Corn worms... grrrrr

[PotterWatch]

Last year I didn't have any trouble at all with corn worms. I had perfect ears from every plant. This year I planted in a different location (not sure if that had anything to do with it or not), and I just went out to check my corn to find that most of the ears had worms. I was able to salvage about half the corn but I am really bummed. I guess next year I will have to keep a closer eye on things.

I read that putting mineral oil on the tips of the ears once the silk turns brown will keep worms from entering. Anyone had success with that method?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I read that putting mineral oil on the tips of the ears once the silk turns brown will keep worms from entering. Anyone had success with that method?

Yes and no. They will enter before the silk turns brown, by the way, but if you get the mineral oil on too early, it can supposedly hinder pollination, especially of the upper kernels.

I stagger my corn planting to get several harvests a year and have some to eat on throughout the summer. Two years ago, I tried the mineral oil on my third and later harvests. The incidence of corn ear worms dropped off significantly. I put the oil on earlier than you are supposed to and had very little problem with lack of pollination. By the end of that year, I was a believer. Then last year I tried it on all my corn and had a huge problem with corn ear worms. If I had not seen how much it helped the previous year, I would have thought it was worthless. I think it does help prevent them from entering the ear, but once they are in, it does not kill them. And you can still get a lot of them, even if you oil.

I've read that the tomato fruit worm and the corn ear worm are the same pest. two years ago I had no problem with the tomato fruit worm, Last year I had a lot. Maybe just a bad year?