Sweetcorn

[Recycled]

About 75% of my sweetcorn this year, have not grown kernels at about top 3". Never had this prob before.

Anyone know the reason.

[Jungle Jane]

Each of the silks go to each of the corn,they all need pollinating or you get this happening,it sounds odd that it’s the top bit & not the end,it’s quite common on the ends rather than the top bit? Maybe something ate or damaged some silks or a genetic problem in the seed I don’t know,it’s lack of pollination that affects them in this way.

[ameno]

it sounds odd that it’s the top bit & not the end,it’s quite common on the ends rather than the top bit?

I think that's what they mean by the "top". The end of the cob is the top when it's attached to the plant, after all.

[Jungle Jane]

I wasn’t sure what end of the cob was affected,it would be strange if it was the wide end affected,the bit where it’s attached to the plant. It’s quite normal for the thin end to be missing a few corn if they’re not pollinated satisfactorily.

[BeatriceCallan]

I think you should look at it carefully. I am sure you will find out what's wrong with it. Look for diseases or insects. Look carefully at roots, they can be damaged. I think something eats your sweetcorn.

[Bonjour]

Sounds like poor pollination. Do you grow them in blocks, rather than rows? You get more reliable pollination that way. More plants in a block also means better chances of even pollination as there are more male "flowers" shedding pollen for the breeze to carry down to the silks, whichever way the wind blows.

[annie8]

Still to see how well my cobs have developed. At the stage where the silks are starting to turn brown. I was wondering through if all the recent rain here will affect the pollination. Usually when it’s dry I just give them all a shake to encourage the pollen to fall but they are so soggy at the moment!

[ameno]

Still to see how well my cobs have developed. At the stage where the silks are starting to turn brown. I was wondering through if all the recent rain here will affect the pollination. Usually when it’s dry I just give them all a shake to encourage the pollen to fall but they are so soggy at the moment!

If the silks are turning brown then pollination should have occurred some time ago.
If it was wet during pollination time, though, then that can seriously reduce the pollination rate.

[annie8]

It’s been a pretty wet time to be honest. Hopefully they will have pollinated ok but won’t know for a while. Hope for the best.