How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?

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lauren

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How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« on: June 23, 2009, 12:43 »
Hi

Could someone please give me some advice on how to hand pollinate sweetcorn.  Due to the fact I am growing in the border around my Lawn they are more like in rows 2 deep than proper blocks and I just want to ensure I get some corn off them.  The first plants now have the 'tassles' at the top (and can see loads of pollen if i tap them) and I can see small corns starting to appear between the leaves.

I think they are a bit early as I planted them v early and have been luckly with frosts.

Cheers for the advice as always  :) xx

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DD.

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2009, 13:22 »
Shake 'em!
Did it really tell you to do THAT on the packet?

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lauren

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2009, 13:46 »
Thanks........... I guess that was a silly question  :)

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DD.

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2009, 14:07 »
Not if you've never done it before.

Best to ask!

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mickwood

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2009, 21:11 »
Could you not just rub your hands over one, then repeat on another and just keep going along? Pollinating as you go?

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Pete C

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2009, 21:17 »
Imitate nature. Extension lead, hair drier on cold, and give 'em a blow dry.
OK, I'll get me coat..............................>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.
Pete C

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DD.

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2009, 22:03 »
Could you not just rub your hands over one, then repeat on another and just keep going along? Pollinating as you go?

The pollen is not in the tassles of the cob!

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8doubles

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2009, 22:20 »
Sweetcorn is not my strong point , is it right that the tassles all need to be pollinated for a full cob. Is it one tassle to one kernel ?

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peterjf

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2009, 22:30 »
cool hand luke ( paul newman) says im a shaking it boss ,

 take the lead from the master,

dont know about eating 60 eggs in an hour though ,lol lol lol

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peapod

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #9 on: June 23, 2009, 22:40 »
Shake it shake it baby, as everyone else has said.  Sweetcorn is wind pollinated, so shaking it will have virtually the same effect
"I think the carrot infinitely more fascinating than the geranium. The carrot has mystery. Flowers are essentially tarts. Prostitutes for the bees. There is, you'll agree, a certain je ne sais quoi oh so very special about a firm young carrot" Withnail and I

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Kristen

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2009, 12:35 »
I have some in the greenhouse that I have been hand pollinating.

They don't seem to have any pollen first thing, or when I close up the greenhouse around 6pm.

But at noon they produce a cloud!

I give the plant a decent, single, shake and a cloud of pollen descends, I then have fund moving the stem so that the cloud lands on the tassels silks!
« Last Edit: June 24, 2009, 14:49 by Kristen »

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Kristen

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #11 on: June 24, 2009, 12:35 »
"Is it one tassle to one kernel ?"

yes (one silk to each kernel), and if pollination is patchy then the corns on the cobs will be too :(
« Last Edit: June 24, 2009, 14:49 by Kristen »

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senrab_nhoj

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #12 on: June 24, 2009, 14:07 »
aren't the silks the receptors for the pollen not the tassels?

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/HS398
« Last Edit: June 24, 2009, 14:11 by senrab_nhoj »
Grandpa's lore: The only thing grown early is disappointment

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Kristen

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #13 on: June 24, 2009, 14:48 »
aren't the silks the receptors for the pollen not the tassels?

I think you are right!

Certainly, in my experience, I should have referred to the things on the end of the Cob as Silks.  I'm less sure about "Tassels" though :(

Seems I'm not the only one being dizzy on this!:

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=21128.0

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lauren

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Re: How to hand pollinate sweetcorn?
« Reply #14 on: June 24, 2009, 15:24 »
Sorry my fault!! :D
I have found a flaw in growing french beans up my sweetcorn though ..... the leaves are in the way!! >:(


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