Garden Calendar

- jobs for November

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SOW sweet corn seeds directly into the garden when all risk of frost has passed. Sweet corn doesn’t like being transplanted, and it doesn’t like frosts. If your soil is still cold and wet, leave it until next month.

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CORN is wind-pollinated so plant in blocks rather than single rows.

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YOUNG plants are vulnerable to damage from the wind until they form buttress roots. When plants are about 20cm tall, ‘hill up’ soil around the stems to encourage extra root growth. The thick buttresses that will form hold plants firmly in the ground and also improve water uptake. Keep hilling soil as birds often scratch it away.

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CORN needs regular watering. A good soaking once or twice a week is better than a more frequent light sprinkling. Mulching in the first month will help conserve water.

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AS the silks form, feed the plants with fertiliser or manure.

place 2 cups of compost in pantyhose and place in a 20 litre bucket, with the top of the leg draped over the side. Hold on to the pantyhose and fill the bucket with non-chlorinated water. Add 1 tbsp molasses, 1 tbsp liquid seaweed fertiliser and 1 tsp fish fertiliser. Leave for 24 hours, then use, or it will start to grow ‘bad’ bacteria.