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Post by brownrexx on Jul 2, 2016 8:44:42 GMT -5
I only grow a small amount of corn, just 4 short rows, so I shake the plants gently after they have tassels and this seems to pollinate them pretty well.
They are mostly wind pollinated but since I have such a small plot, I try to insure good pollination by helping the wind a little.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jul 2, 2016 9:44:58 GMT -5
<<<<dense! So is this all in one day or over several days??
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Post by lisaann on Jul 2, 2016 10:03:55 GMT -5
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Jul 2, 2016 10:22:04 GMT -5
hahahaha u are too funny...You'll count!!
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Post by mrsk on Jul 2, 2016 14:08:20 GMT -5
mine is knee high, but I did the shake thing and sprinkle thing, and I had much higher quality ears last year.
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Post by lisaann on Jul 3, 2016 12:07:55 GMT -5
I did the shake thing and sprinkle thing, and I had much higher quality ears last year. Glad to hear that..............When we do these small areas................every little effort helps. And remember, all varieties are different and TOP out at different heights......but they start the tasseling and grow high fast, so you SEE short plants, say what the heck, but............that's how it works....... They grow tall fast once the tassels form to tower over the plants and shed their pollen.............. I will not say, I love this stuff.............I say it too much!
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Post by mrsk on Jul 4, 2016 9:14:16 GMT -5
We live in a pretty windy country. That being so, I never got nice full ears of corn. I think in a large planting of corn, the wind does pollinate the corn, and as it comes from multiple directions, the field gets adequately covered. In a small patch, I think the pollen is blown away. If you have a small patch, this will really help get pretty ears of corn.
Mouth is drooling just thinking about the garden in August.
Mrs.K
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Post by gianna on Jul 6, 2016 15:25:09 GMT -5
I just planted some 9 yr old seed, 3 to a cell, and hope I get enough to put out a small patch. And 5 days later, a few of the old seeds are beginning to germinate! I'm very pleased. Not sure how many yet, but enough for a start, esp since they don't need pollination. I'm looking forward to trying fresh baby corn.
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Post by lisaann on Jul 9, 2016 18:02:03 GMT -5
Amaize corn is forming, and pollen is done: Incredible is working on it: This corn is in front of the corn I just showed ya............Amaize is closer to the alley. Took this while looking for earwigs.............Which crawl on corn...........they must have already went to bed?
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Post by gianna on Jul 11, 2016 12:40:15 GMT -5
And 5 days later, a few of the old seeds are beginning to germinate! I'm very pleased. Not sure how many yet, but enough for a start, esp since they don't need pollination. I'm looking forward to trying fresh baby corn. My corn seedlings are between 2- 3 inches tall. Going to have to find a place for them soon. I planted 30 cells, about 2 inches square. (5 old pony packs). 3 seeds each. 9 year old seed. I can't believe that every single one of them came up. So I'll set them out as triplets, and assume some critter attrition, though I do plan on putting up bunny fencing cuz they are 'working' that area. If not, depending on how they do, I might trim out the runt of each 3. I've read you can plant corn for baby cobs on 4 inch centers, but in 3s, I'll probably go for 6. That will depend where I can squeeze in a new bed. There is a spot on the South side of the house that will require moving things. Not what I want to do on a warm day.
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Post by brownrexx on Jul 11, 2016 15:16:38 GMT -5
The bunnies do not bother my corn but it may be different where you live. Since it is so dry there, small green plants of any kind may appeal to bunnies.
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Post by gianna on Jul 11, 2016 18:38:03 GMT -5
The bunnies do not bother my corn but it may be different where you live. Since it is so dry there, small green plants of any kind may appeal to bunnies. I don't remember bunnies eating corn in the past, but there just isn't much out there for them now. It's sad to see what bunnies have had to resort to eating. Bunnies and ground squirrels - I don't always know who does the damage - haven't touched any squash yet, but in the past they've eaten the soft ends. Also tomatoes and, gasp, potato vines. And some of the really dry grasses they chew down. They are now eating low leaves on collards and kale. They will even resort to eating the ground-up city mulch from green waste cans. That would be like eating dry potpourri. One year I had some young peppers covered with wire cages. Under the square cages, in very straight lines, the mulch was noticeably deeper. That was a surprise to see. If I put some tender corn plants out there... they likely would be half gone by the next morning.
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Post by brownrexx on Jul 11, 2016 18:40:40 GMT -5
Sometimes when I have had damage from young ground hogs I have placed a large deep bowl of water in the garden.
Some people say that the animals and even birds are looking for water and that is why they bite into tomatoes and squash. I thought that it seemed to help but maybe it would evaporate too quickly in your area?
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Post by gianna on Jul 11, 2016 22:34:24 GMT -5
I would hate to put out water and attract even more critters. Since we generally don't have rain in summer, our critters are adapted to not depend on drinking water, but rather taking in moisture by eating damper vegetation. I'm planning on the fence in any event. I just don't trust them. B-|
In the back, I have a very small pond and veggie stream. The pond is very low, but the short stream would be available to animals, and in fact does attract raccoons. Lots of birds use the water too. But where I'm planning on putting the young corn would be perhaps too long a walk in the open, which they dont much like. The kale and collards that are currently being eaten are very, very close to the pond/'stream'.
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Post by James on Jul 13, 2016 11:38:39 GMT -5
Corn needs company so it gets pollinated. If planted too thickly though the inner stalks grow up tall but won't produce ears. If planted to thinly the ears may not get pollinated. I like a corn patch with rows spaced 30 inches and plants 8 to 10 inches in the rows. When I say a patch, I am thinking at least three rows, four would be better.
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