Re: straw bale gardening question

**Turan** 3/26/2014, 12:50 pm

Is that a sweet potato vine I spy? That seems like a wonderful idea to me.

**sanderson** 3/26/2014, 12:55 pm

Audrey, Great photos of the straw bale beds. It looks like one advantage is that the squash fruit stay out of the dirt. How long will these new bales last?

audrey.jeanne.roberts 3/26/2014, 1:14 pm

Those potatoes are Yukon gold or Russets (can't remember as I planted them last fall)

My sweet potatoes haven't come up yet, I'm getting worried about them. They're in another bed.

The bales should last 2 years. They'll be 1/2 the size next spring and just about 6 inches off the ground after they're finished that fall.

I haven't planted any tomatoes in them this time - but they're a good use for them. I just didn't have any of my starts ready and the climbing plants are the best use of this space anyway.

Straw bales are good for some uses. Of my 3 garden types (SFG, BTE and bales) they're my least favorite but are good in the location I have them. It wouldn't even be a garden if I didn't have them and we're not building any more hard structures here as we're considering moving.

**Turan** 3/26/2014, 1:21 pm

audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:

This is a close up of the last two bales. I planted these squash as seedlings when I left to go to Arizona and take care of my dad after his quad bypass. They've absolutely exploded in growth.

What is the heart shaped leaves on the plant closest to you? They look like sweet potato to me.

audrey.jeanne.roberts 3/26/2014, 4:39 pm

Turan wrote:
audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:

This is a close up of the last two bales. I planted these squash as seedlings when I left to go to Arizona and take care of my dad after his quad bypass. They've absolutely exploded in growth.

What is the heart shaped leaves on the plant closest to you? They look like sweet potato to me.

You're right, now that I look at it they do, but those are purple bush beans.

**sanderson** 3/26/2014, 5:47 pm

When did you plant the sweet potatoes? Were they slips or parts of the potatoes?

audrey.jeanne.roberts 3/26/2014, 6:24 pm

sanderson wrote:When did you plant the sweet potatoes? Were they slips or parts of the potatoes?

Slips, but I had to plant them earlier than I wanted to (as I was running out the door to go to Arizona). They might not have had enough roots on them.

**Turan** 3/26/2014, 11:05 pm

audrey.jeanne.roberts wrote:
You're right, now that I look at it they do, but those are purple bush beans.

They are so purty..... I love you

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