Your comments and tips

10 Nov 10, Sri (Australia - temperate climate)

The secret with corn is to keep them warm they dont like cool soil so get some straw or some mulch and cover the roots up that will keep them warm but also allow for good drainage so the roots dont stay wet and start to rot.

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06 Nov 10, leah (Australia - temperate climate)

I have planted corn in large raised beds - they plants are now very pale green and haven't grown very much - they were planted about 6 weeks ago in an out Melb suburb. I suspect I planted them too early - any suggestions - thanks.

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02 Dec 10, Sam (Australia - arid climate)

If they're not thriving, try a liquid fertlizer. Organics can work but dissolved conventional fertilizers work faster. If they are pale and weak they might need phosphorous (superphosphate or chook poo, or a soluble fertiliser) or nitrogen (urea or sulphate of ammonia are both soluble and very high in nitrogen, some soluble commercial fertilizers have a lot, chook poo also has some). It might take a week or two to see results.

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07 Nov 10, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

They might start moving with some warm days and nights. I'm starting mine now - they don't like cold. You could try inter-planting a few more and see how they go and pull out the ones which don't thrive. Also, watering with sea-weed emulsion can help if they are stressed.

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02 Nov 10, Sandy (Australia - temperate climate)

Sometimes a caterpillar will eat off the base of the silks - making them look ripened. Will also eat the corn. Corn love Nitrogen, Zinc and water especially early. Beans grown up corn is good, but the beans don't put much nitrogen in until they die off.. I also grow cucumber/gherkins/lebanese cucumber under the corn. 3 crops in one.

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28 Oct 10, Merlijn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

I grew corn for the first time from seedlings. The cobs are now still very small but the silky threads have gone brown. So I pulled a cob off thinking it must be ripe, but there are only a few corn kernels on the cob. Have I left them too long? How do I know if they are ready for picking?? They've had plenty of water (we've had a wet spring in Brisbane!) Any ideas??

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20 Oct 10, pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

i only take the one main cob off the corn then pull the plant and compost it. any subsequent cobs are usually small and spindly, and in my opinion not worth the bother. cheers

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13 Oct 10, David (Australia - temperate climate)

Corn is grown in the same bed as pumpkin in a rotation system and it is this which grows up the corn stems.

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20 Sep 10, Jay (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

traditionally corn has been used as a climbing post for peas as the peas put nitrogen back into the soil that the corn has taken out. My question is that corn and peas are opposite planting times so how does this work? Anyone?

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01 Oct 10, grace (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

beans not peas, they are a summer crop.

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