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Produce => Pests & Diseases => Topic started by: jennym on July 15, 2005, 20:06:54

Title: Stopping mice eating sweetcorn?
Post by: jennym on July 15, 2005, 20:06:54
I have in previous years lost some sweetcorn cobs to mice. I grow them on an area about 6 ft (2m) x 20ft (6m) so it would be too costly to fence it. Don't think I can bring myself to trap or poison the little blighters, does anyone know of a deterrent?
Title: Re: Stopping mice eating sweetcorn?
Post by: ellkebe on July 15, 2005, 21:46:05
Would the lion dung essence you can get work do you think? 

There are also ultrasonic deterrents that work over a reasonably wide range, and can be battery operated.  Don't know if these work on rodents though.
Title: Re: Stopping mice eating sweetcorn?
Post by: giantseye on July 15, 2005, 22:40:32
TRY PUTTING SOME OTHER FOOD AWAY FROM YOUR SWEETCORN.

IF YOU PUT SOMETHING LIKE NUTS OR SEEDS AWAY FROM THE AREA, IT MIGHT PREVENT THEM FROM EATING YOUR SWEETCORN.

IT'S WOTH A TRY ANYWAY.

ALTERNATIVELY, TRY USING HUMANE TRAPS, WHICH WON'T KILL THEM.
Title: Re: Stopping mice eating sweetcorn?
Post by: redimp on July 16, 2005, 14:16:22
If you use humane traps you have to take them about three miles away before releasing or they will come back again.
Title: Re: Stopping mice eating sweetcorn?
Post by: jennym on July 16, 2005, 23:27:59
Thanks for info.
Title: Re: Stopping mice eating sweetcorn?
Post by: northener on July 18, 2005, 08:46:38
When i transplant mine out on the plot i put a 10" pece of drainpie over and around the seedling. 1. it protects the seedling from the wind while its established and 2. it prvents mice fromgetting up.
Title: Re: Stopping mice eating sweetcorn?
Post by: jennym on July 19, 2005, 00:18:31
Quote from: northener on July 18, 2005, 08:46:38
When i transplant mine out on the plot i put a 10" pece of drainpie over and around the seedling. 1. it protects the seedling from the wind while its established and 2. it prvents mice fromgetting up.

But you must need an awful lot of bits of drainpipe! Sounds like a good idea though. Looks like I'll be scavenging though the skips again...
Title: Re: Stopping mice eating sweetcorn?
Post by: amphibian on July 30, 2005, 08:42:38
Try growing your corn in a 'three sisters bed'. That is where you grow beans, corn and squash in one bed.

The beans climb up the corn stalks (which stops the corn lodging, but also fixes nitrogen) the squash surround the patch and their prickles help keep predators out, while holding moisture in too.