Yellow Leaves on Sweetcorn

[Big DParticipant]

My sweet corn, which was direct sown in the allotment, has been doing so well with cobs starting to grow but very suddenly the leaves are starting to go yellow from the top down. Any idea anyone what is happening?

Thanks

[charlesModerator]

This does not sound right, to put it in context, how yellow? even going brown? all your plants in an even fashion?
is everything else growing alright?
No glyphosphate used on the grassy edges?

[BelgardParticipant]

I wonder is it shortage of nitrogen?

[Big DParticipant]

Hi Charles

One plant turned completely yellow very quickly and I have pulled it out, two or three others are starting to have the tips of their leaves turn yellow. This attack seems to be happening very quickly, in a matter of a couple of days. I live in Essex where we have had nearly record rainfall in June and wondered if might be connected?

Everything else is growing well except blight which has wiped out everyone’s potatoes and tomatoes on our 6 acre site.

I grow organically and no dig so never use weedkillers. I can’t think of anything different this year except the weather.

Thanks

[charlesModerator]

Yes this is not lack of nitrogen or everything would be going yellow. Are they in a boggy part of your plot though? Is the whole site soggy at the moment? Although I think you have had drier and warmer weather recently.

[Big DParticipant]

Hi Charles

No, it is not boggy. We are on clay soil but on a south facing slope so it drains well. In fact it has gone hard on top although nice and damp underneath but definitely not boggy.

I was over the plot this afternoon and see that another allotmenteer 4 plots away has a similar thing happening on her sweetcorn. It is very strange!

I tried giving the sweetcorn a foliage watering with sequestered iron and seaweed this afternoon and will see if that makes any difference.

I can’t believe too many nutrients have been washed out with the recent rain but definitely something is happening.

[charlesModerator]

Yes I don’t believe the “nutrients washing out” theory either, unless one has used synthetic fertilisers, which you have not.
In 2008, 2009 and 2012, when we had more summer rain over many months than I think you have had in June, all my crops – and second crops with no new compost added – were bountiful with no evidence of leaching.
So please keep us posted after your iron feed.

[Author]

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