[Judd]

I grew some tomatoes in straw bales last year,they were soaked for a few weeks before planting anything in them.It was my first time growing anything and I wasn't too impressed with the resulting toms so I'm going for growbags this year.
Anyway my question is: Could I use the bales as some form of compost and dig them in to the veg plot?

[mumofstig]

They'd make good mulch, just spread t on the surface between your plants.
Use it to help earth up the potatoes 
It'll rot down in situ eventually you won't have to dig it in

[Kirpi]

I was going to say you could grow potatoes under a mulch of the bales but Judd says he grew tomatoes in them the previous year. Would you not be concerned about blight?

I wouldn't dig it in as it would use available soil nitrogen to decompose before releasing its nutrients back to the soil.

[Sparkyrog]

It can be laid on top to rot down NP . However I would wear a mask when breaking it up as straw can get some nasty moulds in it including Farmers lung and you do not want that !

[mumofstig]

I was going to say you could grow potatoes under a mulch of the bales but Judd says he grew tomatoes in them the previous year. Would you not be concerned about blight?

Blight spores only survives on living plant material AFAIK

[compostqueen]

I have a huge, round compost bin which has daft great holes all over it so I used old straw bales from the hen run to line the inside of the bin to block up the holes. It rots down quite quickly once you start chucking other compostibles over it 

[Kirpi]

thanks Mum

I have a long bed of straw which has been cleaned out of hutches from a local lady who keeps a hundred guinea pigs and kennels rabbits for people on their holidays!

I'll be placing seed potatoes on the soil level under the straw so the roots go into the soil and the potatoes grow clean in the straw.

[simonwatson]

I was going to say you could grow potatoes under a mulch of the bales but Judd says he grew tomatoes in them the previous year. Would you not be concerned about blight?

Blight spores only survives on living plant material AFAIK

Late blight overwinters in potato tubers only. Early blight can linger on any plant matter that hasn't completely decomposed.

[Annen]

You could try growing mushrooms on it.
 http://www.thompson-morgan.com/static-images/tandm/pdfs/culturals/MUSHROOM_white%20cap.pdf

[Salmo]

It would be ideal as brown material in your compost bin. A layer of straw and a layer of green material. Ideal way to deal with grass mowings.

[Judd]

Thanks for the advice everyone.