Join Richard in this weeks episode of the veg grower podcast. This week Richard is having another go at straw bale gardening in the kitchen garden. Down the allotment Richard has been sowing lots of seeds directly into the ground, and finally Richard is joined by Lee Connolly The Skinny Jean Gardener to discuss national kids gardening week.
Of course chef Scott is also back with another delicious recipe.
A couple of years ago Richard tried Straw Bale Gardening. A method of growing plants in straw bales. However, when Richard tried he didn’t feel it was as successful as it could be, so this year he decided to give it another go.
Richard has got 2 straw bales and set them in position and started the conditioning phase of this system. The conditioning phase is where Richard believed he went wrong last time as he used the incorrect fertiliser to start it off. This time he is using urea to add a high amount of nitrogen to the straw bales. This should hopefully get the bales started correctly but there is a routine to this conditioning phase as below.
| Day 1 | 1/2 cup urea per bale | Water until saturated |
| Day 2 | Water until saturated | |
| Day 3 | 1/2 cup urea per bale | Water until saturated |
| Day 4 | 5litre water per bale | |
| Day 5 | 1/2 cup urea per bale | 5litre per bale |
| Day 6 | 5litre per bale | |
| Day 7 | 1/4 cup urea per bale | 5litre per bale |
| Day 8 | 1/4 cup urea per bale | 5litre per bale |
| Day 9 | 1/4 cup urea per bale | 5litre per bale |
| Day 10 | 1 cup balanced fertiliser | 5litre per bale |
| Day 11 | 1 cup balanced fertiliser | 5litre per bale |
| Day 12 | 1 cup balanced fertiliser | 5litre per bale |
After this the straw bales are ready for planting. Check out the Digwell YouTube Channel for more.
Down on the allotment Richard has been busy clearing and preparing the allotment for the growing season. But that also includes sowing a few seeds directly, which is something Richard rarely does.
However some seeds do need direct sowing and they include:
Links are included to Premier seeds direct.
Chef Scott is back with his recipe of the week and this weeks its another simple dish using radishes. Roasted Radishes with feta is sure to delight anyone who eats this dish.
In the last segment this week Richard is joined by his friend and fellow gardening podcaster, Lee Connelly The Skinny Jean Gardener.
Lee’s here this week to promote and upcoming event, National Children’s gardening week. THe plan is to get as many children and families out into the garden this week, with prizes up for grabs.
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