Re: Fave Organic Fert reply

**R* M* M* <r*@comcast.net>**

The wheat fields in the the Pacific Northwest are being sprayed with clopyralid as it controls the broad-leaved weeds and as we've discussed passes through animals fed the straw or hay without leaving any residue. If a person plants in these bales their crop is severely damaged by clopyralid which does not breakdown for a couple of years or more. I've never used hay because it is weedy. Straw bales have a quick flush of wheat growth and then it dies back. If planting legumes in the bales all I've needed for fertilizer is legume inoculant and a lovely crop is produced. Salad greens I've used fish fertilizer. Strawberries the same. Tomatoes and cucumbers perform fairly well but if I were planting as extensively as I once did I'd use fish bonemeal. Peppers have been under fertilized and no answer for you. I had quit giving talks on straw bale gardening but in regular gardening talks would tell people to check out for clopyralid. When we GWA members grew and installed a demonstra
 tion garden at the PNW Flower and Garden Show, for which we received a gold medal and the People's Favorite award, no small thanks to Jeff Lowenfels, straw bales planted with salad greens knocked the socks off people because it was a new concept with an old history and we came up with the idea because it was cheap kick board. I've gone on a bit, sorry but I'm very concerned about the use of Stinger and other chemicals making such a direct hit on unsuspecting gardeners.
Rose Marie Nichols McGee
www.NicholsGardenNursery.com
On Apr 26, 2013, at 4:49 AM, Daryl wrote:

> I have been told that wheat, being a grain crop, is not treated with the 
> same chemicals. It is also re-sown each year, making use of long acting 
> herbicides impractical.
> 
> I've done hay bale gardening, but not straw bale. With hay, there are a lot 
> of nutrients available as it breaks down. What do you use with straw?
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Rose Marie McGee
> Subject: Re: [GWL] Fave Organic Fert reply
> I'd like to add to this discussion in regards to straw bale gardening. I 
> grew vegetables in straw bales and gave presentations until I realized there 
> was a problem with clopyralid sold as stinger used on the fields. 
_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters
GWL list website  http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters
GWL has searchable message archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters
If you have photos for GWL, send them to gwlphotos@hort.net and they can be viewed at  http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos