Corn, "hand" pollinate?

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catmad Pelzer, SC(Zone 7b) May 30, 2008

My corn is not doing as it was told :(. It has germinated sporadically, and NOT where it was instructed, in the designated spots in the nice little rows I made for it. There will be three too close together, and then none for 4 feet. The wind would have to be very creative to manage this pollination. Is there anything "I" can do to help?

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Doug9345 Durhamville, NY(Zone 5b) May 30, 2008

I don't see a four foot gap as a problem. If you have only one row and it is turned crosswise to the prevailing winds that could be a problem. You could hand pollinate by cutting the tassel off the top of one stack and shake it on the silk of another. I don't know how many stalks you can pollinate before you have to get another tassel.

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jkehl Rome, GA(Zone 7b) May 31, 2008

When they're 2-4" tall, I dig up any corn seedlings that are too close and move them where I want them. They take transplanting surprisingly well. It's a bit labor intensive but it looks good when I'm done and is easier to care for :)

Jeff

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tucsonjill Lincoln, NE(Zone 5a) Jun 01, 2008

I did pretty much the same thing, Jeff, with good results. They needed a little extra water for a couple of days, but caught right up to their buddies. I had so few plants I really needed them to all be in their proper places but now they're looking good and I'm expecting our first homegrown corn-on-the-cob any day now!

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catmad Pelzer, SC(Zone 7b) Jun 01, 2008

Oddly, I had just transplanted the ones that were crowded before I read the message suggesting that. I figured they had about the same chance either way. So far, they're doing just fine, and things look much more, um, "normal".

Jeff, how wide is that row of corn? Makes me think I could plant closer than I did, and I have room to try again, and new seeds....:)

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jkehl Rome, GA(Zone 7b) Jun 03, 2008

I plant pretty much everything in 4-5' beds because that's how wide the tiller on my tractor is. I tend to plant stuff to close together... Here's the corn that was planted around April 1st.

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deanna8 Raeford, NC Jun 03, 2008

I was wondering if you could do the same thing with a cut in half water bottle or would all the water go out at once? I know with the terra cota it slowly goes out. Thanks deanna

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