[3759allen]

this is my first year of growing corn so not really sure what i'm doing.

some of them are now releasing pollen from the top, which i believe needs to call on the cobs?

we've had a lot of strong winds over the last couple of days and i'm wondering if the wind will blow the pollen away rather than drop it on to the cobs? if this is the case is it worth trying to hand pollinate?

any advice helpful please

[mumofstig]

If you get a calm dry spell, shake the tassel so that the pollen falls onto the silks.
Sometimes the pollen is visibly caught between the leaves and the stem, where it has fallen, and you can pinch it out and put it on the silk yourself.

[3759allen]

thanks for the reply.

i might have to wait til i get back from holiday to get a dry day. can i and catch the pollen in my hand or a tray and put onto the silks?

am i just worrying unnecessarily about poor pollination or are they prone to not being great at self pollinating?

i've planted them in blocks of 4 plants by 4 plants (i have 2 varieties) as recommended for pollination.

[simonwatson]

So long as you've planted in a block like you've said, pollination is usually pretty good (in my experience) with nothing more than a vigorous shake on a calm day.

Pollination by hand is easy. Shake the tassels over your hand to get a good covering, then just gently run your hand along the bunch of silks coming from the end of the immature cob.

[Goosegirl]

Strangely enough, you have just echoed a thought I had the other day as to why my sweet corn does better in my greenhouse than outside. Apart from the fact that is it warmer in there, I live in such a windy place that I think the pollen gets blown off the part where the cobs form so they don't get fully pollinated. My GH ones have produced 100% full cobs.

[JayG]

Absolutely no wind (very rare) and the pollen may get stolen by bees or other insects before it's released, too much and it can get blown horizontally and miss the silks altogether. Persistently wet conditions can prevent proper distribution too.

All good reasons for growing them somewhere sheltered or slightly staggering the sowings, although to be fair most slightly disappointing crops here have usually been due to a poor or prematurely ending summer than bad weather at pollination time.

Have always got something though and it's always worth it! 

[Aunt Sally]

(i have 2 varieties) as recommended for pollination.

Recommended by whom ?

[3759allen]

i think my poor grammar may have mislead you there.

i meant i have planted two varieties that are planted in blocks. and that i planted them in blocks as i have been recommended to do.

not that i have two varieties to help pollination.

hope that makes sense.

[Aunt Sally]

Ah...  OK

[gavinjconway]

What two varieties have you planted?