Sweetcorn Failure

[veggiechicken]

Your caterpillar photo isn't very clear but could it be The Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) | Wildlife Insight

[It never rains..it pours]

Looking like the last of the silks will not get pollinated.
They are still forming but the tassels are past.

Is this normal?

just 2 or 3 will not be pollinated.

I made sure 1 or 2 per plant were well pollinated , thinking a few decent cobs was better than a lot of small ones. Harvested the first ones this week and pollination was good bar one

[4Shoes]

Harvested the first ones this week and pollination was good bar one

Harvested this week - when did you put them in?

do you just leave the tassels or cut them off to put more energy into the cobs?

[1Bee]

Well, mine are doing this now. Tassels out and shedding pollen while no sign of cobs forming, let alone silks. I didn't know what I was doing last year, but still got some lovely cobs. This year looks like nothing, how disappointing!

[It never rains..it pours]

Harvested this week - when did you put them in?

do you just leave the tassels or cut them off to put more energy into the cobs?

3rd March in pots in conservatory some then grown on in greenhouse and some outside. Ones have harvested were in greenhouse, outdoor ones plan to harvest a few tonight. Have just cut off tassles in greehouse as were pushing into roof, and had finished pollen. Sorry I have no idea if this helps energy to cobs

[4Shoes]

3rd March in pots in conservatory some then grown on in greenhouse and some outside. Ones have harvested were in greenhouse, outdoor ones plan to harvest a few tonight. Have just cut off tassles in greehouse as were pushing into roof, and had finished pollen. Sorry I have no idea if this helps energy to cobs

Well it tells me it does them no harm, so in some ways answers question.
I had to shake pollen into a mushroom tray and then sprinkle over silks because stalks were so long.

The pollen has now gone black that is stuck to polytunnel skin, so should get washed off.

thanks

[Jungle Jane]

Well, mine are doing this now. Tassels out and shedding pollen while no sign of cobs forming, let alone silks. I didn't know what I was doing last year, but still got some lovely cobs. This year looks like nothing, how disappointing!

Silks will appear soon don’t worry,the plants seem slower this year like they’re taking it easy.

[LexLucre]

22 days later and I've managed to harvest two nice cobs. They were the first silks that appeared and managed to get fully pollinated. There are way less cobs than previous years and the ones there are not a good size and lacked much pollination.

Still, at least I got two, and can hope for a few more. Not a total disaster, but some way off the 17 from last year! Might go back to Sundance if I grow again.

[4Shoes]

Your caterpillar photo isn't very clear but could it be The Drinker moth (Euthrix potatoria) | Wildlife Insight

Just Noticed this VC.

Don't think it is. but thanks for posting.

[4Shoes]

So now have a Corn Stack. Just freeze cobs whole, or better with a bit of a blanch?

Thinking more about taste test.

Thanks in advance

[It never rains..it pours]

Well dispite hand pollinating I didnt get completely 100% pollination, but does say the hand pollination was probably a worthwhile excercise. Some of the lower cobs silks on the side shoots werent out at tassle pollon drop, wondering if in future if could keep some pollen for them for years like this when there is a long growing season ?

[4Shoes]

Well dispite hand pollinating I didnt get completely 100% pollination, but does say the hand pollination was probably a worthwhile excercise. Some of the lower cobs silks on the side shoots werent out at tassle pollon drop, wondering if in future if could keep some pollen for them for years like this when there is a long growing season ?

Just got a few from further back in the tunnel (obviously harder to reach) and they have 3/4 pollination. New to the corn exchange so was not sure what to expect. One cob today has a large bare patch, so need to focus more on pollination. Wasn't aware you could "store" Pollen. Just tip it into a sealed box?

[annie8]

I grew 2 lots of sweetcorn this year. First lots grew really tall at least 2 cobs each plant and full cobs. Just been harvesting them over the last few weeks. The later set are much smaller and tassels starting to appear now. Just the odd sign of silk so I am not very optimistic about what I’ll get from them. Oh well they were a bit late going in.

[4Shoes]

Took the plunge and harvested the lot. Stripped back the leaves and results

Upright corn - full well formed cobs. Middle - 3/4 Cobbs and back , bowed over corn - 1/4 to empty ( 1 had 5 grains on it)


this is the 1st time I've grown corn, so well impressed and it tastes great. So what to do next year?

1. Move the bed to centre of the tunnel so the plants get full height and I'm able to get round all sides to pollinate.

2. collecting pollen with a "plastic mushroom tray " worked, but application was uneven. Would a pure hair paint brush help? I tried a plastic one and the pollen wouldn't stick.

3. How early could I sow the corn to get 2 crops. Or could you under plant to get 2nd crop Perhaps slightly wider spacing.

[It never rains..it pours]

I would like to know the answer to 1 and 2 myself. However can help on 3, planted my first ones and second ones 6 weeks apart and harvest has been 3 weeks apart