Sweetcorn protection

I have just planted out my sweetcorn which I started from seed in greenhouse. I have wrapped some netting around as last year i did the same and my established seedlings were eaten trampled on by squirrels, birds, foxes what the best way to protect them from pests? This is the third year I have tried and am determined to get harvest this year!

Tags: pests, protection, sweetcorn

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Permalink Reply by Melinda Que_Linda on May 22, 2011 at 20:30

Im joining in this discussion as an observer and hope to glean some advice.

Ive just swapped some courgettes for some sweetcorn and I know not the first thing about then other than to plant them in blocks.

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Permalink Reply by Jan Willetts on May 22, 2011 at 23:18

I know lots of animals like sweetcorn-can you blame them? There is a product on the market called Grazers- a spray that deters rabbits , deer etc. You spray it on and they don't like the taste, can be used on edible crops and is not harmful to humans. Other things people try with varying amounts of success is fresh urine around the bed, human hair, grated soap, eucalyptus oil on teabags and pots of lemon balm-I guess they are all using smell as a deterrent! Oh, and lion dung from the zoo!

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Permalink Reply by Steven Monks on May 23, 2011 at 14:42

Pop bottles!

Cut the bottoms off and use them as cloches to get them established....

They provide protection from most animals and an extra bit of warmth too!!

When the sweetcorn starts growing out of the bottleneck (make sure lids are taken off!) then can take them off or if still wanting protection cut the top part of the bottle off so u still have a protective ring around the base but plenty of space for the plant to grow..

Hope this helps!

(I have a near-addiction to diet coke so have find plenty of ways to recycle the bottles!!!)