Corn just got leveled

[seedcorn]

It will "sled" or "gooseneck" back upright. Depending on growth stage, could snap it. If snap it, might as well kill it and start over.

 

[lesa]

Drat! These storms are really hard on us gardeners... hoping it will produce one way or the other!

 

[vfem]

So sorry Monty, its been really bad storms. Our corn had a similar issue. A few laid over on one end of the row, I just kind of lifted them and leaned them on the others the fell over so they were a little off the ground. Now its been a few weeks and the corn is ready on them. So listen to seedcorn, don't try to upright them and they should finish up for you too! I really hope it works out.

Again, its been a TERRIBLE storm summer so far, and no signs of it stopping.

 

[skeeter9]

That must be so frustrating, Monty. Hope you can get it to bear ears for you anyway.

 

[MontyJ]

Well, against very good advice, I stood the corn back up this morning. I weighed all of the options and the soil conditions and decided that was my best bet. Here's how I came to this decision...

The corn is just over knee high. If it stays down, or doesn't get upright enough, pollenation will suffer greatly, reducing the yield. With the corn down, I can't weed it effectively, which is not an option in this garden because of the current pigweed infestation. I looked at the soil and found it to be very wet and soft. Lifting a few stalks revealed that they would stand most of the way up without resistance. So, I made the call. I stood it up until I met resistance, then hilled it in. If I loose the crop, I'm probably no worse off than if I had done nothing.

This was strictly a judgement call. My garden gut told me it was the right thing to do in this instance.

 

[bj taylor]

man, having a crop decimated is so discouraging. I don't have experience growing corn, so I would sure take your advice seedcorn. I've seen enough plants to know they have a tremendous will to live & reproduce.
best of luck standing it back up monty. you are a great plantsman so you have great instincts on what a plant can do and what it can't. I bet you will end up with a nice harvest.

 

[the1honeycomb]

I put a little fence to help hold the stalks and I expect to pick my corn in a few days!! sometimes thiey just don't know they aren't supposed to just keep going!!:bee

Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[dewdropsinwv]

Just had a thunderstorm come threw with some winds.. tornado warnings with it, the worst is over BUT.... the wind knocked the corn over again. Some of it is leaning against other stalks, but the front few 20-30 stalks are on the ground..... MontyJ is still working and doesn't know this happened.

 

[MontyJ]

I do now. I saw it when I pulled in. Some of it might be broken this time. I'll get a better look at it tomorrow.

 

[seedcorn]

Reason you don't pick corn up once it is blown over is because straightening it back up weakens stalk. Making it more liable to green snap.