First Corn Field attempt!

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

Well I've always wanted to plant sweet corn and this year I'm giving it a try.  So this will be a small garden size, 12x30'.  I'm doing 4 rows 30" apart, seed spacing about 8-10".   Started off with the moldboard plow, then the disc harrow which didn't work as good as I hoped but soil was probably a bit moist for it, the cultivator worked great and I did most of the work with that to level and break up the soil, then used it to make the rows.  Next time I'll probably borrow my friends WH tiller to prep the soil.  So planted 11 days ago and already have sprouts coming up.  I'm using Milorganite for my nitrogen feed. 

 

A couple observations from a first timer using the WH in the garden, first the turf tires on the front of the rig are not good at all for working a garden.  It was all over the place and I had a hard time holding a line.  Thinking I'll try a 4.00-8 pneumatic tire of some kind in the future or something similar.  Any suggestions for a front tire and wheel combo would be appreciated, tractor is a 312-8.  Will add a little weight to the front as well with the front 2" receiver next time.

 

I would like advice for critter control and specifically with raccoons if anyone has some to offer.  The creek behind my yard is full of them and they will be an issue at some point.  I've seen the scent stuff you can put around the perimeter and the solar powered stuff on Amazon, also considering a small electric fence on a timer.  Any advice would be appreciated!   

 

Now for pics!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[oliver2-44 9,679]

Critter Control:

I suspect you also could have rabbits with that creek near. They like tender young plants!

Each time you go get a haircut take a trash bag with you and bring home a bag full of hair sweepings.  Sprinkle them around for the human scent.

Live traps work great, but I've never been brave enough to open that trap with it alive and hissing at me.

So a pellet rifle or these finish the job. 

I set the trap a day or 2 before trash day so I don't have to worry with disposal.

 

 

 

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

There might be rabbits but I haven't seen one in years.  Used to have a decent amount but trail cam pics confirmed a bobcat moved in as a regular and haven't seen any rabbits in years.  Raccoons though show up by the droves.  Have one pic with 13 different ones in the same shot.  Didn't think about live trapping, perhaps a fur hat side hustle is in order for my son.  

[Pullstart 62,783]

I live trap, but they tend to come down with lead poison ping before I open the cage.  Must be something in the water?  As for the tires, weight might be a better option than different tires.  With that said, ribbed tires really can’t be beat for anything I do on a Horse.  They don’t tear up a lawn, they don’t slide like a turf tire.  And more weight.    the garden looks good!  

[953 nut 55,062]

21 hours ago, OutdoorEnvy said:

would like advice for critter control and specifically with raccoons if anyone has some to offer.

Get a skunk to move into your garden area, racoons will be out of there in a heartbeat!       We had a skunk move into our place a few years back and haven't seen a coon since.         As for how you get a skunk to move in            can't help you here, he just happened to show up,

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

52 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

        As for how you get a skunk to move in            can't help you here, he just happened to show up,

LOL!  Sounds like another live trapping job for the boy…hope mom doesn’t find out

[pfrederi 17,662]

When we first move out here 23 years ago we planted corn in our garden protects by chicken wire down low and electric above.  Corn grew nicely got big and started to mature...Crows got it all.  haven't wasted our time since the farmer down the hill has a big field of it and we get what we want cheap...

[Tim.0 39]

I grow sweet corn for road side sale, electric fence. (4 inches or so off ground) You could trap, but there will be more and more. The coon will not come untill after the corn tassels. Once the corn tassels takes approx 21 days to get corn. I fence about 10 to 15 days in advance of getting corn ot 10 or so days after tassel. the coon will smell the corn once closer to harvest. Only way I can figure it out. I use steel t post for corners and plastic 4ft post for straight runs. If you could find used fencer and used small gauge wire (wind up tightner)(need grounding rod or maybe use gavanized fence i see in picture)the small gauge wire will tighten easier. Kinda expensive for such a small area but a family coon take night or 2 demolish that area. Coon will eat part of a ear then knock the next plant down and soon have it all knocked over. I have my electric wire on extesion cord wheels so I just roll out the wire and reroll it up.(small gauge wire I use piece wood cut use it roll wire up and roll out)I use mostly polytape just easier to work with and a higher mile fencer more resistance in polytape due to several stainless steel wires.in the poly tape. If you plan on to keep growing sweet corn the equipment will eventually pay for itself.(expensive for small area)

If you want really sweet sweet corn use a augmented variaty as there is different types, Su, SE,  SE/sh2, sh2,HSC, SSW, etc.....Aug/sh2 aug in more tender has alot of sugar great for freezing holds sugar content well. SE/Sh2 or SH2 is good also kernels when ripe bit more crisp (harder) bit less sugar. Sh2 varieties need warm soil to plant or seed possibly rot if wet and cold soil.

Deer i gave up on them, they just jump the fence, they like to eat the small ears, plants, Turkeys like to go down the rows and eat the small plants and or after seeeding go down the rows and eat the seed.

I go out with daughter and fence 1/2 acre in about 2 to 3 hours depending on problems, fence is up about 2 to 3 weeks take it down, move to next field, I grow 1.5 acres. 4 different plantings if everything works out. I have enough fence for acre.

Also I have lots rabbits dont have problem with them in sweet corn, but they go after the vege garden thats a different fence alltogether.

Good Luck

[Tim.0 39]

Just a note 30 inch rows 8 to 10 inch apart depending on your soil you may need to side dress abit of nitrogen, maybe you fertilized? fairly heavy seed count for small area ........oops i see you fertilized ... anyway depending rain, etc you may need side dress.....I side dress give nitrogen when the plants need it...heavy rain can wash nitrogen out soil. 

Edited April 22 by Tim.0

[OutdoorEnvy 1,522]

Update!  Seems to be doing alright so far.  Lost a few and some didn't sprout but to be expected I suppose.  Still have a good amount left if I can keep the critters out!

 

[kpinnc 11,899]

On 4/17/2024 at 9:15 PM, Pullstart said:

they tend to come down with lead poison ping before I open the cage.

 

Man, I hate it when that happens! 

[Pullstart 62,783]

8 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

 

Man, I hate it when that happens! 

I nabbed two whistle pigs on Saturday, sans traps.  One front flipped out of the mulberry tree, her greens harvest still clinched in her teeth!  The other, he was in the shadows of a log pile and I really wasn’t positive I was looking at a face or a figment of my imagination, but the dirt flying after the shot indicated he was hit.  Right in the end of the nose!  Sure fire way to die.

[kpinnc 11,899]

42 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

Right in the end of the nose!  Sure fire way to die.

 

I pretty much married Ellie Maye Clampett. As such, I have to perform critter dispatches in secret. I hear it's better to ask forgiveness than permission, but I'm not convinced given the outcome. 

[oliver2-44 9,679]

Now @Pullstart @kpinnc y’all bed to be a little more civilized.  I live trap and relocate all my critters to greener pastures using a large green container the city give me. They even come by one a week and collect them from me

Honest, I tell my citified weekend lake neighbor that they go to greener pastures. I suspect they really help make that yard waste into better greener stuff after it goes through the county compost yard. 

Edited May 22 by oliver2-44

[kpinnc 11,899]

15 minutes ago, oliver2-44 said:

Now @Pullstart @kpinnc y’all bed to be a little more civilized like me. I live trap and relocate all my critters to greener pastures

 

I relocated a stray Tom once. 6 miles and across a river.

 

He came back. 

 

...Once. 

[Handy Don 12,141]

14 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:

to greener pastures

They are in a better place for sure....

[Handy Don 12,141]

14 hours ago, kpinnc said:

I relocated a stray Tom once. 6 miles and across a river.

I always marvel at the idea of relocating a varmint to just become someone else’s problem.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,490]

1 hour ago, Handy Don said:

I always marvel at the idea of relocating a varmint to just become someone else’s problem.

 

Nonsense.

 

Here in Michigan it's not legal. Yet, the critter control companies say they "humanely" relocate them and release them with live traps...

Uh huh... relocated to another dimension...

[Pullstart 62,783]

8 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

 

Nonsense.

 

Here in Michigan it's not legal. Yet, the critter control companies say they "humanely" relocate them and release them with live traps...

Uh huh... relocated to another dimension...

When the yuppies are the clientele, you gotta tell’um yuppie stuff 

[kpinnc 11,899]

3 hours ago, Handy Don said:

always marvel at the idea of relocating a varmint to just become someone else’s problem.

 

Where I took him was a state forest. It wasn't dropped on anyone else. I was planning to give him a lead transfusion, but my girls saw me. I relocated him at thier request. They were 4 and 5 at the time. Nowadays, they'd be kitted up next to me with gear of their own.

Edited May 22 by kpinnc

[adsm08 2,022]

On 4/18/2024 at 7:24 AM, 953 nut said:

  As for how you get a skunk to move in  

 

Leave lots of food laying around. Particularly old salads and fish.

 

I had a rather unpleasant neighbor some years ago. He decided he didn't like our dogs and would call the cops to file noise complaints quite regularly, even a few times when our dogs weren't home.

 

Anyway, the smell of skunk doesn't bother me one bit, and so once we decided we were moving 90 minutes away for my wife's job and I was living alone at that house to work out the 6 week notice I gave I successfully enticed a few to move into his yard.

Edited May 22 by adsm08