[Floody]

These photos were taken quite a few weeks ago now, but I tried putting socks over the cobs as recommended, and as you can see, it wasn't a success!  The critters (whatever they are) ate right through the socks.  I don't think they are rats, as they didn't fell the plants; I think maybe it's a combination of wood pigeons and mice.

Next year I'm going to try putting plastic bottles over the cobs.

Or maybe buy a machine gun. 

Does anyone want to buy fifteen pairs of Primark stripey socks with holes of various sizes in them? 

[mumofstig]

The advice re socks was on this thread,
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=121011.msg1426504#msg1426504

in case anyone was wondering 

[DD.]

Badgers & squirrels are our main enemies, but if it was badgers, the corn would have been totally wrecked. Managed to keep them out this year by building a wire stockade around the plants. Had about 150 really good cobs.

[JayG]

For the second year running and despite my best efforts to keep them out of the garden, badgers have dug their latrine right next to my sweetcorn, but didn't actually touch the plants or the cobs.

I may be misinterpreting Floody's pictures but it looks as if the socks are tied round the cobs (as in scarf) rather than fastened over them (as in feet.) 

[madcat]

And here was me thinking it was to keep them warm and help them ripen ....   

You can tell what my sweetcorn problem is - lovely shaped, completely unripe cobs at this stage in the autumn is not good news.   

[Floody]

I may be misinterpreting Floody's pictures but it looks as if the socks are tied round the cobs (as in scarf) rather than fastened over them (as in feet.) 

Jay G, I did fasten the socks over them, as in feet.  What happened was the unknown critters bit right through the toe end and pulled down the sock in order to get to the cobs.  Or, more likely, the bitten through sock slid down as the critters moved up and down the cob.  You REALLY have to like sweetcorn to go to that much trouble! 

[JayG]

Right, upturned plastic bottles with the open ends superglued to the stems next year I suppose? 

I wonder whether these animals actually have to learn (or be taught) which crops are going to be to their liking - I've got all the usual suspects, badgers, foxes, grey squirrels, and no doubt the odd rat and mouse, but I've never lost a sweetcorn cob to any of them...yet!

[Floody]

Yes, that's the strange thing, the plots just yards away from mine don't have any trouble with their sweetcorn being snaffled.  It's enough to give me a persecution complex!

[jazzbyrd]

magpies love sweetcorn!