(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Corn borer control in large garden

R

RayP(MI)

Well-known Member
Corn borers have been a issue in our garden before, but this year it has been a real problem. Usually plant up to ten 200 foot rows. Wife likes to sell at local farmers market. Not this year. About 90% of the ears are showing damage. Many of the ears are populated when we husk the ears.

Anyone else having these problems? Probably part of my problems are due to repeated plantings over the years. We also have field corn in neighboring farms within a mile radius

What can I do next year? What works for you?
 
Can't you spray with a Pyrethrin type several times? Shuts their stomach down and they die with full stomachs. If you spray just as silks show and a couple of times as corn matures that should do the trick. I used it years ago when raising some popcorn just for fun. Got perfect ears with no worms. Supposed to be harmless to humans.
 
Dust the ears with Sevin dust as soon as the silks emerge. Then again in about a week. Works for me 100%. The moths (adults) lay their eggs in the silk. Once the silks dry up, no longer a problem.
 
also, turn or till your garden in the fall or winter so there is nothing for the worms to eat when they hatch. the eggs over winter in the soil and when they hatch they come to the top, if there is nothing for them to eat then they starve. I read a article about corn borers a while back and someone had done research and found this out back years back. got a lot of farmers to but tractors (30's or 40"s) because they could not get all the fields turned with a mule before the date that was recommended to have them turned. worth a try.
 
If its in the ear its probably corn ear worn. They are worse on very early or very late patches of sweetcorn. When the field corn is pollinating, the insect pressure on your garden is not so severe. To control them in early or late plantings the corn must be sprayed nearly every 2 days for about 10 days when you see silks just starting to emerge. Best to alternate at least two different types of insecticide.
 
The only way I know how to control it is to spray multiple times as it just starts to silk all they way up to silks are dry. Some customers are very picky at farmers markets. They don't want anything sprayed but think a beautiful filled out ear of sweet corn is garbage because it has on little ear worm on the tip. I have my last batch with the fall army worms in the tips.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Geo-TH,In
What a difference a year makes
Replies
6
Views
699
caterpillar guy
C
J
We have been blessed in this small area!! Corn planting Done
2
Replies
20
Views
766
gary1466
G
N
Corn planter questions?
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
hd6gtom
H
F
Got the Corn Picked and checking in
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
Fullers Farmalls
F
C
Sweet Corn Looking Skinny and Tall
Replies
1
Views
1K
Bruce from Can.
Bruce from Can.
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top