How do people get rid of their corn stalks? I reckon they will take ages to rot down in the compost bin.
i leave mine on the plot as winter shelter for beneficial insects. ;) (lady birds, etc)
Snap... those and the Sunflower stems... :)
Have a look at this recent thread!
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/smf/index.php/topic,55028.msg559207.html#msg559207
Ray uses them as stakes for a year , they're quite strong, apparently :)
I will be putting mine at the bottom of next year's bean trench. i might shred them first. I always put a lot of material at the bottom of the trench to hold on to moisture. I think the nitrogen nodules in the bean roots help rot down such material
I had a whole lot of straw for my bean trench last year, think that the corn will do a good job. It will not upset the beans if they do not totally rot down.
thanks for posting the question I've been looking at the stalks and wondering what the heck to do with 'em! And thanks for the link flighty :)
Mine go through the shredder as do all the cabbage etc stalks
Normally I put mine on the compost heap, they make a good first layer prior to putting on other compostable materials.
This year I have considered a change and only this morning; I established where I will be putting my pea & bean rows next year and dug trenches at these points and layered the bottom of the trench with my corn stems.
So now my pea & bean beds are ready for next year and the corn stalks have around eight months to rot down so thats one job out of the way for next year!
By the way someone asked the other day what colour the silks/tassles should be prior to harvesting so I took a picture of my last cob this morning to see at what stage I pick mine;
The Cob;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Veg/P1110797.jpg)
The silk / tassle;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Veg/P1110796.jpg)
The sweetcorn;
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Veg/P1110798.jpg)
I have a feeling this one might be a bit starchy as it is one that I missed when I harvested the bulk of the corn!
Many thanks for all your replies. A huge pile of stalks has disappeared down into the soil. Lets hope this will produce good beans nexgt year.
Like Tonybloke I left mine propped up for winter shelter and they still haven't rotted down much, so I will be burying them into bean and pea trenches as adviced, do you you cop them into pieces. ??? ;D ;D ;D
I CHOP UM UP
add to bottom of heap they go in time :)
I tried to burn mine and got into trouble. :( :( :(
were allowed fires on our plots not council but we have no taps if fire gets out of control ;D
I have just composted mine
started clearing the spent ones yesterday and frst smashed them with a mallet, then chopped them up with the secateurs, it was very therapeutic, oh they then wet on the heap.
I'm leaving mine standing, hopefully, over the winter then when I empty the compost bin they'll go in the bottom of it.