sheet composting the corn stalks

19 years ago

Hi,

I put this same post over in the vegetable forum. I thought I'd bring my thoughts on the matter over to where all the composters hang out.

The corn section of my garden was at its end. So to clean up the area and prepare it for next season of corn growing I removed any edible corn, lopped off the stalks and let them fall where they were. Many of the stalks were still very green. I then sprinkled them with some alfalfa meal and coffee grounds then watered. Next I dumped a thick layer of leaves mixed with pine needles saved from last fall. The leaf mix hasn't broken down much since it was stored in plastic lawn bags. I sprinkled more alfalfa meal on top of all this and watered again.

I didn't pull up the corn stalks so the roots are still down there. I don't plan on tilling this area as I am trying the no till approach for awhile.

Corn will be planted in this area again next year as it is the best location for this particular crop. As I was cutting down the corn I was surprised at how few weeds were growing with the corn. I did pull up the few I came across.

Does what I've done sound okay? Should I do any thing else? I've thought about getting really large sheets of cardboard and covering the area with them and then putting straw on top to hide the "ugly" of the cardboard. I'd LOVE to be able to get my hand on some cheap burlap but haven't found a source for free or really cheap.

I'd appreciate hearing any thoughts or ideas on what I've done. Yeah, I'm looking for validation I guess. I've never had this much success before! I certainly have never gotten to the point of figuring out how to put the corn bed to bed for the winter!

Thanks.

Michelle

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Comments (6)

jannoel_gw
19 years ago
Sounds good but I would skip the cardboard and straw. Both take a long time to decompose, especially as a top layer. If all the layers aren't gone by planting time next spring, just spread it apart a little to plant your seeds.
Kimmsr
19 years ago
Whole corn stalks are difficult for the bacteria to digest, but no more so than cardboard and putting the cardboard on top might keep the area under moist enough to speed things up. Only way to know is try and see.
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tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
19 years ago
Did you do the no till method last year? If so, that may explain the fewer weeds. As for the stalks, if it's not too big of an area, I would have taken a loppers to them and tried to cut them up a bit. As for the cardboard, if you need the carbon then use it. Otherwise, if you have more leaves and pine needles, I'd use those (again, if more carbon is needed). Next year I'd put a layer of carbon down first, but that's just my opinion, as my experience in both composting and layering in the garden seems to show they work best that way.

tj
diggity_ma
19 years ago
I usually take the loppers to 'em, like TJ does. Then plant a cover crop of winter rye. I really think the winter rye does a lot to keep the biological action going through the fall and early spring. And a cover crop is a great way to fix LOTS of biomass.

-Diggity
shellva
Original Author
19 years ago
I guess I'll chop the corn stalks up a bit next year if this year's batch isn't broken down by spring.

For 2 years in a row I put down cardboard and a thick layer of hardwood mulch in the corn area. (Nothing grew for me last summer)

This past December I only put down chopped up leaves, coffee grounds and alfalfa meal. I did not disturb the soil too much if I remember correctly.

Don't cover crops have to be turned under in the spring?

Thanks all.

Michelle
diggity_ma
19 years ago
Some cover crops do need to be turned under in the spring, but it's generally not necessary for winter rye. Oh yes, it WILL overwinter just fine and resume growing in the spring. But it's pretty easy to kill off. Either mow it short or smother it with more mulch. Or both!

I don't cover crop every bed for the winter. Maybe I should, but I don't. Sometimes it just seems like too much trouble. But other times, especially for new beds, or when I'm expecting to plant a heavy feeder in that spot the following year, I definitely make sure to get a cover crop in there. That's why I suggested it for you - you are proposing planting corn (a very heavy feeder) in the same spot two years in a row, so your soil will need all the help it can get.

-Diggity