what can follow sweetcorn?

[gwynnethmary]

We've been given another nice square bed by our lottie partner.  He's been growing sweetcorn and calabrese in it.  I'm not sure what he grew last year.  What would be a good crop to plant next year, bearing in mind we'll soon be having a bonfire there, when he's harvested the corn?

[gwynnethmary]

[plainleaf]

why will be having a bonfire there it will limit your planting choices do to increasing potash in the soil.

I would have cut corn down and planted peas ,beet root,  lettuces, and spinach

[Digeroo]

Bury the corn stalks as soon as they finish and plant beans or courgettes on top next spring perhaps a bit of green manure in the meantime.  Why burn a good bit of biomaterial?  

What is wrong with returning the potash to the soil?  But why polute the atmsphere with smoke?

[saddad]

Phacalia...
:-\
Just a thought... it's not too late to put in some over-wintering onions

[sawfish]

could try fungus if your having a bonfire, they love places where fires have been. Try part of it for a dedicated Morel bed for fun :)

[gwynnethmary]

The bonfire is happening there because our partner (whose plot it is) always has one there in the autumn to get rid of the mare's tail roots etc that have been carefully dug up throughout the year, and it's the only bed big enough for a bonfire.  As it's his plot really we can't tell him what he can't do!  I don't think he'll burn the stalks- they'll probably form the base of a new compost heap.  I was thinking brocolli, turnip and beetroot, but would peas and beans do better there?

[gwynnethmary]

could try fungus if your having a bonfire, they love places where fires have been. Try part of it for a dedicated Morel bed for fun :)

What is Morel please?

[Bugloss2009]

a morel is a posh mushroom

the main thing about sweetcorn is it uses up lots of nitrogen, so you'll need to fertilise properly next season

[sawfish]

yes a posh mushroom that costs a fortune in the shops and could be fun to try growing.

[gwynnethmary]

a morel is a posh mushroom

the main thing about sweetcorn is it uses up lots of nitrogen, so you'll need to fertilise properly next season

We can get plenty of seaweed.  Would that suffice?

[Bugloss2009]

seaweed is supposed to be rather wonderful, but i've no experience with it. If you can get it, perhaps you should use it anyway. You may have some by-laws about taking stuff off the beach though

[gwynnethmary]

seaweed is supposed to be rather wonderful, but i've no experience with it. If you can get it, perhaps you should use it anyway. You may have some by-laws about taking stuff off the beach though

It's fine as long as it's not attached -  the stuff on the tideline is OK to take.  I've been adding it to my compost for a while now but as yet haven't tried spreading it direct.

[earlypea]

Bury the corn stalks as soon as they finish and plant beans or courgettes on top next spring perhaps a bit of green manure in the meantime.  Why burn a good bit of biomaterial?  

What is wrong with returning the potash to the soil?  But why polute the atmsphere with smoke?

Just wondering, why do you bury your corn stalks Digeroo?

Normally I compost them, but thought I might leave them this year standing because ladybirds are supposed to like to overwinter in them.

I must confess I have a fire too, despite the pollution - just like the original postee - I can't think of another sure way to get rid of my mountain of marestail harvested every year  ::)

[goodlife]

I'll just chop all spent sweetcorn stalks in small bit and leave on surface...it will all rot off eventually....and is good carbon sourse on soil...just like straw is but bit lumpier form....

[Digeroo]

why do you bury your corn stalks Digeroo?

I did not know what to do with them.  :o      I put a few in the compost bin but still had loads and they were attracting deer, so I just dug holes to get rid of them.  ;D       I do not like wasting biomatter.

I now have beans and courgettes on top and the courgettes are doing very well indeed.  Beans a bit leafy.

[Flighty]

I leave sweetcorn stalks over the winter for the wildlife then pull them up. I crush the stems, with a brick or hammer, then lay them criss-cross at the bottom of the compost bin.  They've usually composted completely when I empty it a year later.

[Digeroo]

My other reason for not composting them was manure contamination I did not want potentinally contaminatied ones in my bin.  I was keen for them to be in soil so that any contamination would be broken down.  Also I get the goodness from them a year earlier.   Pleased there was not sign of problems on either courgettes or beans.

I do not know the status of them subsoil but when the courgettes comeout I will find out.