I am trying to grow tomatoes using the straw bale method this year. So far, so good, but can you give me any advice for the remainder of the summer to get the best production? — Thanks. Frank, Caledonia.
Straw bale gardening is a technique gaining popularity in Wisconsin, and across the country. It is reported as an easier way to grow vegetables in small spaces. Joel Karsten’s book “Straw Bale Gardens” can be found at local bookstores for all the details, or visit his website at http://strawbalegardens.com. He also appeared on Larry Meiller’s “Garden Talk” radio show earlier this year; listen to that broadcast at http://wpr.org by searching for “Karsten” or “straw bale garden.”
Straw bales are placed upright and primed by watering daily for a couple of weeks. A nitrogen fertilizer (synthetic, like lawn fertilizer, or organic, like fish emulsion) is watered in. Compost or a soil + compost mix is added to the top and pushed into the soft center of the bale before planting with your favorite vegetable.
I was intrigued by this concept and am growing summer squash in a bale discarded by my neighbors after Halloween. So far the squash is growing well and I have not yet had to add any additional fertilizer. Watch for yellowing in lower leaves, as that could be an indication of nitrogen deficiency. Any tomato fertilizer can be used; follow label directions and be sure to water it in thoroughly. Keep moist, a soaker hose or a slow drip on the bale is better than overhead watering via a sprinkler. Splashing water on the leaves can result in the spread of fungal diseases.
Another factor to consider is vine support; some container type tomatoes, like “Tumbling Tom” or “Lizzano” do not need support. But if you have an indeterminate tomato like “Brandywine” or even a more traditional determinate cultivar like “Early Girl,” you will need a post or cage to hold the vine up.
Keep me posted on how your tomatoes produce this summer and send a picture.
Summer garden tips
Once again it seems like our spring and summer are abnormal. Are there any special tips for helping maintain our gardens and keep them growing through the summer? — Joyce, Racine.
Last year our spring was three weeks ahead of “normal”; this year our spring was three weeks behind. Fortunately, with rain and warmth, plants catch up quickly, so now they are growing very fast.
If your beans are up, watch for bean beetles feeding on the leaves. There are many organic and synthetic control products available; if you choose the chemical route make sure “beans” and “beetles” are both listed on the label. Follow label directions to the letter. Not only is that the safest way to use pesticides (organic or synthetic), it is the law. And products work better when you follow the directions.
My favorite control for bean beetles on bush beans is to cover the entire row or area with floating row cover at planting; leave enough room for the beans to grow up under the row cover. You can leave it on until harvest because beans do not need bees for pollination. Keeps them clean, bug free and as a bonus, rabbits can’t eat them.
In your flower garden, take a look at late-blooming perennials that always get tall and floppy. Now is the time to cut them back to encourage more branching and a shorter, tidier appearance. Examples are the yellow coneflowers (Ratibida), asters, Russian sage and chrysanthemums. They can be pinched, or cut back to ⅓ of their height. Don’t cut any more after mid-July or flowering will be affected.
And, no, it is not too late to plant. Visit your local garden center and nursery to check out the great deals on annuals, vegetables, seeds and shrubs.
More questions?
Master gardener volunteers serving as plant health advisers are able to answer your questions at mastergardeners@goracine.org or by calling the Horticulture Helpline at (262) 886-8451 (Ives Grove) or (262) 767-2919 (Burlington).
Dr. Patti Nagai is the horticulture educator for Racine County UW-Extension. Submit your questions for The Journal Times QA column to Dr. Nagai at Patti.Nagai@goracine.org and put “Question for RJT” in the subject line.
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