I have never had a problem growing corn before, and a friend just mentioned she is having the same problem....so I just had to ask my dear farmgirls for some help... I planted 3 different varieties of corn, and they only grew 3 feet high, and the tops grew with pollen....but no corn cobbs! Did I plant too early?
Hi Lisa. How ya been? I planted corn twice already. And a few months ago. My corn came up very far apart. So I filled it in with more. It came up. I planted Silver Queen and Hickory Kink in the big garden. I planted an heirloom corn in the other garden. It's doing good. But what's so scary is across the road they planted corn in the field about a month ago. It's already tasseling. It's huge! I'm sure it's the Roundup ready corn. And I have not seen many honey bees around yet. I wonder if that has anything to do with the GMO corn so close.
So maybe the honey bees aren't in your corn yet. I know they are so important to corn growing and producing.
Sounds like you've been a busy bee out there...you are probably right about the bees.. I will plant another batch this weekend...I was so disappointed, one of the crops was popcorn! That was a new one for me...anyway, I got a late start this morning, so I've got to run....keep in touch...happy gardening....
sherry
bend in the high desert
oregon
USA
3775 Posts
Posted - Jun 17 2010 : 07:19:01 AM
hi lisa, are your corn stalks hungry? they require tons of food. they are true food mongers.lol also you can do your own pollinating. that is if you have a cob to pollinate. you use a soft cloth. works great. planting flowering plants among the garden will draw bees etc. into your area.the worry with gmo across the road is cross pollination. the bees will carry it on their feet to your plant. just a thought sherrye
Corn is wind pollinated so you need to make sure that, of one variety, you have at least 3 rows planted (i.e. 3 10'rows.) Unless you are gardening a very large area I would recommend sticking with one variety of corn so that they don't cross polinate. Hope that helps! :)
Corn crop question
Posted - Jun 16 2010 : 9:04:36 PM
