Watering Sweet Corn...update

[Ugahunter2013]

This is my 7th year growing sweet corn and im still learning each year. Last year i thought i had it figured out as we pulled 1,000 plus ears out of the garden. All full ears. I am probably less than a week away before this years crop is ready, but it doesnt look too promising. I have side dressed with nitrogen 3 times and kept them watered with a sprinkler. Last night i started searching corn ears not getting full in home gardens, and the most common reason i found was lack of pollination. I read that you need to be careful when watering during pollination. I had no idea about this but now that i think about it my sprinkler peobably blasted the tops of the tassels. How does everybody else water their corn? I have heard of one man down the road from me that uses one of those sprinklers that sits on the ground and have also heard of soaker hoses but that would be a ton of hose to buy. Thoughts?

 

[livinoutdoors]

I use a water jug mostly, but that can take awhile on a big patch! I would go with soaker hoses on the rows.

 

[Canuck5]

I read that you need to be careful when watering during pollination. I had no idea about this but now that i think about it my sprinkler peobably blasted the tops of the tassels.

Yes, that's probably what happened. The sprinklers washed the pollen off the tassel and didn't get enough on the silk of the ear. Next year when you see pollen on the tassel, stop watering for 7-10 days and let Mother Nature do the work.

http://www.channel.com/agronomics/Pages/Pollination-and-Fertilization-in-Corn.aspx

LOL, we used to raise seed corn and the seed corn company would sometimes bring in a helicopter, at the right time, to maximize pollination.

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[Canuck5]

I probably should add, that after you look at the video, it doesn't seem like there are many tassels and that's true. There is likely 2 rows with tassels and 6 rows without any, that the seed corn company intentionally pulls out. 2 different varieties of corn that they want to make one hybrid. (Didn't want to confuse things further)

 

[OmenHonkey]

Like canuck said, i just stop watering for about a week.

 

[Red dirt clod]

Had that same problem, started planting the rows so I could water at near ground level and let the water run downhill. Had to hoe in a few mounds to slow it down and let sink in. Was looking great till the deer, coons and squirrels found it. I buy it locally now at farmers market.

 

[doomtrpr_z71]

Yes, that's probably what happened. The sprinklers washed the pollen off the tassel and didn't get enough on the silk of the ear. Next year when you see pollen on the tassel, stop watering for 7-10 days and let Mother Nature do the work.

http://www.channel.com/agronomics/Pages/Pollination-and-Fertilization-in-Corn.aspx

LOL, we used to raise seed corn and the seed corn company would sometimes bring in a helicopter, at the right time, to maximize pollination.

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And detasseled with such as that

 

[Ugahunter2013]

So when I notice the pollen on the tassels stop watering? Got ya.

I have a second planting of corn that is 2-3 weeks behind the stand that my original post was geared towards. I noticed on one stalk yesterday the top of a tassel poking through so It wont be long. I would like to get this stand right. THanks

Yes, that's probably what happened. The sprinklers washed the pollen off the tassel and didn't get enough on the silk of the ear. Next year when you see pollen on the tassel, stop watering for 7-10 days and let Mother Nature do the work.

http://www.channel.com/agronomics/Pages/Pollination-and-Fertilization-in-Corn.aspx

LOL, we used to raise seed corn and the seed corn company would sometimes bring in a helicopter, at the right time, to maximize pollination.

<iframe width="854" height="480" src="

" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[Ugahunter2013]

This is my 2nd stand of corn. The tassels came out a day or two ago. I did not notice any bees this moening, but i will cease watering for 7-10 days like recommended. Any advice on what i should do about the bees? I usually have plenty on crape myrtles in the morning. Should i shake the stalks gently?

 

[Canuck5]

Mother Nature knows what to do!! Just let her do her job!!!! She's been doing it for a couple of years. The pollen is just going to drop from the tassel on down to the silk on the ear, when it's darned good and ready. No bee assistance required!

 

[Ugahunter2013]

Mother Nature knows what to do!! Just let her do her job!!!! She's been doing it for a couple of years. The pollen is just going to drop from the tassel on down to the silk on the ear, when it's darned good and ready. No bee assistance required!

Got a good rain yesterday. First rain in probably a week and a half. I dont know the name of the purple things that drop off the tassels. But i assume when they are all off the tassels i am good to go with watering? How much would you recommend watering after this?

 

[Canuck5]

This is where you use your handy dandy rain gauge. Looks like you might get .7" of rain today and more tomorrow. https://www.wunderground.com/forecast/us/ga/vidalia/32.21,-82.40?cm_ven=localwx_10day For now, between your watering and Mother Nature, 1"- 1 1/2" of rain/week, should be good. If you got a good rain yesterday, see how much you've accumulated between now and Tuesday of next week. If you've not gotten at least 1", go ahead and water.

You will start harvesting, sometime the first full week of August .... I think.

 

[Ugahunter2013]

Well i picked the corn today...probably could have picked it a few days ago. It was pretty pitiful. All of the ears were small, although some were pretty filled out. I didnt even count the ears but it was around 75 i guess. In good years i pick about 400 from this size planting. Oh well,,,i will try to plant earlier next year! This corn is hard to figure out!