Your comments and tips

16 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Ants can be a problem in the garden. You don't say in your note how many plants you have but if it is only a few you could smear a band of petroleum jelly around each stalk to trap them. Ants are also deterred by pepper. Buy some cheap pepper and sprinkle it liberally around the plants. this works well to stop ants stealing carrot seed, which they love. Regarding the ones that are nesting I don't have any suggestions. Maybe a small amount of kitchen washing up liquid mixed with water and sprayed onto the affected plants will suffocate them. Regarding chewing pests on your capsicums. Yates 'Natures Way' is a very saafe spray to use for caterpillars. I don't use synthetic sprays or chemicals in my garden. Trust this helps.

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17 Feb 17, LESLEY STRUDWICK (Australia - arid climate)

Thank you............ will give your suggestions a go.. :)

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16 Feb 17, Ingrid (Australia - tropical climate)

Hi, I'm a single mum on a serous budget and only a small space in the courtyard. Am I able to grow sweetcorn in pots? Am I better off planting them in the garden? What size pots do I need ? I like gardening. I sometimes wonder if it's just cheaper to buy a $ 1 cob and be done with it! Thank you for the emails. I find them very helpful. Ingrid

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16 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Sweet corn will grow in large pots or tubs. It likes plenty of water and a good food supply (manure, compost, etc). 20 litre buckets may be obtained free from bakeries or fast food outlets. Drill some drainage holes in the bottom. Large planter tubs may also be availble from landscapers who plant advanced trees. With ample food and water you could try 2 or 3 plants per tub. To increase yield from that space plant 2 or 3 climbing bean seeds as well. they will climb up the corn stalks adding another vegetable to your harvest. It maybe too late to plant sweet corn this season but you could try salad greens (lettuce, bok choi, etc), carrots or beetroot. Not too much manure for the carrots or they will have forked roots. There is a huge variety of food that can be grown in small spaces and tests have shown that you can feed a family of 4 in the area of a double carport (6m x 6m). Keep going its great to grow your own healthy food. Trust this helps.

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17 Feb 17, Ingrid (Australia - tropical climate)

Thank you for that very helpful feedback! Ingrid

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07 Feb 17, flo (Australia - temperate climate)

Usually crop rotation is done so diseases don't build up in the beds, and also because each type of crop takes different nutrients from the soil. Growing the same crop in the same spot all the time would deplete the soil. Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, so growing leafy greens to follow would have them benefitting from the nitrogen. Hope this helps...

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29 Jan 17, Sue g puttock (Australia - temperate climate)

When i pick the corn of the plants do more corn keep growing or do i just get rid of the plants when all cobs picked

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04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

After a corn/maize plant has produced a cob or cobs it will not produce any more. You can cut the stalks off or pull them out of the ground and use them for mulch or plant climbing peas on them - free stakes! Trust this helps

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24 Jan 17, Aaron (Australia - temperate climate)

I've had a problem with every corn stalk being chewed open about where the corn would growand also at other places. Im guessing this is by possums or rodents as some stalks are bent over. Anyone else had this issue and can suggest a solution?

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05 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

Sounds very much like possums or rodents as the 'budding' cob would be very sweet and nutritious. Controlling them is a challenge. There are bark chips of the Quassia tree which should be available online. They can be soaked then boiled to make a very bitter tasting concoction that you spray on. This also works for wallabies on garden shrubs. The bitterness shouldn't affect the cobs as they are inside the husks. Trust this helps.

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