Question
I am trying straw bale gardening this year for the first time, We have prepped the bales by saturating them over a couple of week and added manure compost to the tops for the seed propagation. The seedlings in the straw bales took double the time of the ones in the ground and appear to be stunted, even the potatoes are very short. Only the pumpkins have made it to the fourth set of leaves every thing else seems to be stuck on two plus they are yellow. Please help.

Answer
Hi Jessica,
Thanx for your question.  I haven't had any experience with straw bale gardening.  There have been some interesting articles and it sounds fascinating.  With that said, I'll give you some informational links below and I hope that will help.

Tom

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/lab/msg0317054927627.html
http://www.carolinacountry.com/cgardens/thismonth/march06guide/straw.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXcA99xGHwQ

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&&sa=X&ei=PTwWTKuFMMTflgfKoc2nDQ&ved=0CAUQBSgA...