Growing Together: Open Forum

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  • 1.  Growing Corn

    Posted 07-21-2023 01:11:00 PM

    My 3rd grade class learns about the three sisters so every year we plant corn, and every year without fail, the corn gets devoured by rats and then ravaged by the ants.  This year, I was able to salvage one ear of corn! 

    Has anyone grown corn successfully?  If so, what do you do to prevent the critters from eating all the ears?

    I am ready to give up on planting corn and may just do sunflowers instead!



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    Ziva Santop
    School Garden Specialist
    LVUSD
    Agoura Hills, CA
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  • 2.  RE: Growing Corn

    Posted 07-22-2023 11:34:00 AM

    I had the same problem with all my winter veggies this past year for the first time. They only left the peas and the boy choy.

    Here's a couple things you can try:

    Sprinkle lots of cayenne pepper (get it at Winco in bulk) or coffee grounds or egg shells around the base of the plant. Never tried this one but stick plastic forks in soil around plant. 



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    Evelyn Margolin
    Sacramento, CA
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Growing Corn

    Posted 07-22-2023 11:43:00 PM
    Hi,
    It was not clear to me at which point in the growing process that you had difficulty with rats.  At the harvest time or at the beginning of the growth?   To give corn a head start to supper beans, we start the corn in small containers so that the liver plants and the seeds of beans can be planted before the school year ends here in the Midwest.   Do you plant 3 kernels in a hill so you have a greater chance of some success? How many rows of total plants do you have?  Try flint corn instead of sweet corn.  Which type of squash plant do you grow?  Try one with particularly spiky leaves - true pumpkin plants.  Consult your local extension agent for suggestions about how to deal with the critters in your area.  Try luring rats into live critter traps with other higher interest food as the corn is ripening and be sure to spread the hot pepper around after rain as the corn is ripening.  

    Carol troyer-Shank
    Allis elementary school



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Growing Corn

    Posted 07-24-2023 12:59:00 PM

    Hi,

    The ears of corn got eaten a couple of weeks prior to harvest.  I tend the garden at two schools and had the same issue. The schools are located in area with an abundant amount of wildlife so it is quite difficult to control the critters. The corn is watered with a drip system (not rain here during the summer), so I would have to sprinkle the hot pepper every day. 

    I think the only solution is to give up on growing corn and replace them with sunflowers as part of the three sisters. 



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    Ziva Santop
    School Garden Specialist
    LVUSD
    Agoura Hills, CA
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    Original Message


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