Allotments 4 All

Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: petemason on September 16, 2006, 20:16:30

Title: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: petemason on September 16, 2006, 20:16:30
I've got about 40 sweetcorn plants that need taking out of the ground and I wondered whether it was worth stripping off the leaves to put in the compost bin.
Should I stick the stalks and roots in the compost as well?
I'm bothered that they might not rot down sufficiently to use next year.
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: redimp on September 16, 2006, 20:20:59
I compots everything so I stick them in.  You could stamp on them to break them up to speed up the process but I don't think I did last yar and there was no sign of them this.
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: cambourne7 on September 16, 2006, 20:24:39
You can always saw the top and bottom off a 2lr drink bottle and put lenghts of corn stalk into the tube you have left and leave it somewhere accessable over winter for little creapy crawleys.... the compost it in the spring when they have left...
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: Marymary on September 16, 2006, 20:27:43
I've just put mine on the compost today & have done on previous years & haven't noticed them surviving like twigs do but I do like the idea of the bug home so might try & rescue some tomorrow.
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: petemason on September 16, 2006, 20:31:10
I like the idea of the bug home as well. I bought a rather fearsome-looking knife from a car boot last week for 50p which I've been chopping things up with today so the bug home would probably turn out to be a much safer option.
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: tim on September 16, 2006, 20:37:38
Glad to hear this - I was going to bin mine!
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: redimp on September 16, 2006, 20:41:37
I will have a crack at that too :)
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: djbrenton on September 18, 2006, 09:33:23
Our friendly local supplier of free wood chip visits regularly. Next time he comes I'm going to prevail on him to let me put my sweetcorn through his trailer sized chipper before I throw them on the compost heap.
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: tim on September 18, 2006, 09:57:53
Pity we sold ours.
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: supersprout on September 18, 2006, 10:46:58
Quote from: redclanger on September 16, 2006, 20:20:59
I compots everything so I stick them in.  You could stamp on them to break them up to speed up the process but I don't think I did last yar and there was no sign of them this.

Chop into 1 ft lengths on the lottie path and drive your car over them a few times ;D
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: Squashfan on September 18, 2006, 15:26:01
I'm too lazy - I'm leaving them on the side to rot down a bit in the elements, and then chucking them in. But this is mainly because our council had a biiiiig pile of horse manure delivered, so our bins are fulla horse poo!  ;D
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: cambourne7 on September 18, 2006, 15:41:11
Quote from: djbrenton on September 18, 2006, 09:33:23
Our friendly local supplier of free wood chip visits regularly. Next time he comes I'm going to prevail on him to let me put my sweetcorn through his trailer sized chipper before I throw them on the compost heap.

Try freecycle someone might give you one to keep :-)
Title: Re: Composting sweetcorn stalks
Post by: saddad on September 18, 2006, 20:24:57
That's a great idea DJ and Cams.. one of our plotholders runs a garden business....
;D