General information and discussion about cultivating all other edible garden plants.
|
![]() |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
![]() |
#1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 307
|
![]()
Has anyone done it? I’d love to grow some of the rare heirloom
Sweet corn, but I’m surrounded by corn fields (typical Midwest) and the air is thick with stray pollen. I’ve had ok success with timing my corn, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Hand pollination looks like it’s not too hard, just looking for other people’s experience. Thanks.
__________________
Desire' Mother of 3, homesteader, canner, gardener, dwarf tomato participant. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Near Philadelphia, PA
Posts: 1,940
|
![]()
It's actually really easy, and the best way to get well-filled ears in a small patch, but it is hard to keep out stray pollen unless you bag your silks. Just wait until the tassels are shedding and then pick and shake-shake-shake!
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 307
|
![]()
Yeah I have good pollination as we are very windy and I plant in blocks. But that’s part of the problem, is that it will get crossed knowing my luck. I will have to bag silks and tassels. Which I don’t mind, just have never done it.
Looks like seed savers has the bags pretty affordably! I guess I’ll watch a YouTube video and give it a whirl next year!
__________________
Desire' Mother of 3, homesteader, canner, gardener, dwarf tomato participant. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#4 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Zone 5A, Poconos
Posts: 959
|
![]() Quote:
|
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 307
|
![]()
Well we live in a very windy micro climate and my sweet corn was late this year and tassled same time as the field corn. Was ruined. Not to mention I want to grow multiple varieties and I can’t even give them 100ft in my patch let alone 300. I’m going to do timing like I usually do, but for the rare types that I will give back to other people, I want to know for sure it’s true.
__________________
Desire' Mother of 3, homesteader, canner, gardener, dwarf tomato participant. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#6 |
Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a
Posts: 21,169
|
![]()
The following link should answer almost ALL of your questions about cross pollination and how to prevent it.
https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...&bih=815&dpr=1 Carolyn
__________________
Carolyn |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#7 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SE PA
Posts: 965
|
![]()
I tried it this year but it was pain in the butt in blocks. If I was hand pollinating 100% I would do rows or double rows only for easier access. My second stand was fine this year, but the first was really dry and buggy when it tassled and the third was super wet. I'm not sure what I learned though, and that is a bad feeling.
|
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: MA
Posts: 4,966
|
![]()
It's very easy to do by hand. And, if doing entirely by hand there's no need for planting in blocks, unless it's to conserve garden space. I plant in single rows, which makes hand pollinating very easy.
Some years the plants don't tassel and silk at the same time (I've had one variety produce silks one month after tasseling ![]() Also, if attempting to save OP corn, I think 100-200 plants are needed to keep a variety stable. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
#9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 307
|
![]()
Thanks guys!! I was looking for insight on people here who have done it. I’ve watched enough videos. You make a great point about the rows vs block, sounds like it would be way easier.
I did read that, 200 plants I believe to keep the variety stable. Which...that’s a lot of seed! Haha. Gonna have to divide it year to year. Thanks for the ideas guys.
__________________
Desire' Mother of 3, homesteader, canner, gardener, dwarf tomato participant. |
![]() |
![]() |
![]() |
|
|