Straw around Sweetcorn

**roitelet** · 04-06-2015, 12:08 PM

Yes, well worth doing. I use straw mulch all the time and it makes a huge difference. Moist soil and very few weeds.

**Lumpy** · 04-06-2015, 12:43 PM

I have my corn sharing the tyres I grow my strawbs in - they get on fine.

**Oli** · 04-06-2015, 02:30 PM

Would grass clippings be good too?

**Nicos** · 04-06-2015, 02:53 PM

I don't see why not.

Be aware of course that straw is already dry and has a good airflow through it.
Grass mulch is wet and ready to compost.
Rotting down creates heat and will literally bake you plants.

If you want to use grass ( and I can't see why not) use a thin layer of say 1cm, let it dry and another layer,dry, and then another up to about4-5 cm.
Make sure it doesn't actually touch the plant. (This might also reduce the slugs heading off in the direction of the plant!)

We started using grass mulch all over the place last year and the only problem we've had was applying it too thickly and it composting down creating heat.
We lost quite a few raspberry canes doing that.

Lesson learned !

This has worked for us , but there may be some other trick to using it?

**Lumpy** · 04-06-2015, 03:38 PM

OK I'm a numbnut I read 'straw' as strawbs. Sorry!

**NatalieCooke** · 04-06-2015, 07:12 PM

Thanks everyone. I added the straw. Would I be ok planting the pumpkins behind the sweetcorn or would they shade them too much.
Can't wait to see both growing!!

**greenishfing** · 04-06-2015, 07:19 PM

I always plant my squashes around the edge of the sweetcorn patch and let them wander through it with no problems. It also stops the weeds.

**Scottishnewbie** · 09-06-2015, 03:02 PM

sorry to hijack your thread a bit, but can anyone tell me the planting distance and layout for sweetcorn in raised beds please? and don't tell me a 'block' because I'm not sure I know what a 'block' actually means

**bario1** · 09-06-2015, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by NatalieCooke View Post

Would I be ok planting the pumpkins behind the sweetcorn or would they shade them too much.

Make sure your sweetcorn get a good head start - last year my squashes drowned my sweetcorn and they didn't come to anything.

**skeggijon** · 09-06-2015, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by Scottishnewbie View Post

sorry to hijack your thread a bit, but can anyone tell me the planting distance and layout for sweetcorn in raised beds please? and don't tell me a 'block' because I'm not sure I know what a 'block' actually means

An example would be if you had say 9 plants, a block would be planting them 3 x 3

**Scottishnewbie** · 09-06-2015, 05:39 PM

isn't that just 3 rows then?

**Snadger** · 09-06-2015, 07:16 PM

Originally posted by Scottishnewbie View Post

isn't that just 3 rows then?

Yep, but three rows spaced to make a square pattern, like a dice with nine spots!

**Snadger** · 09-06-2015, 07:19 PM

I've planted limnanthis (Poached egg plants) as a mulch/green manure/water retainer around mine.

**Martin H** · 09-06-2015, 08:56 PM

Originally posted by Scottishnewbie View Post

sorry to hijack your thread a bit, but can anyone tell me the planting distance and layout for sweetcorn in raised beds please? and don't tell me a 'block' because I'm not sure I know what a 'block' actually means

I have a block of 16 plants in a 4 x 4 square, spaced just over a foot apart each way.

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