Corn

[desertlady]

Whats your secret for planting corn? Every year I will plant them but they never make it to the end. They never get big enough to eat, and Bugs get to them first ! I end up using stalks for Fall decorations ! I was sure they get plenty of water , but still.....

 

[digitS']

Bugs, DL?

Are you talking about corn earworms?

I don't have much trouble with corn - once I learned that those varieties that require long seasons aren't likely to work well here. Think of them as grass - giant grass. They supposedly have quite a root system so they aren't like shallow-rooted dwarf lawn grass. I think a lot of my veggies would appreciate having water more often than twice a week, in this rapidly draining soil that I have to garden in. The corn seems okay with twice a week and just needs a plentiful amount at a time.

Fertilizing is important to get all that plant growth - nitrogen for those green leaves. Fertilizer down before the seed goes in the ground and then about 1 month into their growth. I can't seem to get my timing right for a 3rd application. Nitrogen tends to disappear quickly so putting it on 3 times is a good idea. The 3rd time should be just before the plants begin to tassel but I sometimes miss this with the organic fertilizer. I'm not sure if it quite as important with an organic because the N isn't as quickly available to them anyway.

Steve

 

[desertlady]

sometimes corn worms, but theres bunch of black bugs all over it something like black mites or similar to flies. when they come again I will try to take pictures.

 

[digitS']

Flea beetles? Now, that's something I don't really have problems with. Flea beetles are in the other plants but not in the corn so that I've noticed.

Here's info from the University of Illinois on: Corn Flea Beetles (click). It seems that a major concern is them spreading disease in the plants. Ah, ha! Another nasty problem from the pests!

The winter temperatures control the beetles and I went back and looked at our very mild winter averages. Thank Heavens that it was still cold enuf that the U of I tell us that damage should be: "light." This must be why I just don't find beetle problems in the sweet corn! Usually, our winters would rate "absent or nearly so" for the beetles.

Spinosad on the radishes and bok choy a week ago seems to have really killed the beetles there. I went over them again Sunday and hit the new sowings of the other plants of that family. I am pleased how Spinosad killed them in 2011, the first time I had experience with this insecticide.

It is an insect disease, like Bt. That one, I'll suggest for the earworms altho' I can't remember having used it. If you buy some, make sure it is the Bt for caterpillars. Usually earworms have not been a problem here. I've used other bug killers in the past for them but I know that Bt kills caterpillars well when I've used it on cabbage worms.

Steve

 

[so lucky]

Steve, in response to "make sure it is the BT for caterpillars" I'm wondering if there is a BT that isn't for caterpillars? Or did I interpret your advice wrong? I'm glad to know the spinosad is a biological insecticide (I guess....) I have seen you mention it several times, but haven't done any research on it.

 

[desertlady]

Not sure if its flea beetles, But like I said when they come I will promise pictures ! I get them every year when corn starting to develope !. right now corn stalks are about 15 inches tall, no signs of them yet....

 

[seedcorn]

So I can get to speed, how deep are you planting the seed? Any starter fertilizer? Is it just insects, if so you got 2 choices, kill them or quit growing corn.

 

[digitS']

Steve, in response to "make sure it is the BT for caterpillars" I'm wondering if there is a BT that isn't for caterpillars? Or did I interpret your advice wrong? I'm glad to know the spinosad is a biological insecticide (I guess....) I have seen you mention it several times, but haven't done any research on it.

Yes, it is kind of strange to be spreading a disease around the garden . . . Hopefully, we really are enough different from insects that their diseases aren't all of concern to our own health. I think that there is too often a choice of letting the plants go to the pests or doing something to kill the pests.

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is a mosquito, black fly and fungus gnat control. Bacillus thuringiensis san diego and Bt tenebrionis are used for Colorado potato beetles but they no longer seem to be available. That 1st season that I couldn't find that type of Bt, I was caught completely off-guard and my eggplants were doomed!

Steve

 

[so lucky]

Oh yeah, those mosquito "dunk" things you put on your birdbath or pond. Guess I never paid attention to the last name of the bacillus. I think I'm going to have to go buy some spinosad. Pretty sure I won't luck out all season with the little terrors. May as well be prepared.

 

[897tgigvib]

Corn

One of those crops that need lots and lots of nutrients.

With Corn, I think the NPK, Ca, Mg, Fe, silicon and boron listings are put in the right order as far as needs go.

Corn does need lots of N, just about until the seed is drying.

It needs both P and K in plenty amounts all the way through too.

Plenty of Calcium too, and enough of the others. The silicon counteracts any soft plant problems of so much nitrogen.

Corn also wants good drainage and plenty of H20

And Light, and warmth.



For a beginner, or for a garden that may be short on Light, the quickest maturing corn helps a lot. Grow it as you would a tall late corn, and give it the primo treatment.

Another helpful thing: to help make sure the cobs fill up right, do not water overhead. Make sure the water is below the ears.

I'd be adding Diatgomaceous earth for bugs if i had to.