how do I hand pollinate sweetcorn?!

maireadsheahan · « **on:** July 19, 2008, 23:16 »

This is my first few months having an allotment. I also haven't grown vegetables before, so am a novice. I have some wonderful sweetcorn plants, half have flowers, half don't for some reason, anyone know why?
The one's with flowers have corn 'buds' with sticky threads coming out of the tops. I don't know precisely how to effectively hand pollinate, and so want to make sure the corn will develop successfully!
Can anyone advise me?!
Mairead :oops:

SnooziSuzi · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2008, 23:20 »

HI, welcome to the forums

sweetcorn is air pollinated so is usually planted in blocks;

You'll know when the cobs are pollinated because the tassles on the cobs turn brown. The male flowers the one's sticking out of the top.

I suppose that if you're not sure if any cobs have been pollinated you might be able to shake the stems gently on a warm dry day, but other than that they should just be left to their own devices

Hope this helps

Su

peterjf · « **Reply #2 on:** July 19, 2008, 23:30 »

hi , once the tassles show along the side of the stem , and the male flower shows at the top of the plant , , you then tap each corn plant with a cane , not too hard , each male plant will send pollen via the air , down to the tassles which are the female part of the corn,
when the tassles are brown and you can feel the nibblets under the earsyour corn will be ready for cropping , if you pull them too soon there will be no nibbles on the corn ears,

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