Sweetcorn...again

[Derek]

I lost a third of my sweetcorn plants last night!

I had put a strong wire fence all around the patch. There seems no sign that a badger (Prime suspect) has either pushed its way in or dug underneath...someone on the plot has suggested squirrels but whatever it is has chewed the healthy plants to the ground.

I have now netted the survivors over the top...see what happens next

If this fails then its all out war for next year...wire compound, towers, searchlights the lot  >:(

Derek

[Derek]

[undercarriage plan]

Awww, Derek, poor you.  No idea what would eat it.  I had to stop growing it, got fungus, the sweetcorn, not me!!!! Hope you get to eat last lot!!  Lottie  ;D

[ellkebe]

Don't say that Derek - I just spent today fencing mine under the delusion that it would keep all the critters off  :(

Hope your other two thirds are going strong though  :)

[Swede Pea]

oh Derek how I can sympathise.......

I was so proud of my strong sweetcorn plants last year nurtured from tiny seeds.  The cobs started growing and we were getting excited about getting to eat them...... Then utter devastation.  We found them all ruined! Someone mentioned squirrels too and had seen them so this year it is total war.  We have built a rectangular wooden frame with fine chicken wire tacked all over.  Plus a lid - very important - and it stands about 5' tall.  We aren't taking any chances this year with them!  They are my pride and joy and we WILL eat fresh corn-on-the-cob-of-the-plot this year!  I reckon a 'lid' is your answer for victory!

[Derekthefox]

yes, never known anything to eat full size sweetcorn plants, only the seedlings. And rats only go for the fruit . . .

You have my sympathies.

[Jon]

Rabbits will eat the plants when they are small and mice eat the cobs.

[The Runner Bean]

Gin,

That is terrible :-(

The exact same thing happened to us last year as well. The corn were doing so well and we were really looking forward to a bumper crop when disaster struck, those damned squirrels just destroyed the whole crop.

This year I too have built a cage from chicken wire and hope that it will keep the crop safe. Only trouble is I've yet to put the sides and top on so thanks for the tip re:lids. I really whacked my finger putting it together though, so I just hope it is all worth the effort and we can enjoy a real feast of corn in a few weeks.

TRB

[Derek]

Thanks for your comments...

I have a feeling that the rest will go or have gone... The lower wire is strong but has wide holes...would stop a badger (at least I thought so) but not squirrels.

Rabbits we don't have on site...too many foxes I reckon and I haven't seen any squirrels in the three years I have had a plot down there.. they are obviously the well trained urban guerrilla varieties

Next year its going to be a cage, wire sides, roof the lot

Did you all see the pictures in the last issue of Kitchen Garden of badger damage to sweetcorn?
That's exactly what mine looks like

Derek

[Baked potato]

Hey RB!

That is bad news about your thumb.  Sure hope it has gotten better now!  Have you tried some of those herbal remedies to put on it - they help the swelling go down I have used them when I have had various accidents!

I must say that down on our lottie our corn is going well.  We haven't caged it but are going to this weekend.  how did you put your cage together and what type of wood did you use?  IS chicken wire going to be strong enough do you think?  I am worried that there will be pests out there that will bite through it.

Good luck puttin g your sides up and be careful with that thumb of yours we don't want any more injuries!!

BP

[Baked potato]

Another question about corn...

We have got quite a few succesful corns growing but we planted a few other ones (which came from seed) about 4 weeks ago and they don't seem to have grown much.  ALso the tips of the leaves looka bit yellowy/brown.  They are getting watered just as much as the others but I do not know why they haven't grown and I have looked in my books.  Any ideas?  They are about a foot tall at the moment but look very willowy still

Thanks
BP

[shaolin101]

Mine are the same - a bit crispy at the ends and a bit droopy elswhere.

They are still growing though so I am just sticking with it. No idea what will become of them though! Some are thicker than others but that may be because the front ones get more sun.