah, having never fully done the process myself but this is what the experts say to do.

I am also adding some paramagnetic trace minerals to the top.