soil free toms

[kernowyon]

i read a while back (can't remember where) about growing tomatoes on bales of straw instead of soil, i have a few questions and hope someone brighter and more knowledgeable can answer them

1, how exactly do you grow them like this?
2, Is it really worth the effort?
3, does it make them taste/crop any better?

[Cutecumber]

I've read about it over the years, too. The basic theory is this:

"In general, plants grown in straw bales appear to require less water than when grown in soil. Another benefit to using straw bale culture is the garden bed will turn into compost offering some additional nutrients to your vegetables and herbs. The constantly composing environment warms up to provide gentle heat to the roots of plants and for your greenhouse. After some preparation and processing the compost will also begin to generate Co2 which will help to boost your plant's growth rate."

Some people seem to think it is simple while others call it tricky - much like all other ways of growing them!

You set the bale decomposing by soaking it - you can use urine for a quick start.

Does anyone know what urine-soaked decomposing straw smells like? That could be the deal-breaker for me

[Winged one]

Would this be just for greenhouses, or would it work outdoors too? Cos it might be worth considering for one end of the (unprotected) plot - covering the couch grass and making a nice compost/mulch for next winter.

[Sue]

Another way of growing tomatoes that I found tempting was to get an old bucket and make a large hole in the bottom and the book didn't say but I should think a couple more for drainage and feed a tomato plant like gardenpearl through the large hole so the roots are up in the air in the bucket, the plant dangling out the bottom and then gently fill the bucket with soil and hang it up - out of the way of slugs.... The plant then grows dangling down, obviously.
One of the old timers on my allotment has got a relation in the fishing business and he gets loads of free buckets which used to contain shellfish so I think I'll give that a try this summer.
Sue

[kirsty b]

I was considering the straw bale approach too. Also was going to plant cucumber against a bale and let them scramble up it.

[smallblueplanet]

.....

You set the bale decomposing by soaking it - you can use urine for a quick start.

Does anyone know what urine-soaked decomposing straw smells like? That could be the deal-breaker for me

Dunno, but with the high winds we get round here, it could get messy too!