incorporating old round bale into pumkin bed

MattCatlin · May 7, 2010

Out at my farm there are a couple of old round bales that have mouldered down to about 3 foot tall in a fence row. I want to put in a small pumpkin patch in a sandy spot down by the creek. Would it be worthwhile to spread those bales out and disc them in a bit? prior to planting or would they be a nitrogen sink

Anonymous-0 · May 7, 2010

Maybe you could use them for mulch around your plants to hold down weeds.

jackinok · May 7, 2010

if they are not in your way ,just plant your punkins in them!works great for tomatoes.

Mike (WA) · May 7, 2010

If the old round bale has anything growing out of it, DON'T put it on the garden- you'll introduce weed and grass seeds that it will take years to get rid of. BTDT.

tjdub · May 7, 2010

Spreading out a rotting round bale can be a lot of work. Once you get the outside rot off, you still have to roll it all over the place to spread it out. Well, unless you have a tub grinder.

JDemaris · May 7, 2010

I've been using rotted hay for years in my pumpkin beds and it's worked out fine. We get many abandoned round bales in my area. After a few years they are free for the taking, and I take many. Once they break-down, I till them into ground and it's a great way to add organic matter back to the soil.

Only problem I've had is that synthetic twine that never rots and gets stuck in my tiller-tines.

PJH · May 7, 2010

I use rotted hay on the garden, mostly for mulch, but also till it in when the season's over. It really loosens up our clay soil.

I have an old friend who used to unroll a round bale and then plant pumpkins or watermelons in (or under) it. He'd leave them alone until harvest. He raised some humongous melons. He's 81 now, and slowed down to a little 40 X 60 garden. . .

Paul

Bruce from Can. · May 7, 2010

I have laid potatoes on the ground , then rolled an old bale out over them , the potato tops will grow right through the hay, and you just take a fork to lift off the hay at harvest time , taters will be as clean as could be.

incorporating old round bale into pumkin bed

MattCatlin

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Anonymous-0

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jackinok

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Mike (WA)

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tjdub

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JDemaris

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PJH

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Bruce from Can.

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