I have a bit of a dilemma, I have nowhere to put my sweetcorn, my OH was going to build me a new raised bed for it, but now is not able to for some time.
I have allocated all the space in raised beds, borders and tubs for other things and was wondering , is there is any reason why I could not plat the sweetcorn in the spaces between the strawberries. I have a large bed with 25 strawberry plants in with good spaces between them. Would this be OK do you think ?
The corn would over shadow your strawberries for light. Plus both strawberries and corn have shallow roots so they would be competing for nutrients. I would definately suggest no to your question. Sorry.
Can you not put it straight into the ground and do the raised bed next year
XX Jeannine
The problem with my garden is it is on a very steep slope so it isn't just a raised bed, it is a case of making the next level flat we have done 3 so far, just another 3 to go.
I think I am going to give the sweetcorn seedlings to my neighbour when they are ready to go out as he has plenty of room and gives me things all the time.
He will then probably give me some corn when it is ready good swap I think.
Then I shall grow my own next year.
Thank you for your advice. I knew you would have the answer for me Jeannine. :)
Just a thought, why don't you try something I am going to try this year.
I am going to grow the corn in between my flowers and shrubs to see how they do.
As you are strapped for space in the veg area, like me then you move to the next thing and that is to make room in the flower patch.
THe flowerbed idea might well be a very good one, the plants are architecturally striking so would provide a good backdrop for the inedible stuff growing alongside them and (rather importantly for next year when you tear out the flowers to grow something edible) can be considered "neutral" in terms of family as they have no persistant soil pests in this country.... they're hungry sods though so you'll need to put something in under them as you plant to feed them....
chrisc
Plenty of horse muck round here to feed they with before they go in.
Good idea but watch it for spacings for pollination.
Sounds like a lovely garden, very attractive like that but lots of work.Pictures would be nice.
It is possible to do corn in pots.. I have done it. I used half barrel sized pots and planted three to a pot I put the pots close together so they pollinated well, fed them a fair bit during the season and watered well, it is not a regular thing I do but I was stuck in 2008 when off my feet and couldn't get to the lottie so John made me a veggie spot in my very small and much paved back garden at home. I grew everything in pots or small raised beds.
XX Jeannine
I can visualise a mix of sweetcorn and purple millet plants dotted through the back of a flower border... quite an interesting idea... :)
I did grow sweetcorn with strawberries one year in a raised bed when I also ran out of room...my experience was the corn did brilliantly and I got good crops, but some of the strawberries died, I think from lack of water more than anything, but they were due to be culled after that year anyway so I wasn't bothered. I've also grown sweetcorn in barrels at home before I got the lottie. ;D
Thanks for that, the strawberries in this particular bed are on their last year, so maybe I might risk it, I have plenty more in pots and in borders and well everywhere really. I have a bit of a strawberry thing going on this year with over 100 plants of various varieties, trouble is now I don't know which is which, I started 4 years ago with 12 assorted plants then my grandson got involved and they all got mixed up. I now take runners off plants that are healthy and have produced nice tasting fruit.
So I have nothing to lose when you look at it like that. Thanks ;D
Quote from: Deb P on May 10, 2010, 15:40:43
I did grow sweetcorn with strawberries one year in a raised bed when I also ran out of room...my experience was the corn did brilliantly and I got good crops, but some of the strawberries died, I think from lack of water more than anything, but they were due to be culled after that year anyway so I wasn't bothered. I've also grown sweetcorn in barrels at home before I got the lottie. ;D
Quote from: greenhousegirl on May 10, 2010, 16:31:39
I have a bit of a strawberry thing going on this year with over 100 plants of various varieties, trouble is now I don't know which is which, I started 4 years ago with 12 assorted plants then my grandson got involved and they all got mixed up.
S'funny how you start out with just a few of things and before you know it..... ;D ;D ;D
I started off like that with tomatoes! Strawberries I have now limited myself to my all star favourites, Gariguette for flavour, Marshmello for crop and flavour, and newbie French crossbreeds Angelina and Ciflorette, which are supposed to be Gariguette crosses and an improvement on it...jury's still out on that one! ;D