Corn in shock from transplant?

[Sydney]

A week ago I planted some sweet corn seedlings. I had bought them that day from a gardening center and they were about 10" high. They were all really tight spaced, some basically right on top of one another. I tried to separate them as carefully as possible although most did get parts of their roots off. Now, a week latter the tips of the leaves are beginning to turn yellow. Maybe this is because they were thirsty but I'm assuming its from the shock of being transplanted. Is this corn out of luck or do you think it may recover? I've heard that you can water plants who are in shock with a light sugar water solution, any thoughts on this?
I was also wondering how you plant corn seedlings who's roots are all tangled together? Is it better to snip away some to avoid damaging them all rather than try to separate them?
Thanks

 

[NwMtGardener]

Hi, welcome I've never transplanted corn or bought plants before, so I'm going to pass on answering your question...i used to just direct seed corn right into the garden, but unfortunately don't have room for it here.

Maybe it would help someone answer your question if you told us where you're located and/or what the weathers been like since you transplanted them?

 

[patandchickens]

Just cuz garden centers sell something as a transplant doesn't mean it necessarily does well that way. Corn is not renowned for its transplanting abilities -- not that it *can't* be transplanted but it need to be treated very very carefully and will probably never be as healthy as if it had been sown in the soil (it's really only something you'd do in a very short-season location IMO, or to get a super early crop of a variety inclined to rot in cool ground).

You have no way of telling what the seedlings experienced before you bought them -- but being crowded and tangled is not a good thing, as it makes it impossible to transplant without significant root disturbance. (When you do have tangled seedlings of a species that resents disturbance, then yes, the best thing to do to try to salvage the situation is to use a small scissors, or sharp thumbnail, to snip off all but the strongest plant in each cell or easily-separable clump)

I'd be inclined to chalk this one up to a learning experience... you can leave them in the ground and see if you end up getting anything out of them (maybe, maybe not) but next year it's probably better to stay away from them at the store. If you want indoor-started corn, start it *yourself*, so you can ensure it's done as carefully and gingerly as possible.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[seedcorn]

Let me know how the transplants go. Never heard of transplanting corn. That being said, my dad never heard of transplanting okra and I do that every year.

 

[wifezilla]

I have tried starting corn early and then transplanting. It seems to be hit or miss. I am not going to bother next year. Just put all the seeds in the ground.

 

[shadetech]

I have planted much in flats for transplant into the garden, corn included. I find I get a better growth in almost all I grow and know the plants will grow with the right care. All my stuff is planted very close together in double dug raised beds and this is a way of planting without having to fill in later with reseeding.
There are some things that don't transplant well, like carrots, but even they can be done with care. Once planted the beds are full and few if any fill is needed due to poor germination. I do lose a few and have to save some extras off to the side for fill, but I really don't lose many.

henry

 

[dickiebird]

I started corn in my greenhouse and transplanted into garden about 3 weeks ago. It doesn't look very promising at this point!!! I did all I know to give it a gentle transition from container to ground, but they are stunted at about the same size as when I planted them.
Some were tasseled when transplanted, some wern't, now they almost all are. None had ears when transplanted now several do!!! The ears are now about the same length as the stalk is tall.
The transplanted ones are a light green almost transparent looking bunch!!!

About May 1st I direct planted corn and it's about 5' and the dark green one associates with corn. No tassels or ears on this bunch, yet.

THANX RICH

 

[Veggie PAK]

I started corn in my greenhouse and transplanted into garden about 3 weeks ago. It doesn't look very promising at this point!!! I did all I know to give it a gentle transition from container to ground, but they are stunted at about the same size as when I planted them.
Some were tasseled when transplanted, some wern't, now they almost all are. None had ears when transplanted now several do!!! The ears are now about the same length as the stalk is tall.
The transplanted ones are a light green almost transparent looking bunch!!!

About May 1st I direct planted corn and it's about 5' and the dark green one associates with corn. No tassels or ears on this bunch, yet.

THANX RICH

That is very interesting about the color. I'm in Virginia and I have four 20 foot rows of direct seeded corn and it is like a lime green instead of the dark corn green that you think of. Makes me think of GMO contamination possibilities where the seed corn was grown, which is I don't know where.

 

[patandchickens]

That is very interesting about the color. I'm in Virginia and I have four 20 foot rows of direct seeded corn and it is like a lime green instead of the dark corn green that you think of. Makes me think of GMO contamination possibilities where the seed corn was grown, which is I don't know where.

Are you sure it isn't a simpler explanation -- insufficient nitrogen for the corn's needs? Corn is a VERY heavy consumer of nitrogen and what's sufficient for other kinds of plants often isn't for corn.

Pat

 

[Sydney]

Thanks fir the replies
It's been a few days and the corn seems to he doing a lot better, no longer the yellowish leaves and is getting taller. Hopefully it will produce a good yield because it seems to be making a good recovery.