Good morning all. I trust you all had fantastic weather this weekend na dutilised it to the full... 8)
Ok, my wife went to open the greenhouse up this morning in order to keep it cool today in the sun...no problems there.
When she had a look about she noticed that something peculliar had happened to the sweetcorn plants.
They are in there own seperate pots sat in a tray on the floor of the greenhouse..however 3 of the 12 pots seem to have a light sprinkling/dusting of talc on them (its the best way we can describe it).
Does anybody know what may have happened? (it seems strange that it is only to 3 of them...
Also is it bad for the plants?
What can we do about?
Here's hoping for some advise...
Thanks
Les n Soph
Was great weather huh Les, I have the suntan to proove it! now to your corns....how peculiar. Could it be mould growing on the surface of the pots, or could it be dust coming from the greenhouse? Could something have settled on the roof which disturbed some debris from the greenhouse frame? Or have you been using talk to stop the ants marching around your greenhouse and some have legged it over your corn pots...... Or maybe your local slug population are particular when they bathe and like to keep their skin nice and soft ::)
Mornig EJ.
It is a complete mystery. There's no dust in the greenhouse...nothing to be dislodged, no prolblems with ants, slugs do not last long enough if they get anywhere near the greenhouse to worry about their skin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It has really got us stumped...the corns are showing no signs of being worse for wear.....so we really don't have a clue.
??? ???
Take care
Les
Hi all,
Have been away for a few days, just catching up on my reading.
Les have you been adding liquid fertiliser to anything recently?
What I am thinking of is that it might be some fertiliser that has not fully dissolved. This combined with the sun shining on the plants would emphasise the situation, i.e. the sun reflecting on the dried crystals.
Just an idea.............A
Hi Gardener....hope you have a relaxing time of late.
No we haven't felt the need to use any feeds on anything yet. As i said it is a complete mystery..... It hasn't happened on anything else as yet so will keep you all informed.
Thanks
Les
Hi Les
What sort of pots are you using?
I have some home-made newspaper pots with a similar sort of white stuff on the compost, but plants all seem okay.
Tina
Well, I will now include my mystery with yours Les. A couple of my corns have keeled over. Looks as tho something has munched clean through the stems. Any ideas? If I don't have some corn to pick this year, I will never try again, I mean it, I do, honest guv! >:(
That happened to a few of mine last year EJ, I grubbed around in the soil and no critters to be found, which makes me wonder, and I keep meaning to ask, do woodlice eat seedlings? (cos I have loads in the greenhouse!) DP
Must be cutworms. You may want to put collars around the base your plants.
My corns are now in mini greenhouse and one was "chewed" right thru but there were telltale snail/slug trails on pot and on compost so think that was culprit.
However must have been pretty strong slug as four corns pots and all had vanished frm the mini g'house. would rather think of a super slug as the taker than the obvious fact of another plottie holder. Nasty - all for 4 plants. Maybe needed to make up numbers for a block do you think.
ooo DP, I have lots of choogypegs in my greenhouse. They seem to be rather fond on my cannas, hope they aren't eating them away! :-\ No signs of slugs or snails, altho I know I have the slimebags in the greenhouse. The damage seems to be done when they are outside during the day.
Wicker, that is horrible! People are so arrogant and selfish and...other things which the censor will bleep out. What gets me is, if someone wanted a couple, and came and asked me, I would happily give them to them, but when they pinch, just take the liberty of helping themselves, boy does that get my back up!
Morning all
Tina - we are using ordinary bog standard plastic pots.
EJ - as Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush said, "Don't give up"
With regards to the strangety of my corn plants we had a closer look at them last night and it does seem to be some kind of mould (as EJ pointed out) on the potting compost which doesn't seem to be affecting the corns themselves but we have used the same brand of compost for all our pots and it has only happened to these few...............STRANGE!
And people helping themselves to other peoples belongings.....well thats just rude, that is something I can not and will not abide.
Wicker - you must have the patience of a saint cos I would be out looking for the culprit!!!!!!!!!!!!
Take care all
Les
Don't want to make a fuss about those bl**dy corns but I had germinated 59/60 and I gave half away due to lack of space - obviously someone felt left out!
Small cheese compared to Gavin's problems tho.
The main problem with starting off s'corn in the greenhouse is that the rate of growth soon outstrips the nutrient supply. Sowing in the greenhouse now is quite soon enough, they'll still be ready for mid June planting out. Anyone having problems at this stage is probably a little too far ahead. Mine are in loo rolls but also standing in an inch or more of compost. They're about 6" tall and looking good. Les-...Do you use 'Head and Shoulders' shampoo?