Are my sweetcorns pollinating?

[cazp]

Hi,
I have 16 lovely tall sweetcorns, many with silks which are pale or reddish - there are some silks still to come. Many gave what I presume are the "flowers" (spikey bits on top).

I'm a bit concerned that I cant actually see any pollen flying around - there are little dangly bits on the flower spikes but they don't really look like the yellow stuff I know as pollen. In short are there signs I can look for to see if pollination has taken place, or is about to? and should I be doing anything to help things along at this stage?

Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

[realfood]

The pollen is produced by the male part at the top of the plant and the pollen falls down to stick to the silks which is the female part which will be the corn on the cob. You can see the pollen best on a warm, still day if you shake the top and clouds of pollen will be seen.

[vicky]

You can shake the plants to give them a helping hand - esp if you haven't had much wind

[cazp]

Thanks for the advice - I have given the spikes a shake but didnt see anything resembling pollen clouds. Do the "ears" on the flower spikes open up like flowers before the pollen is produced?
Also, how long are the silks open to fertilisation?

[taff]

they do dangle a bit before producing fine pollen

[pjh75]

I can't say I've ever noticed the actual pollen on mine, but then I don't think I look for it even though I shake the plants as I walk past.

[Two_Sheds]

i've never seen the pollen either, but get lots of sweetcorn

[chris]

I've just got some like grainy things growing up out the top of mine, do I need to be shaking yet?

[womble]

They seem to run out of pollen after a while, if you tap them gently one by one, you will indeed see a cloud of pollen when they have it.

I've heard you can collect it on paper and gently pour it onto the tassels.
But when you see just how fine the pollen is and how it goes off in a cloud of like the tiniest dust you've ever seen, I've always given the idea a swift boot in the behind.