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28 Nov 09 Annalisa (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

My corn is going great! Planted irregularly, but minimum 5 plants together (I have two separate patches). I've harvested 3 ears, tasted like no other corn I've eaten - so fresh and delicious!!! Yellow leaves = not enough water perhaps? Otherwise it's the soil that needs to be better. Ants mean an unhealthy plant - better soil fixed that for me (first round ants were a problem). As for taller plants, I know a friend who planted corn bought from punnents, they ended up short. My sweet corn I planted from seeds (found them cheap at a dollar store, funny enough) and they are as tall as I am. They are also quick harvest seeds - only 8 weeks! From seed in ground to corn at the dinner table :) So easy.

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27 Nov 16 Mark Southcombe (Australia - tropical climate)

I live in SE Queensland & have had ongoing ant problems for the past 10 years. I've tried Ant Bait plus many other hearsay theories & nothing seems to work. Earlier this year I started a veggie garden & have noticed the ants making a beeline for my sweetcorn. I spoke to a market gardener & he recommended a 'you beaut' Garlic & Chilli spray. To which was sprayed liberally on all parts of the plants in the morning & later that same day, the #€@ ants were back. Can anyone give me a tried & true method or am I in charge of a pointed stick, with which to push excrement up a steep gradient ?

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28 Nov 16 John (Australia - arid climate)

Sorry you are having so much trouble. Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) applied to the base of each corn stalk will stop them as they stick to the greasy surface. This may not be practical if you have a lot of plants. Putting pepper along the rows of very small seeds like carrot stops them from 'pirating' the seed but whether this would halt their advance on your corn I do not know. Trust this helps.

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