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Bird sh*t on my sweetcorn

ChriscoreChriscore Posts: 155
in Fruit & veg

I recently planted out my sweetcorn in the garden, now that its warm enough and they are large enough. Last year i grew potatoes in the spot where my corn is now and birds crapped allover the leaves (theres a lot of trees in my garden) But i wasnt too worried because potatoes were quite tough.

This year though i decided to get some 5 ft insect netting and cage to go over them to protect them from the sh*t as well as insects that seem to plague my garden. Anyway the other day just as i expected the top of the net is covered in sh*t and it looks like its taken the worse of it. However some small bits have seeped through the tiny holes and landed on the leaves, should i be worried about it damaging my plants? and is there a way to remove it? Does anyone else get this problem?

 I noticed a few of the lower leaves on some of the plants have got a yellowy browness to them which i dont think is related to the sh*t but not sure what could be the cause...We did have a fair bit of rain recently.

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    A bit of bird shit won't hurt your plants, and the rain that's coming will wash it off anyway. 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Bird shit contains a lot of nitrates, something which will help your sweetcorn to grow.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090

    Mankind has cultivated veg for millennia and lived with birds, insects and all sorts of other critters excreting all over the place.   That's why we wash veg and fruit and salad before eating it.

    Your sweetcorn foliage will be fine and the cobs will be protected by their covering which you peel off before cooking and eating.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    Just think how much poo farmers must have in their fields; do you really think they go around netting their plants? Relax. The main issue you'll have is the birds eating your crop; that can't be wiped off as easily.

  • ChriscoreChriscore Posts: 155

    My main concern was that the shit would be acidic and burn the leaves. I mainly nettied them because last year in that part of the garden there was a lot of pests muching my leaves! Thanks for the responses.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147

    Even if it did burn the leaves a little bit, veggie plants aren't going to suffer from stuff like that.  Not a problem image

    What insects are you having problems with?

    The only things I net are my winter brassicas to fend off the hungry woodpigeons.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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