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Post by reed on Jul 11, 2017 17:59:08 GMT -5
Last couple years I have dug up corn stalks, actually last year I just pulled them up and moved them to large pots with a little compost and very small amount of chicken poo. The bulk of what was in the pots was just the dirt that came up with the roots. I brought them to the front patio in full sun and watered them every couple days. I did it the first time as a desperate measure to save the last of my crop from squirrels but realized last year it also frees up your space for another crop.
They did not wilt at all and stayed green for several weeks more before the shucks finally started drying. I have gotten great looking full seeds both years. Even se seeds are more full this way, wrinkled on the surface rather than shriveled up, leaving on a live stalk all the way till the ears are drying appears to make really nice seed.
I still had in my mind that the longer they stay in their original spot the better but I'm starting to wonder about that. Once the silks have browned and the tassels are drying I am thinking the plant is basically done. All it needs now is to stay alive long enough to finish filling out the seeds, all it needs for that is a little water. Than's why a full grown plant can be yanked up by the roots and doesn't even wilt.
Any thoughts on this technique and how soon after silk browning it might be OK to go ahead and dig up the plants?
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jul 12, 2017 20:46:46 GMT -5
Corn seed is viable very early in it's growth cycle. Commercial sweet corn is harvested for seed while the silks are still moist: Much earlier than I would be picking it for fresh eating.
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Post by steev on Jul 12, 2017 22:14:01 GMT -5
Why am I wondering why you don't plant your corn in pots from the git-go?
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Post by reed on Jul 13, 2017 2:33:29 GMT -5
"Corn seed is viable very early in it's growth cycle. Commercial sweet corn is harvested for seed while the silks are still moist: Much earlier than I would be picking it for fresh eating. "
That easily explains why commercial, as well as my own seed that is removed from the stalk before the shucks not just silks start to dry is so puckered up and puny in comparison to that that dries on the plant.
"Why am I wondering why you don't plant your corn in pots from the git-go?
I shove ten, twenty stalks into one pot to finish maturing seed. It doesn't grow, it just doesn't die . Doubt it would work to actually grow that many in a single pot. After fighting critters and worrying over it till ready to harvest it's nice to go ahead and secure the ones selected for seed at the same time you eat the rest, and at the same time free up the patch.
Doesn't work as well for field corn where it all needs to finish up and dry down but at least selected seed ears are safe while the rest matures in the field a little longer.
I think I'll set a general rule. If silks are nicely browned and tassels are dry, it's time to bring the seed plants to the patio and let them finish another couple weeks. Might also experiment with doing it sooner on a few stalks to see what happens.
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Post by keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.) on Jul 13, 2017 16:05:00 GMT -5
Sounds like a good idea. I did that with the Teosinte i grew last year. The season was nearing an end so i dug it up put it in a pot and moved it to the garage.
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Post by blueadzuki on Jul 14, 2017 10:06:59 GMT -5
Why am I wondering why you don't plant your corn in pots from the git-go? The same reason I don't just plant my kernels in pots on the patio where the critters might have a harder time getting at them (and where I could move the pots around for optimal pollination). Corn roots just spread too far out to make potting feasible. You'd need a pot per stalk, and a BIG pot at that. When you consider how many cornstalks you need for a good pollination and diversity (200 seems to be the standard advice) that's a ridiculous amount of work. That being said, I DID grow corn in a pot once when I was a kid, a Rainbow Inca. Actually, it was the fullest ear I ever got. But that was ONE ear on ONE plant, not exactly practicable for major growing. I suspect even my miniature corn would have too wide a root system to fit more than one in a pot.
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Post by walt on Jul 17, 2017 14:49:44 GMT -5
I lost a couple stalks from my ASAP population to deer. Not a big loss yet, but I have to do something soon. Moving the stalks to pots might get done. I had thought I'd just pick the ears early. Maybe try both ways and see which I like. I have enough.
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Post by reed on Jul 17, 2017 16:31:49 GMT -5
It'a a little more trouble but I really like digging up the stalk and keeping it alive. I see a big difference in the seed and speculate they have a longer storage life and better germination and vigor, actually I'm pretty sure of it. Would be tough for a large scale grower but I usually only select a few for seed.
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Post by walt on Jul 18, 2017 14:28:04 GMT -5
Thanks Reed. For the populations I hope to do 2 generations this summer, I guess I should pick now and let them dry for a week or two? Can I sprout the seed without even drying it? Anyone ever tried this? Its been 40 years but I've embryo cultured barley at 2 weeks post-pollination. And I read at that time that picking barley stalks at 2 weeks would give viable seeds, if just allowed to dry. Though the seedlings would start off weak and shouldn't be covered with dirt and not be allowed to dry out once they had been re-moistened. Corn and barley are both grasses. Should react somewhat similarly. And I'm willing to start the seeds in paper cups and baby the seedlings until well established in the ground. The F2 better not expect such treatment though!
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Post by steev on Jul 18, 2017 18:15:56 GMT -5
I think you want some drying, so re-hydration kick-starts germination.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jul 18, 2017 19:44:57 GMT -5
Can I sprout the seed without even drying it? Anyone ever tried this? If it rains on my fields while the seed corn is drying, or if humidity is very high, I've sometimes harvested cobs in which the seeds are already sprouted. I think corn seed is viable at about 19 days after silking, which is about 6 days before I would be picking it for the most tender corn on the cob.
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Post by reed on Jul 18, 2017 21:27:31 GMT -5
I'v wondered that too and I'v also seen sprouting on cobs that are still very green. My question though, if you wanted to sprout seed that hadn't dried yet is, how would you separate it from the cob without damaging it?
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Post by steev on Jul 18, 2017 22:06:11 GMT -5
Carefully; maybe with the point of a butter knife. A chem-lab weighing scoop would be ideal. Better to get some cob than less seed'
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Post by jondear on Jul 19, 2017 4:07:41 GMT -5
My question though, if you wanted to sprout seed that hadn't dried yet is, how would you separate it from the cob without damaging it? I've accidentally planted a late "cover crop" by using my rototiller to till in plants at the end of the season. It was surprising to have to weed the plants out of my fall down lettuce beds.
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