Marianne's Response

how much NPP?

Hello,
Let me start off by saying that I’m no “newbie” to gardening. My father raised me on growing a vegetable garden every year and as an adult I’ve had many successful productive vegetable gardens.

Although… this year because of the poor rocky soil and extreme rodent problem, I’m starting a straw bale garden, which is a new process compared to the typical “row” garden I’ve always done in the past. One website recommends using a high Nitrogen rich fertilizer to get things nice and hot to start the decomposition process. After about 10-14 days to switch to a Phosphorus Potassium fertilizer. All the fertilizer’s I’ve seen with high Phosphorus and Potassium are for lawns or flowering gardens that mention “blooming”.

Do you have a recommendation or any other suggestions on what I should do for this straw bale garden?
Thank You,
Aaron

Posted by aaron khachigian on April 15, 2020

Marianne's Response

I love how you are experimenting with straw bale gardening and although I have heard and read about such gardens I have no personal experience with growing vegetables in raised bed hay bales. I do know that as the straw decomposes it will use up nitrogen in the soil but I would only suggest using an all purpose garden fertilizer rather than risk burning the plants with high phosphorus and potassium. A plant food made for flowers or blooming plants will still do a great job of providing nutrients to vegetables. I use Osmocote on my vegetables because not only are the big three (N, P, K) included but also all the micronutrients and minerals all released slowly so the plants will not burn. This keeps things simple as the plants get what they need when they need it. Good luck with your experiments, Keep  Growing, Marianne Binetti

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