Growing sweet corn

[Grand_Pooba]

I'm planning on putting in a garden this spring for the first time at my new house. My kids all like corn on the cob so I figured I put in a few rows. The farmer who ownes to property behind mine plants all field corn. It'll be about 20' from my sweet corn, am I going to get cross germination and end up with some kind of mutant corn?

Thanks
Steve

 

[coveredbridge]

That shouldn't be a problem. I've heard of growers who try to "hide" their sweet corn from the deer by planting a few rows in the middle of a field of field corn. I've never heard of it fooling the deer though.

To get better cross pollination, try to plant a large number of shorter rows, rather than a small number of longer rows. Good luck.

 

[billbill1]

Pray that you don't have hungry raccoons nearby, they have cleaned me out the past two years. I'm not even going to grow any this year. Last year they ate up 28 rows without us even getting a mess of corn.

 

[Bird]

I've eaten a lot of corn on the cob that was actually "field corn". If it's picked at the right time, before it gets too tough, I think it's pretty good. At any rate, I wouldn't worry about cross pollination unless I was raising my corn for seed for next year.

 

[redlevel]

If you plant your sweet corn at the same time your neighbor plants his field corn, the sweet corn will probably pollinate before the field corn does.

As Bird said, field corn is just about as good if you get it before it gets too hard. Try to get it early in the morning while the sugar is still in it.

 

[Grand_Pooba]

In the summer I'm surounded by about 200 acres of field corn so hopefully the coons have plenty of other corn to eat. My two dogs might also scare them off...unless they realize the dogs are held in by the invisible fence.

 

[Mickey_Fx]

Your concern over cross pollination depends upon varieties involved. If there is about a 2 week difference in varieties there shouldn't be a problem. As for variety(s) to plant, I'd do some checking and see which ones do well in your area.

I've been growing Golden Jubilee for more than 35 yrs and have never given a though to changing. It does well in this climate, commercial sweet corn growers have been using it for a long time, a heavy yield and very good tasting.

Have an aunt and uncle that think jubilee is the best tasting corn they have ever tasted but it won't grow where they live. Yrs ago I had a friend that was a commercial grower here and he moved back to up-state NY and he told me Jubilee was being grown there.

There are newer varities and some may do better that the jubilee I grow so I'd do some checking.

 

[Eastinlet]

As Mickey said, it's the simultaneous cross-germination that can cause problems. Some sweet corn growers and seed companies claim that 10 days difference is enough. The supersweet corn and SH2 sweet corns also make tough kernels if cross pollinated, so keep that in mind if you buy 2 varieties.

A real early sweet corn or very late corn would probably miss your neighbor's field corn pollination window.

 

[dynasim]

It is my understanding that the pollination of the corn does not have anything to do with the characteristics of this year's corn. The cross pollination will affect plants from the seeds harvested this year, but not this years plants at all.

In my opinion, it would be best to make the pollination occur at the same time as the field corn.

 

[Eastinlet]

It is my understanding that the pollination of the corn does not have anything to do with the characteristics of this year's corn. The cross pollination will affect plants from the seeds harvested this year, but not this years plants at all.

In my opinion, it would be best to make the pollination occur at the same time as the field corn.

Actually, it does affect the kernels. It seems counterintuitive, but it does. What you say about the second generation of plants from crossing of corn is certainly true.

http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1998/4-10-1998/hscorn.html

"Also, the sh2 types must be isolated from sugary enhanced, standard sweet corn, popcorn, and field corn. Cross-pollination between the sh2 types and the sugary enhanced and standard varieties will destroy the quality of both. The kernels will be tough and starchy. Pollen from field and popcorn will produce similar results. Isolation may be achieved by planting sh2 types at least 250 feet from other types of corn and by avoiding prevailing winds. Cross-pollination may also be avoided by planting the various types so they mature at different times. There should be a minimum 14 day difference between silking/tasseling dates."