Oh no! Popcorn Fiesta tragedy!

[Herbsandveg]

Not sure if there are any other members out there who are growing Popcorn Fiesta (from the James Wong catalogue) but mine seem to have gone in wee bit bonkers in the past couple of weeks and look to have bolted (see accompanying pics).

The individual stalks are now well over six feet tall, and otherwise very healthy and vigorous, but I'm fearing losing them now after bringing them so far, and am wondering what I can do to try to save them.

Does anyone out think these plants can still be saved (and if so, how?) and had anyone any idea what I might do to rescue them? Any help, as ever, would be very gratefully received...

[veggiechicken]

Why do you think they've bolted Herbs? They look perfectly healthy to me

[Herbsandveg]

Oh...Are they?

Why do you think they've bolted Herbs? They look perfectly healthy to me

They look OK to you? Really? Oh, well...That's really heartening because I really thought they'd lost it, but shouldn't they be all 'compact' like they look on the packet ; ie like a standard Corn on the Cob in one tight unit rather than being all over the place as they are right now? They look more like Barley or Rye to me, but I'd be chuffed as anything if they were still OK...

[greenishfing]

Those aren't the cobs in the picture. The cobs grow partway down the stems.

[veggiechicken]

Put it like this, I don't even try to grow sweetcorn these days as it always looked weedy and never seems to crop very well. If it had looked like yours does, I would have persevered.
Maybe someone who knows about Popcorn will be along soon

[Hazel at the Hill]

Blimey, H&V, a bit melodramatic there! They just look like sweetcorn to me.

Well, that one in the foreground is a bit of a funny colour, especially compared to the others in the background, but let's say that's the variety.

[lottie dolly]

the tassely growth out the tops are the male part,the cobs form further down the stem,coming upwards out of a leaf joint,they have fine tassels out the top,so,the pollen from the top,wafts down onto the cobs tassels,thus pollinating it,only then will the cobs swell,thats the way things should work,this year,not only me,but i have heard others say,the cobs are very late in coming forth,the top ones seem to be well ahead of them,so i wonder if the cobs will get pollinated,

[Herbsandveg]

Many thanks to all who replied to this thus far. I am well, well chuffed now, and will be out there every morning, every night and every opportunity in between watching their progress. I might even book a day off work and take a flask and some sandwiches out and just revel in my new found enthusiasm for these beauties!

So, so pleased, and can definitely go to bed happy now! Sleep well all! Night night!...

[Hazel at the Hill]

....,but i have heard others say,the cobs are very late in coming forth,the top ones seem to be well ahead of them,so i wonder if the cobs will get pollinated,

I didn't know that, LD - mine are not only planted late, but have to fight their corner in with the spaghetti squash (and Grumpy George).



Once the tops are open, I give mine a bit of a jiggle every time I go by to release the pollen to the ladee bits below.

[veggiechicken]

Many thanks to all who replied to this thus far. I am well, well chuffed now, and will be out there every morning, every night and every opportunity in between watching their progress. I might even book a day off work and take a flask and some sandwiches out and just revel in my new found enthusiasm for these beauties!

So, so pleased, and can definitely go to bed happy now! Sleep well all! Night night!...

Goodnight Herbs - hope you have lots of corny dreams

[binley100]

I didn't know that, LD - mine are not only planted late, but have to fight their corner in with the spaghetti squash (and Grumpy George).

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Once the tops are open, I give mine a bit of a jiggle every time I go by to release the pollen to the ladee bits below.

What well behaved squash ........they have stayed on their bed........

[Hazel at the Hill]

What well behaved squash ........they have stayed on their bed........

I have to fight the tendrils with a big stick every time I go to the Hill, Bins - so far, I am just about winning. Worried about Grumpy George, though - he is going under I fear...

[vikkib]

I can't be the only person who expected some kind of cinema snack and small car catastrophe?!! Surely!

[ancee]

Hmmm Wish i'd seen this thread earlier. I had 4 that looked like that so I thought 'Oh No! Bolted' and pulled them out Mad now Well, my son doesn't like sweetcorn, so he can have the four on the compost heap!