Corn meal hack.........

[David from Dothan]

Ran across this on the www........

"Corn gluten, found in corn meal, is a pre-emergent, which is a fancy way of saying that is it is a seed birth-control. Corn meal scattered around an area will keep any seed in that area from growing into a plant. This means a weed seed OR a desirable seed. This method is a good option for areas that you plan on planting PRE-GERMINATED plants in."

 

[Chuck]

Ran across this on the www........

"Corn gluten, found in corn meal, is a pre-emergent, which is a fancy way of saying that is it is a seed birth-control. Corn meal scattered around an area will keep any seed in that area from growing into a plant. This means a weed seed OR a desirable seed. This method is a good option for areas that you plan on planting PRE-GERMINATED plants in."

In theory this is correct and it does work, BUT, corn gluten is EXTREMELY time sensitive. You MUST know at what precise time to apply it. In other words you must know exactly when the weeds you are trying to control will emerge or the seeds germinate and this is basically a guessing game. You might have an idea of when the seeds will germinate but you must know the time within a couple of weeks or it is a waste of time and money and this stuff isn't cheap.

 

[David from Dothan]

In theory this is correct and it does work, BUT, corn gluten is EXTREMELY time sensitive. You MUST know at what precise time to apply it. In other words you must know exactly when the weeds you are trying to control will emerge or the seeds germinate and this is basically a guessing game. You might have an idea of when the seeds will germinate but you must know the time within a couple of weeks or it is a waste of time and money and this stuff isn't cheap.

Good tip........ then a 10-14 day window would require, possibly, multiple applications. Corn meal's relatively cheap in our area (we have several local mills) and, for me, it would take less time re-spreading it than pulling these infernal spring weeds.....LOL

 

[Chuck]

Good tip........ then a 10-14 day window would require, possibly, multiple applications. Corn meal's cheap in our area and, for me, it would take less time re-spreading it than pulling these infernal spring weeds.....LOL

Hold on. Corn meal is cheap, corn gluten is NOT. Spreading corn meal around will stop fungal problems but not seeds from germinating. Corn gluten is a derivative of raw corn. It is the outside of the corn kernel or the yellow hard portion of the kernel. It is the same stuff that is not in food grade enriched cornmeal. You might think, " I'll just throw out some ground up corn that has the hard yellow part in it." Sorry, won't work. I don't know how they do it but it is a specific process to make corn gluten.

 

[David from Dothan]

Hold on. Corn meal is cheap, corn gluten is NOT. Spreading corn meal around will stop fungal problems but not seeds from germinating. Corn gluten is a derivative of raw corn. It is the outside of the corn kernel or the yellow hard portion of the kernel. It is the same stuff that is not in food grade enriched cornmeal. You might think, " I'll just throw out some ground up corn that has the hard yellow part in it." Sorry, won't work. I don't know how they do it but it is a specific process to make corn gluten.

This is just one example of why gardening forums are so important.......expansion of garden knowledge, experience and ideas.......from REAL, experienced gardeners.......This forum is GREAT.

 

[DirtMechanic]

This is just one example of why gardening forums are so important.......expansion of garden knowledge, experience and ideas.......from REAL, experienced gardeners.......This forum is GREAT.

If you use corn, then use it early in the spring and into the warm weather just prior to cool season plant growth periods. Use in in the warm humid summer and you will promote a mold invasion of your area you had not planned upon. Soybean meal has similiar properties, is cheaper, but with 47-50% protein levels the N content is 10-12 while offering a lot of amino acids for the soil critters to make their bodies from.

 

[headfullofbees]

Can't buy it here.
It would be so valuable as NOW is the time for the biggest germination of weeds all season.
Having said that, there seems to be perpetual germination too.