[dmg]

Hi all,
Ive noticed that a few of my sweetcorn plants are sending up two sometimes three main stems. Sould these be removed, or if left will they all produce cobs? The plants are about 1 foot high.

thanks
dmg

[mumofstig]

Leave them to grow cos they produce extra tassels which can help with late pollination.
If you're lucky, and the weather stays good, you can get an extra cob, but it's rare

[SnooziSuzi]

I've found through experience (or inexperience at the time ) that if you try to pull them off the plant will just make more anyway, so it's a waste of the plants (and your) energy to remove them.

They're called 'tillers', I believe.

[Goosegirl]

I have noticed tillers on mine and am not sure if they actually produce cobs - don't thinnk so as they are just describes as sideshoots and shouldn't be removed (according to Hessayon veg book).

[mumofstig]

Wait and see Goosegirl  because they usually try to produce a cob, although as I said, they rarely succeed for one reason or another.

[Salmo]

I am growing Swift this year and they are growing plenty of tillers. Tillers seldom produce worthwhile cobs so I googled to see if they were better removed

The conclusion is that removing tillers may in fact reduce yield of cobs on the main stem. The leaves of the tillers produce energy that goes into the plant as a whole.

There is some evidence that if the tillers start to produce their own flowers and cobs all their energy then goes into producing them. They start to behave as independent plants and cease to contribute energy to the main stem. They do not take energy from the main stem so there is no point in removing them

I must admit that I was a bit surprised at this but my tillers are being left to grow.

[Aunt Sally]

Us "old" gardeners has known this for years me dears 

[bazh]

Just leave em be.

[dmg]

thanks for all the replies, I will let you know if they produce anything

dmg