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Post by templeton on Mar 19, 2012 2:06:34 GMT -5
I was given some corn to try, but only had room for 10 or so plants which were planted a bit late in the season. They are just beginning to flower - any hints on hand pollination? I've never done corn before - ten years of drought up until last year has meant i haven't had enough water to spend it on corn, so I'm a corn newbie. I suspect that with just ten plants I'm going to need to give it a bit of assistance if I'm to get any seed off it. T
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Post by kermyt on Mar 19, 2012 2:34:26 GMT -5
10 plants! Have you planted in a row or in a square? In a row, I fear the pollen falls, in majority, on the floor than and on the female flower... You can help the pollination: Before the high heat, shake all male flowers (tassels) in a large paper bag. Mix the pollen. Cut with a chisel the silks of the female flowers, so they have the same height (1 or 2cm) and scatter the pollen on the top of this silks. That is all! Off course, it must not have an another corn variety near your culture!
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Post by templeton on Mar 19, 2012 5:47:16 GMT -5
10 plants, I know, I know, it was all the room I had left. But I did plant in a square. And no other corn around - who would be stupid enough to plant this late? ;D Thanks for the advice. just to clarify - I cut the silks so only 2 to 3 cm emerges out of the sheaths? Doesn't this remove the receptive part of the silk? T
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Post by oxbowfarm on Mar 19, 2012 9:51:23 GMT -5
The silk is receptive along its entire length.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Mar 19, 2012 11:13:18 GMT -5
As long as you are not having a constant wind I'd expect them to get pollinated fine all by themselves.
My strategy for corn pollination by hand is to shake the tassels into a wash tub, and then dip my fingers in the pollen and smear it around. I used to cut silks off, but that seems to fussy to me these days.
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Post by raymondo on Mar 19, 2012 16:08:58 GMT -5
What's the corn you're growing T?
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Post by templeton on Mar 19, 2012 20:27:13 GMT -5
What's the corn you're growing T? The stuff you forwarded to me Ray T
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