Really??? What a good idea! I can't put a radio out cuz of the neighbors and rain, but I wonder if like a windchime or something would work? Cuz last year, I was looking so forward to the last few ears of corn and something came and took it all! Ripped it right off the stalk and just left the pieces half eaten on the ground!jal_ut wrote: When the ears are developing I put a radio in the corn patch to scare off the skunks and raccoons. They will literally clean you out if something is not done to discourage them.
Yep! Sounds like what a skunk or raccoon does.Ripped it right off the stalk and just left the pieces half eaten on the ground!
I had huge corn earworm problems last year (but oddly, zero the year prior). More than half my ears had wriggly little caterpillars in them, and the top 1.5" was inedible and gross. I had to go through the entire patch with bypass loppers just before the corn party and hack off the top 2" of every ear.jal_ut wrote: I hang a 4 foot fluorescent bug zapper right near the corn patch. This is for control of the corn earworm. Since the adult is a night flyer, it gets them.
I just bought the 1/2 acre version of this zapper for $35, plus a mounting bracket, extension cord, and a water-tight cord lock thingy. Everything's got 4+ stars from amazon's reviewers. Fingers crossed!TheWaterbug wrote:I had huge corn earworm problems last year (but oddly, zero the year prior). More than half my ears had wriggly little caterpillars in them, and the top 1.5" was inedible and gross. I had to go through the entire patch with bypass loppers just before the corn party and hack off the top 2" of every ear.jal_ut wrote: I hang a 4 foot fluorescent bug zapper right near the corn patch. This is for control of the corn earworm. Since the adult is a night flyer, it gets them.
jal_ut, do you use anything other than the bug zapper? I bought a bottle of Btk that I intend to use this year, but I've never tried it before.
Do you leave the zapper out from ear emergence until harvest? How many zappers do you use for how large a plot?
I have only one 4 foot bug zapper. Yes, I leave it on from the time the corn starts to silk until its ripe. It gets mosquitos too. My corn plot about 3000 sq feet.Do you leave the zapper out from ear emergence until harvest? How many zappers do you use for how large a plot?
Thanks! My plot is only about 12' x 30', so I'd hope a little zapper like I ordered would be OK. Due to the layout, the zapper will be at one end of the rows. If I have earworms at the far end, then I'll know I need another one for next year.jal_ut wrote:I have only one 4 foot bug zapper. Yes, I leave it on from the time the corn starts to silk until its ripe. It gets mosquitos too. My corn plot about 3000 sq feet.Do you leave the zapper out from ear emergence until harvest? How many zappers do you use for how large a plot?
That's the exact zapper I bought, and I even bought it from Amazonjal_ut wrote:The big zapper I have is supposed to be good for 1.5 acre coverage. You can get smaller ones.
Here is one for 1/2 acre coverage.
If I ever looked at gardening that way, I'd never have gotten started! Pound for pound I probably grow some of the most expensive vegetables on the planet. (No, that's not me, but I can identify with him!)My point being that is seems useless to buy a $35 bug zapper to protect a corn patch that will only bring you $12 worth of corn.
There ya go. Like I said we don't really care about the cost of our hobbies. We do it for the enjoyment.If I ever looked at gardening that way, I'd never have gotten started! Pound for pound I probably grow some of the most expensive vegetables on the planet. (No, that's not me, but I can identify with him!)
I see it as a hobby, and it's far less expensive than photography, fancy cars, or a boat. I had a mid-life crisis last year and spent $500 on a used rototiller. My spouse can hardly complain about that!
Ugh. I did not use the Bt oil on my first little patch, and it has earworms. The zapper is less than 20' away, and it's on all night. So it's not working for me.TheWaterbug wrote:Yes! I just bought an oil can, and I have a bottle of BT dust that I bought (but didn't use) last year.
I'll use both the zapper and the BT+oil. I'm a belt, suspenders, and Velcro kind of guy
Though I do notice the angle of the ears tend to drop not all of mine do this. What we do is when you feel it’s about time to start harvesting find the largest ear and take a peek. If it’s ready pick, all ears that are as big around (or close to) as that one at the base get harvested. Then we wait a few days (maybe a week depending on the weather) and then pick any that have grown to be that same size around. Remember to feel for the circumference around the base of the ear and don't pay as much attention to length. It also seems to get to a point where the corn starts maturing at a smaller size so after a few pickings you many need to adjust accordingly.imafan26 wrote:Corn is usually ready when the angle of the ear drops slightly or 10 days after the tassels appear.