How do I use bottle cloches?

[GlenAmple]

This will be my third year at trying to grow Sweetcorn. Last two years have been unsuccessful because I think they haven't been put outside early enough. This year, I was thinking about using bottle cloches so that the Sweetcorn can get an earlier start outside, which would give a longer growing season and hopefully success.

What I would like to know is, when the cloches are on, do I put the lids on, leave them off or what? If the lids are off and it's frosty, would the frost still be able to damage the plants? Any other information would be appreciated

[HeyWayne]

Hi Glen - when you say "not successful" do you mean they don't grow, or do you mean that you don't get any cobs?

I may be teaching you to suck eggs, but one of the biggest reasons for corn not "succeeding" is that they are not planted in "blocks". Instead of them being planted in a row, you need to plant them in blocks of say at least 4 x 4 plants. As they use the wind to pollenate (and produce corns) and if planted in a row the pollen simply blows away and doesn't come into contact with the silks.

To answer the question about bottle cloches - I've found the best way is to push a cane into the ground, then slide the bottle over the top (top facing upward). Leave the lid off - you'll have a job putting it on with the cane in place.

I'd be wary of planting them out too soon though - but the cloche will give it some protection. I think harvest time is about 12 weeks, and they are harvested in late summer/early autumn I think so anything 12 weeks prior to lets say September should give you the corn you're after.

I'd be wary of planting too much though as its harvest period isn't that long from memory.

Good luck dude.

I love sweetcorn.

[pipscariad]

I used my bottle cloches with the tops on last year, and they got my corn off to a great start. I pushed the bottles about 2 - 3" into the soil and they stayed put, even in the wild coastal winds we have here. HW's cane idea above sounds good though, so perhaps try both ways? The added bonus of them for me was that they kept the slugs off as well as the plants snug. Once the corn was up to the top of the bottle I took the lids off for a few days before removing them altogether.

Good luck with your corn this year

[stella]

I tried bottles last year but they just kept falling over. Asked on here and found out that you really need to put a cane in the ground near the plants then slip the bottle over the top. Works a treat. I start them off with the lid on then as the weather warms up take it off.

[GlenAmple]

Hi HeyWayne,

Thanks, I did use the block planting method

Last year they were chewed to bits by cats I had a couple that survived that had male flowers but no female but they didn't come into flower until September, which is why I think I didn't plant them soon enough.

The year before, they just didn't flower, I think it was July before I got them in the ground and I think they just didn't get big enough to flower.

I'll give the bottles a try this year

[HeyWayne]

Did you sow direct, or plant in modules first?

I plant mine (as I do almost all my plants) in modules and then plant out when about 4 inches tall - you have to be careful with their roots, so best to plant them in empty loo roll centres.

I tried sowing direct before, but mice had the lot before they germinated.

[GlenAmple]

The first time I tried growing Sweetcorn, I sowed them in modules, put them in a cool dark cupboard and got a good germination rate I left them too long in the cupboard though and they got really tall and leggy, they started going outside in June to acclimatise and I think it was July before I planted them, they were much bigger than 4 inches though.

Last year, I bought 4 inch plantlets from the garden centre and put them straight out but like I said they got badly chewed by a cat

[Jeanied]

GlenAmple you have to time your sowing so that they are tall enough to plant out after all danger of frost is gone. I sowed mine in April / May I think. You need a decent block of plants - I would say 16 plants would give a decent chance of producing - planted in a 4x4 block. Cat chewing - hmmm - why not sow a batch of kitty grass at the same time? That should tempt felines away from the corn.
Sweetcorn do need as long as possible in the sunshine to produce - as I think you have discovered!
And as for bottle cloches, plant sweetcorn, plant a cane beside, bottle cloche over the cane with lid off, slide over the plant.

[GlenAmple]

Thanks for all the help everyone

I think I might give the cat grass a try too

[Alison]

Last year I sowed rather later than I meant to on 3 May (meant to do it mid April) and they were planted out 13 June (were ready earlier but I didn't have time) in a block of 4 by 3 plants. Did very well and produced a couple of corns per plant even though they weren't very tall. No record of it but seem to remember that the cobs were ready about mid September. You are a lot further north than me so that won't help but make sure you grow an early variety which will cope with the shorter summer.

[Pies]

Did you sow direct, or plant in modules first?

I plant mine (as I do almost all my plants) you have to be careful with their roots,d.

I keep reading this,but last year i didn't get my plot till June so I bought some plants.There were approx 8 in a three inch pot and they were about 6-8 inches tall.So you can imagine the root bundle,i wasn't to fussy about seperating them either,i ended up with 76 large cobs from 36 plants

I'll probably never get as good a crop again

[GlenAmple]

Thanks Alison

I was F1 Sundance that I grew the first time (early maturing, high yielding, according to packet). I'll just need to try and get them in the ground sooner, I think The ones I got from the Garden Centre, last year were just called Supersweet, if I remember correctly. I've still got some Sundance seeds left, so I'll give them another try As it can be frosty here until Mid-June, I think the cloches might be a big help.

[zazen999]

Glen......can I suggest something?

I left lots of white netting on crops all winter, and the temp difference under the netting, even in the snow, was significant - to the extent of the soil underneath not being frozen when all other soil was.

What i'd do is to sow around the same time as everyone else further south; into modules and germinate indoors. Then, pot into 3 inch pots once the roots stick out of the bottom of the modules - 1 seedling per pot. Then start to harden off when about 8 inches tall and when they go outside, put netting over them supported by canes or a frame and leave that in place until the last frost date for your area. By then, they should be off to a good start whilst being protected from winds, frost and cats.

[sarraceniac]

Just a word of warning to anybody wanting to use bottle cloches. Don't forget to drink the contents first.

[GlenAmple]

That sounds like a great idea zazen

What exactly do you mean by white netting though? Is this the same as horticultural fleece? If not, can you show me some pics or a link from somewhere to buy it please?