Hubby wanted to try hay-bale gardening after reading a newspaper article about a man who'd had great luck with it. But this is the kind of luck we had.
What did you plant in the hay bales? I had a friend in Santa Cruz who grew part of her veggie garden in hay bales. It seemed to work out okay. Nice-looking mushroom, though.
Hay bales. All is not lost. I find the bales are best for a variety of purposes after a year of weathering. The grain in them has sprouted and whithered the summer before, and the seasons have settled them nicely to holding water like a sponge.
I use hay bales as insulation around my not-so-mobile home, and on the third year they are compost or mulch, depending on the need.
I'd try again next year with the same batch, and see how that goes.
Luck!
(And for the word verification, I get 'gdesuds' - is that GoodeSuds? Sounds like branding to me... how'd you do that?)
You mean you'd rather grow vegetables than mushrooms? Boring! Try getting some oyster mushroom or shiitake spawn. (Google "Fungi Perfecti")
Either way, get yourself a mushroom field guide (NOT Audubon's) and try to identify what you've grown. If you don't know fungi, I recommend reading Magical Mushrooms, Mischevous Molds. Fun book, great organisms!
My husband has mentioned wanting to try growing mushrooms. So I decided to leave it to him! (The haybale spot is not ideal for that project though - too sunny.)
I actually did buy a couple of mushroom guides not long ago... but I think I need a little more ID experience. So many of them here look alike and can only be identified by spore prints.
Hay bails are no good. Need to use straw bails. The weed seed and grass seeds in the hay bails just sprout when it gets wet. Straw and a good layer of compost on top. Bonnie
Yup. That and dandelions are about all I can successfully raise!
ReplyDeleteWas the intent to grow some type of mushroom?
ReplyDeleteRP I know the feeling.
ReplyDeleteFC, uh, no.
Maybe if you think of mushrooms as a kind of underappreciated flower...?
ReplyDeleteWhat did you plant in the hay bales? I had a friend in Santa Cruz who grew part of her veggie garden in hay bales. It seemed to work out okay. Nice-looking mushroom, though.
ReplyDeleteit's pretty though! it is nice to have you back karen!
ReplyDeleteI like the mushroom.
ReplyDeleteCan you grow hay in hay bales. That would be cool for farms..
Hay bales. All is not lost. I find the bales are best for a variety of purposes after a year of weathering. The grain in them has sprouted and whithered the summer before, and the seasons have settled them nicely to holding water like a sponge.
ReplyDeleteI use hay bales as insulation around my not-so-mobile home, and on the third year they are compost or mulch, depending on the need.
I'd try again next year with the same batch, and see how that goes.
Luck!
(And for the word verification, I get 'gdesuds' - is that GoodeSuds? Sounds like branding to me... how'd you do that?)
Well first of all, derpitty derp, I meant straw bales instead of hay bales.
ReplyDeleteWe planted all sorts of seeds in several bales: summer squash, cucumbers, melons, beans, etc.
We may do as Jenn suggests and try them again next year, but this time I'll know not to plant anything we don't want to do without!
I've been using old horse manure for soil in my raised beds, and I get the same thing. Too bad they're not Shiitakes or Portobellos!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous images. I use straw for a non dig garden. I layer it with compost and it seems to work well.
ReplyDeleteYou mean you'd rather grow vegetables than mushrooms? Boring! Try getting some oyster mushroom or shiitake spawn. (Google "Fungi Perfecti")
ReplyDeleteEither way, get yourself a mushroom field guide (NOT Audubon's) and try to identify what you've grown. If you don't know fungi, I recommend reading Magical Mushrooms, Mischevous Molds. Fun book, great organisms!
My husband has mentioned wanting to try growing mushrooms. So I decided to leave it to him! (The haybale spot is not ideal for that project though - too sunny.)
ReplyDeleteI actually did buy a couple of mushroom guides not long ago... but I think I need a little more ID experience. So many of them here look alike and can only be identified by spore prints.
Hay bails are no good. Need to use straw bails. The weed seed and grass seeds in the hay bails just sprout when it gets wet. Straw and a good layer of compost on top. Bonnie
ReplyDelete