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Corn didn't pollinate

C

coshoo

Well-known Member
Checked an ear of my garden corn last night, because the silk hadn't dried up all the way back to the ear. Sure enough, just a few developed kernals, the rest of the ear didn't pollinate. The other ears look similar, but I'll give them a little longer. First time I have had this problem. It wasn't planted until the first of July, but the weather has been ideal since then. Plenty of water, temps in the 80's most days for the past couple of months. Plants look fine, tasseled out normally, I remember pollen being in the rows. No rain during the pollination period. Any thoughts on why this happened? I really had my mouth set on some home-grown corn. . .
 
How many plants? I plant four rows about 60 feet long and get acceptable pollination. Perhaps family planning
 
Even in single rows, at the appropriate time, I just shake the stalk and pollinate by hand. I have not had sweet corn since '15, but that same year, I planted the back row of the small patch near the house facing the west, southerly wind and shaking the stalk, every one had perfect ears of corn, most had 2.
 
I usually plant 3 rows, about a square block. Actually, I plant an early and a late, at the same time- each variety has about a square block if 3 rows. This year only 2- still seems like it should have worked.
 
I doubt if population has anything to do with it. One volunteer corn plant in the middle of a bean field will make a filled out ear.

Sweet corn is not a very rugged breed of corn. One glitch in the weather can affect the pollination. Stress from poor soil, dry soil, compacted soil and extra hot weather can have an adverse affect. Here in Iowa July is getting a little late for any corn, whether it's field corn or sweet corn. The weather is just too hot and dry for a young corn plant that is growing fast.
 
When planting a small area plant in a square patch so the corn can polenate better most of the pollen goes to the next plant.
 
My black lab really helps pollination out, running through the rows. Glad he hasn't figured out the goodies growing about eye level.
 
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