tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-417192197645926716.post3088072035059776997..comments2024-01-23T17:42:42.542-05:00Comments on Urban Self-Sufficientist: Prepping hay bales for the growing seasonATWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06091588360689645697noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-417192197645926716.post-57489755128824786662012-06-26T01:49:38.137-04:002012-06-26T01:49:38.137-04:00Sean... Thx for the post..Unfortunately wetting th...Sean... Thx for the post..Unfortunately wetting them is just going to continue the process of breaking them down.. You have done a great job already having them start the decompostion process.My reccomendation is to leave them alone as the moisture evaporates and releases from the bale it will cool off. And when it does you will reap the benefits. What you have going for you is... the warmth of the haybales will speed up the porcess for your plants. As long as the roots stay somewhat warm you should be able to extend your growing season by a little. Remember Plants are tolerant in cooler weather as long as it doesnt go near or below freezing or stay at the colder temps for several days on in. And even with that.. You can construct a round frame over your haybale using flexible PVC Pipe and drape a Thick Plastic sheet over it to create a mini green house for your haybales. <br /><br />Good points of the Nutrition on Hay vs Straw.. I love a good debate:) I have to agree with you.. hay is more nutrient rich than straw... For Eating...However.. material decomposing into plant matter is exetremely useful for gardening as long as the material is not toxic. We prefer Hay over Straw in gardening because Hay doesn't have the host of other Seeds and Weeds that Accompany Straw. But at the end of the day All Plants care about is having that Soil that can hold Nutrients..Not neccesseraliy provide it. The reason Compostable materials are so great is because once broken down it provides the inital nutrients the plants need to grow. When those nutrients are used up it provides just the right consistency for the type of soil that is able to Hold Nutrients in the soil and continue to feed plants..ATWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06091588360689645697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-417192197645926716.post-3645496372638865132012-06-25T20:49:16.417-04:002012-06-25T20:49:16.417-04:00I am already late into the season. I need to cool ...I am already late into the season. I need to cool the bales down, so I can plant. I have been watering the bales for 10 days with compost tea and they heated up right away and show no sign of cooling down.<br />Need suggestion how to cool these babies. Compost tea without molasses? or stop the compost tea and use water to keep the bales wet instead?<br />Ps. I am using hay bales not straw. Although you say either one will do, I disagree. Hay is nutrient rich and straw is not.Sean Dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-417192197645926716.post-150193548745318622011-11-06T18:24:44.430-05:002011-11-06T18:24:44.430-05:00Thanks for this. I've got 5 pumpkin seedlings ...Thanks for this. I've got 5 pumpkin seedlings that I started and now have nowhere to plant. I have a straw/hay bale in teh garage so I'll drag it out and get going on it.Frogdancerhttp://dancingwithfrogs.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-417192197645926716.post-34643081705158166212011-03-06T16:39:00.295-05:002011-03-06T16:39:00.295-05:00Sue- LOL!! Im with your husband on this LOL!! The ...Sue- LOL!! Im with your husband on this LOL!! The haybales are on the mind but just getting there is the issue and then you have to grab them and like my place I have to take one by one from my car all the way to the back. Ughhhh!! LMAO!! So trust me I know pain. But when they get there than it's worth it in the end. Any squash species should excel, they are big feeders and like to stretch thier roots out. Please let me know how you do this season and remember to get that bales slightly decomposing for the best results. Goodluck hay baling this season. You are going to flip when they take root and start growing into a little jungle;)ATWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09634611792880885608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-417192197645926716.post-29819683721985883072011-03-06T07:50:07.107-05:002011-03-06T07:50:07.107-05:00Well, I was TRYING to do that last year, but it to...Well, I was TRYING to do that last year, but it took hubby ALL SUMMER to finally bring me some bales. So THIS year is the year. I think it would be great for growing pumpkins-especially if you have only one space you can spare the room and don't want to get diseases from growing there over and over.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10122524042294993949noreply@blogger.com