Underdeveloped corn

You guys gave me great advice and confidence when I asked my previous question about growing corn for the first time and now I need more help. I finally got the gumption to pick one today when I saw a big one with brown silks (as instructed) and tada! I have corn! Only problem is....the kernals are about 1/3 developed, the rest are just blank spots. Is this due to poor pollination (I'm assuming) ? It was really wet while the corn was setting tassels and silks, so I'm wondering if that did it. The variety is Sugar Dots if that makes any difference. Any thoughts?

At any rate, it tastes awesome raw from what I tasted and I'm blanching it right now for a snack, since I just have the one ear. Thanks! Susanne

This message was edited Aug 28, 2010 10:25 PM

I'd think that was pollination, not fertilization.

Lol in my tired work brain last night I meant pollination...not fertilization...I'm not even sure what fertilization in corn would be other than me adding fertilizer??..lol!

This message was edited Aug 28, 2010 10:25 PM

Yes - it's due to poor pollination that caused the sparse kernals.

Thanks for your help! What can I do to help better pollination next year?

Plant a larger block. About 16 plants is minimal in a 16 square foot block. Sugar Dots is a great performing corn, one of the best Se bicolors.

I was scared to plant too close - seed packets say to space too far apart and I'm afraid that's what I followed. My corn area is probablye 5' x 3' and I have about 8 plants after thinning.
Now that I've tasted the homegrown corn, they are getting a much larger portion of the garden next year! Zuccinnis and tomatoes have had the largest portion of the veggie garden, and I'm learning that probably ONE plant of zucs is good enough..last year I had 8 plants and was drowning in everything zuccini...(friend, sauteed, bread, giving as much away as possible) this year I was down to 3, and still had way too much. More corn and other crops next year for sure...
Thanks for the advice Farmerdill.

It is not the distance, it is the number of plants. A small block can be planted closer than a large block. I plant in rows 42 inches apart and use 18 inch spacing. This allows all the plants in the field to get sun and air. A 4 ft x 4 ft block get sunlight from the sides and can be crowded to 12 inch spacing.
With a prevailing wind, it is helpful to shake the stalks on the upwind side to insure that pollens falls on the silks.

you can also plant in circles, instead of rows, keeping your corn thicket dense helps with the pollination. Every silk has a kernal that it is pollinating. Sorry, I was taught to never eat corn raw-and I know there are new varieties, but the milk in the kernals needs to set, at least 5 min in boiling water, still will be crunchy sweet.

Farmerdill, I had the same problem with the last block of corn. The plants were close enough, but will too much wind keep it from pollinating correctly? Did the wind blow the pollen too far away?
I grew a variety with longer husks and the corn ear worms mostly left it alone, but because of the poor polination it wasn't good enough to sell.

Too much wind will cause spotty pollination-or too much water also, which can cause yellowing of the plants. Ks and Iowa had too much water this year and it cost them a bunch of corn as well. Thats why the block, or circle of plants in an area is best for corn, as long as they have lots of sun. If you live in a windy area, you can increase the seeds per inch. Or companion plant with sunflowers as a windbreak, or other midheight plant. Traditional gardens usually plant corn with a legume such as beans since there is a mutual system going on there, as well as pumkins, corns just don't like soggy feet and windy hair..

We garden in modified raised beds(4ft wide, 34 ft long, 18 inches deep one foot isles between them and I have 144 of these beds), even after the 8 inches of rain we got from Hermine, I could still work the beds yesterday afternoon, so not too much water. Corn was 6 inch spacing, no yellow leaves. We have constant wind, up to 20mph some days because we are on the coast. The leeward side had good ears, the upwind side, not full of kernels. The plants were on the leeward side of 6ft tall tomato plants.
The first batch of corn did better because it was protected by melons growing on cattle panels. I just didn't think of the wind being a problem until Farmerdill mentioned it!

yup, wind can create probs, used to have to buy picket fence wire- kept out the rabbits and blocked the wind enuff to help the plants out