[Ice]

But not a single corn cob to be seen

Planted in the regulation blocks and looking as healthy as a healthy thing in a health spa, nada, zilch, nothing.  Any ideas please?

On the plus side, my neighbour is very impressed at the sight of them.   She thinks I'm a corn god.

[mumofstig]

Every year it looks as if the tassels are going to release pollen before the cobs grow - but they always seem to make it just in time. Phew!

Yours may soon put in an appearance, panic ye not 

[Aunt Sally]

Oh... bad luck, Ice. 

We've just started picking ours.  It seems to have pollinated well.

[RJR_38]

Mine were much shorter this year  I have some cobs but not peeked inside to see how pollinated etc they are although I probably will this week (keeping my fingers crossed)

[Nobbie]

Every year it looks as if the tassels are going to release pollen before the cobs grow - but they always seem to make it just in time. Phew!

Yours may soon put in an appearance, panic ye not 

Yes,

I thought that this year, but then all of a sudden the silks appear. Corn does seem to grow very fast when it's happy, and not at all when it's not.

[JayG]

Mine weren't planted out until 12th June, and slowed right down in the recent 2-week cold spell, but are now at the stage when the first tassels are about to drop their pollen - only 1 silk starting to show at the moment, so the usual nervous wait for them all to appear, and for the weather to be dry and pollination-friendly when they do. 

A few years a go I tried splitting the crop into 2 batches about 2 weeks apart, the second one planted upwind of the first to try to help pollination of later silks - don't think the improvement was dramatic, and couldn't do it this year because of the cold spring.

[Snoop]

What variety are you growing, Ice? Is it one that grows really tall?

Plus, I agree with everyone else. Keep the faith. If the plants are healthy, they'll do what's required of them.

[8doubles]

If you want to get rid of the phants i saw a prog the other day where they used condoms full of chilli powder with a banger (firework not sausage) in the middle.

Hope this helps! 

[Goosegirl]

I'm sure the Mods will agree with me here when I say the contents should be adequately labelled on the outside along with an appropriate Health and Safety hazard warning label. If you can't find one suitable, you could design your own (pics please). 

[New shoot]

Well it seems there are several options available to those bothered by elephants on the plot 

http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141204-five-ways-to-scare-off-elephants

Not that this is a common worry over here in the UK, whereas the restless wait for sweetcorn to be ready to pick is an annual tradition 

A few years a go I tried splitting the crop into 2 batches about 2 weeks apart, the second one planted upwind of the first to try to help pollination of later silks - don't think the improvement was dramatic, and couldn't do it this year because of the cold spring.

I've got 2 lots on the go this year.  An 'early' which is only just showing silks on baby cobs now and a late season which is just like Ice's crop.  Looks good and healthy, but nothing doing so far   

[m1ckz]

picked my first cob today   looked good

[Kleftiwallah]

My cobs are also looking good, even though I planted the seeds about 4 inches apart each way! ! !

Cheers,   Tony.

[BabbyAnn]

I was late sowing my seeds this year,  a lot later than usual so have been wondering whether I'll get anything since they only got planted out in mid-July - they've done nothing but sit there looking pathetic.  The plants are barely 2 feet tall and then all of a sudden the leaves took on that healthy broad look, and flower heads and pretty red silks have just suddenly appeared almost overnight.  I suspect the good douse of rain we had the other weekend might have just moved things on a bit as we've had it very dry here in Nottinghamshire.  So hang in there Ice - it might just happen yet 

[Nobbie]

No problem with elephants here as all the mice eating the corn scare them off

[Ice]

My bad...   Just looked further up the stems and there are lots of cobs.  Was just looking in the wrong place.  The variety is minipop, the small stir fry version.  As they grew so well and impressed the neighbour will definitely try the full sized ones next year.

Every year is a learning year.