Sweetcorn DISASTER & Laying Membrane On The New Allotment | Ep.3

[@Jacqui-Pen]

Sadly, carpet was the go-to thing years ago to suppress weeds on allotments. I've started to grow in my back garden. We've raised beds, containers, a big polytunnel, and greenhouse, so we don't face most of the issues that come with allotments. It's still hard work trying to defend everything from critters but, super enjoyable 😊

[@jpennturner]

Hi I use plastic bottles to cover my corn cobs, it has worked so far, thank you for the interesting videos.

[@silinaforrester5462]

Will try that next yr.

[@maureen3621]

You and your mum have done a fantastic job clearing the new plot. What a crazy year with the weather we’ve had this year. By now the sweetcorn harvest should’ve started in August. It’s a shame that your cobs have fed the rodents. I took my plot on last year, covered it with the plastic sheets only to find that mice were living underneath it and they too were feasting on my crops. Trials and tribulations are what gives us our resilience. Best luck for next year. 👍

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Thank you! The reason plastic sheeting is banned on our site is for that same reason - rats live under it. So we are limited to the woven stuff. A funny year yes! Slow start, then everything came at once in August 😂

[@juliefowkes9796]

We had to put barriers of plastic roofing panels around our sweetcorn and lots of chilli powder. Kept the rats at bay, but we picked it all in one go and froze it. We grow cobra beans as well, great variety, although I wouldn’t be without runner beans. Loving seeing the progress on the new plot.

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Thank you! Do you find the cobra beans produce more than other varieties?

[@anonet78]

Jim your new allotment is starting to look very good.

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Thank you so much! It's slowly coming together I think

[@TheUnconventionalGrower]

Great update Jim, the plot is coming along nicely. Weather seems to have been a challenge this time which has impacted crop growth and certain harvests. Over the years I've found with weed suppressant membrane especially when you are putting such as wood chip on top is that it works for the 1st few years but as the wood chips breaks down into a fine compost weeds start to grow on top so I did away with the membrane and went straight for a decent depth compost and then a layer of wood chips on top a few layers of cardboard - It really does work! (Check out Charles Dowding's videos on this method). Keep up the good work.

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Thanks for the suggestions ☺️ we are definitely going to be using cardboard in areas and putting compost on top. The membrane is to cover a large area. My buckets will sit on them. When the wood chip paths break down I'll scoop it up and add it to my compost bays, as I'm doing with the wood chip paths on my current plot this winter. And re applying fresh

[@AndrasMuzsi]

Hi. I use beer cans on my sweetcorn, just cut off the top and bottom with scissors and slide them on the cub. It works 😊

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Great idea! You could even use jars or plastic bottles couldn't you? Or do they dislike the feel of the metal can? Do they try and knock it off the cob?

[@gillslater]

Feeling your pain with the sweetcorn 😢 I had one bed that wasn't touched at all, but the second bed was completely eaten by the squirrels. I had mesh bags tied over and they either ripped the bags or pulled the entire plant down. I think I shall make cages next year. Great work on your new plot.

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Thank you! Yes they're a huge problem. I'm thinking of building a huge cage next year for brassicas that will also house some sweetcorn in, too. We will see. Winter project?

[@mygardenanddinosaurs]

Hi Jim. So gutted for you losing your sweetcorn to the rats. They are ingenious critters. I plan to try growing corn for the first time next year. Never done it before. I’m with you re beans. I tried Pongo for the first time this year and they are great. Didn’t like my runner beans at all. I already have a packet of Cobra for next year. Loving the extra space you have in the new plot. Take care. Mags

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Cheers Mags. I'm hoping that extra space will be beneficial for us next year. Not sure what to do about the rats, that's a big big problem. Have a lovely week!

[@lobodo988]

I too take tomatoes before they’re vine-ripened, every one that is blushed comes in! As soon as a tomato has red, it won’t grow any bigger anyway, so this protective measure is ideal as we have a lot of squirrels. Soon as I can fill 4 pint jars, I small-batch them & store them. My variety is Kenosha Paste, good for our 1st frost date of Oct 3 (Wisconsin, zone 5).

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Lovely! I struggle growing paste tomatoes. I have tried San marzano a few times and I either get blight really bad or blossom end rot 😢

[@helenstewart2085]

Tomatoes will ripen inside in a sunny room, you will lose the odd one, am so thankful that rats and slugs are not a major problem. But we do bait stations for rats and mice on our farm. Learnt my lesson about carpet, about 40 years ago they started using nylon thread in carpet manufacturing.

[@helenstewart2085]

Sweet potatoes are interesting have been trying to grow them for years, called Kumara in New Zealand, but last year manged to get lots from 7 pots 5 were wonderful, one pot was too big, and another was too small. They need a restricted root growing environment, don't let the vine root out of the pot. But growing the tunnel house worked.

[@Petetrenouth]

It may have been worth getting much wider ground cover membrane, I’d be concerned about the lack of overlap on what you’ve put down, also using wire staple type pegs to hold it down, will give you a bigger area pinned each time and are much easier to push in. Maybe in the carpeted area, you could have that as a conventional bed and dig it over properly? You know deep down it needs to come out, short term pain for long term gain. Good luck with it all, have fun, Pete.

[@downtoearthwithjim]

They are all very good points, Pete. I was actually wondering if we should have opted for wider membrane. But it's too late now. The next roll we get will probably be wider though saying that 😂 definitely getting the metal pegs to finish the job. Those plastic ones are rubbish. Got the whole winter to have it right. Hopefully it will be right come next spring. All the best to you and happy growing 😊

[@mandytaylor1008]

Could be badgers eating the corn. My ou are doing great keep at it.

[@Kate-ie8ew]

I love the bucket gardening-great idea. How do the plants make it through the winter? Don't the tubs freeze solid?

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Yes, they do. But these brassicas are cold hardy so shouldn't be an issue. I'll probably be keeping them in the greenhouse or polytunnel though to over winter

[@Kate-ie8ew]

Sorry for the dumb question-I realized after I wrote that they would be put in the greenhouse.

[@Brenda-xc7sq]

Well done on the new plot, I like the idea of 5 compost bays, home made compost is the best I find. Sad about the Sweetcorn, they are the love of my life and so many growers have lost them this year to rats etc. A great big fruit and sweetcorn cage would be such a luxury.

[@MrLaking123]

The leeks seem really thin this year, which seems to have suited some vegetables more than others

[@lorrainegrey8240]

I know what you mean about carpet the whole of my plot was covered in 3 layers of carpet and underlay it took me so long to dig it up and pull it up and so many trips to the dump!

[@laurathomason8693]

Hey Jim I'm at the levelling part of my plot but I'm wondering where did you get your weed suppressant membrane from? As I need quite a lot as my plot is twice as long as your new plot. Cheers and keep smiling Also are you thinking of doing any planting for over the autumn/winter? Or you just going to wait until spring?

[@bluewolf4915]

I grew Cobra and Seychelles Beans for the last three years. I'm going to just grow Seychelles next year. I think they do A little better but they are very similar.

[@downtoearthwithjim]

I'm excited to try cobra 😊

[@silinaforrester5462]

All my corn was eaten and plants down.

[@cms9902]

Which animal/pest ate them?

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Did the wind blow them over too? Mine was blown over, very frustrating. I may have to put the sweetcorn in a cage next year perhaps. It's hard work with the pests isn't it. Socks and bottles can be put over the cobs but that doesn't seem to be foolproof as the rats can pull them off

[@tonyferrari3754]

It's been a very challenging year for everyone in the uk Jim, never experienced crazy weather like we've had before, i hope we get better weather next year, you can't go wrong with the Cobra Beans, they are prolific and delicious, all the best with your new plot, 😊👍💪🍅🫑🍆🥔

[@downtoearthwithjim]

Thank you! I can't wait to try them next year 😃 happy growing to you! 💚