Sweetcorn infestation

[EmilyB]

Hi everyone *waves*

I'm new here and could use some advice. We have 6 sweetcorn plants in the ground that are at various stages (all have 'flowered' but some yet to have tassels). We put a greenhouse over the top of them all when a couple started to have cobs/ tassels so that we could hand pollinate them as we live in a windy place and there aren't enough of them to self pollinate.

Anyway, 3 of them we've been hand pollinating for about 2 weeks now and the other day I went in to find the tassels on 2 of them were missing totally, it looked like they had been sheared off. I had a bit of a cry then thought I'd try and pull back the top of the cob and basically opened them back up again and there was still some of the tassels left.

Those have now disappeared too

We have one plant left with two cobs still with tassels but they are droopy and all stuck together.

Is there anything I can do? Will the ones that had tassels for a couple of weeks that I was hand pollinating have gotten enough to make a cob without the tassels on now? Any advice on protecting the ones that haven't developed tassels yet?

Sorry for the long post, I really hope you can help, I feel like months of nurturing have been destroyed int he space of a few days

[Bigmallly]

Hello Emily & welcome to the vine. You've done well getting to the cob stage, my sweetcorn are only just producing tassels (The part at the very top of the plant). I assume you are talking about the silks which are on the ends of the cob. These normally go brown when the cob is ready for picking. So am a little confused when you talk about tassels.

[EmilyB]

Sorry I'm very new to this, yes I mean the silks rather than tassels then! The bit at the top of the cob on the stalk that looks like hair

[Bigmallly]

It's advisable to grow sweetcorn in blocks rather than rows, this helps pollination. Wind normally disperses the pollen from the male tassel down to the female silks but you can help by gently tapping the tassels so the pollen falls off. You shouldn't need to cover them.

[EmilyB]

They are in two rows of 3 about a foot apart but very open to the elements and we're in the north of England and not getting much warmth so thought I'd give them a helping hand

Any ideas if I'll still get some crop even with the silks decimated by something?

[Bigmallly]

I don't know the answer to that Emily but I would remove the cover so the wind can do its job.

[veggiechicken]

Hi Emily and welcome to the Vine.
I'm no expert with sweetcorn - never had a decent cob in my life!!

Lets start from scratch with what's what on a plant!



Normally, the cobs are pollinated by the wind or by tapping the plant once the male flowers (tassels) are evident. This makes the pollen fall onto the female flowers (silks) below.

When the silks turn brown and withered the cobs should have been fertilised and will get bigger. So the silks going missing or being stuck together is not necessarily a bad thing - its just what happens.

The main thing is whether the cobs are filling out and you can tell this by feeling them.
Don't know whether this helps or not!

[EmilyB]

Thank you both, I hope there is still going to be some cobs then!

Is there any suggestions on how to protect the ones that haven't yet produced silks? How long after they appear would you say they've been pollinated?

I'm guessing whatever is chomping on them is going to get these ones before they have a chance to pollinate?

I found something online that suggested it might be Japanese beetles but I've no idea if we even get them in the UK or how likely that is!

Also with the silks gone how will I know if they're ready? (Sorry for all the questions, this is the first time growing veg of any kind!)

[Nannysally99]

Can you post any pictures of your corn Emily?

[Aberdeenplotter]

I have only 20 or so plants this year because of lack of space but I have planted mine so that thea plants are 15" apartin all directions. My problem though is that mine have forgotten to grow and are presently only about 10" tall. The cold nights in May and June kyboshed any hope of getting a crop.

Hope your problem with disappearing tassels is as the other have suggested "normal" and that you progress to get a nice crop

[EmilyB]

Hi, photo's as requested.

Sorry there's a few. One of my set up, one of a healthy ear with silks, one that appears to be nearly ready(?) and one that has been eaten. Hope this clarifies my question

[EmilyB]

sorry I can't seem to edit my post for some reason, this is an in focus shot, might be more helpful!

[rustylady]

I've had earwigs and caterpillars eat the silks on sweetcorn. They are much better left uncovered

[Jungle Jane]

Also with the silks gone how will I know if they're ready?

When the silks are brown,I have to pierce the end piece of corn to see if it produces a milky rather than watery liquid,if it's watery it's not ready. I'm wondering if there's something living in that hole where the silks were? If your plants were out in the open birds could access them easier & help with pests,ive had a family of sparrows here,following each other round all my plants. A high nitrogen feed would help the plants grow & fight against pests too.

[Valleyman]

How big is that enclosure you have them in? Unless they are a type i'm not familiar with they have very little foliage for the height, which makes me suspect they have been reaching for the light, either due to position, or the cover itself.

Given the overall look of your crops I suspect that general unhealthiness and poor conditions may be the result of your issues rather than a specific pest.