Thanks to an experiment last year, I have a "go" for this gardening season. Every year I try to do something different - plan a theme garden, put in a new shrub, try an uncommon herb, or even get ambitious with roses (to me a truly fussy flower). Last year's new venture was straw bale gardening.

Research on the web piqued my curiosity. This kind of gardening had all the markers of being the answer for me. It doesn't require tilling the ground, getting down on my knees, nor doing much weeding. Living in a heavily shaded area, few spots in my yard are sunny. We had to cut down a 40-foot tulip tree, this finally giving us a 20'x 20' area with at least 6 hours of sun. Unfortunately there were still tree roots galore. Straw bale gardening offered an enticing solution to all obstacles.

I decided to use four straw bales in my first attempt, avoiding hay both because it sprouts too many weeds and its seeds compete with plantings. I arranged the bales in the sunny spot ― one by itself and the other three forming a pyramid with two on the bottom and one stacked on top. Online surfing shows many creative ideas for straw bale garden design: long rows like a hedge, bases under arbors, u-shapes, circles, etc. I quickly realized the placement of bales is important because after they've been soaked to receive plants, moving them is problematic.

This year I'm expanding things and lining my sunny driveway with bales. The only catch is they must be within reach of a watering hose. Bales need to be prepared before planting. I let mine sit for almost 2 weeks after I bring them home so they begin decomposing and warm to an internal temperature that's conducive to growing plants. Once the plants are in place, I water the bales for the first 3 days to keep them damp. The next 3 days involves sprinkling them with ½ cup nitrogen fertilizer (34-0-0) and watering the fertilizer into the bales. On days 7-9, I fertilize with ¼ cup on each bale and continue watering. Then after Day 10, I check the internal temperature of the bales to see that it's about 100 degrees.

To plant seedlings, I use a hand trowel to dig holes in the bale. I put commercial garden soil with fertilizer in the holes. It's not good to use yard soil as it can contaminate the bale with weeds and bacteria. Once the start-up process has been accomplished, routine watering is about all that's required. Soaker hoses work great to allow water to trickle down through the bales. Another hint is to plant impatiens on the sides of the bale. When they wilt, I know bales need water.

Some plants that work well with straw bale gardening include tomatoes (will need to stake), peppers, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin, zucchini, lettuce, strawberries and beans. I also put basil around each plant. This year I'm putting a bale planted with pumpkins on each side of my door. It's fun to watch the vines grow almost a foot each day.

You, too, may find enjoyment in trying straw bale gardening instead of or as a complement to containers, raised beds or traditional yard plots. Being able to harvest fresh vegetables right in our own yards is a pleasure that's catching on like wildfire. Jump on the bandwagon, and get growing!