Vegetables: What's all over my corn?

Replies: 21 Views: 186

Author	Comment
tucsonjill Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) August 30, 2008 2:54 PM	I'm growing a fall crop of corn for the first time this year--Guarijio Red, an old variety that's been grown in these parts for hundreds of years. Just went out this morning to see if it was tasseling yet, and found most of the upper leaves covered with bugs. The bigger darker ones look like aphids, but I don't know what the littler tan bits are. We've been getting rain lately, so everything is staying pretty damp. Can anyone tell me what this stuff is, and what I should be doing about it? And, if the bigger ones are aphids, is there a way to wash them off without pushing them farther down the leaf into the stalk? Thanks for the help! View Larger
Moonglow Corte Madera, CA (Zone 10a) August 30, 2008 3:55 PM	the bigger guys look like aphids...
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX August 31, 2008 8:20 PM	Usually aphids are in a symbiotic relationship with ants. So, do you have a lot of ants about? Ants use aphids like humans use milk cows. Ants will spread aphids around depositing them on plants, then milk them of the sugary substance they exude. Eliminating ants is an effective way to control aphid problems. Les
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX August 31, 2008 8:53 PM	Guarijio was/is a native American Indian tribe. Is this the corn you are growing? [HYPERLINK@farm1.static.flickr.com] If so, i sure would like a dozen seed. Les
tucsonjill Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) September 3, 2008 1:11 PM	Les, that's it! I planted all the seed I have, but I got it from Native Seed/SEARCH: [HYPERLINK@www.nativeseeds.org] Right now, although I've got tassels (and aphids, apparently), I've also got NO ears forming, so I'm not sure what good the tassels are going to do me. However, if I get anything, and am able to save any for seed, I'll let you know.
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX September 7, 2008 2:48 PM	I think you will have some ears, just a little patience...lol. You can simply spray away the aphids with the garden hose. And look for your friendly bugs to appear to feast on the critters. I have Ladybugs and little green lizards here. Also, for good polination on small patches of corn, it's best to plant a square or round patch rather than a single long row. They pollinate better when kept close together rather than strung out. Are you gonna make corn meal? Les
WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland (United Kingdom) September 7, 2008 4:41 PM	They are all aphids, just at different stages, the lighter ones have developed their tiny wings where as the darker ones are still juvenile, you could squirt them off with the jet from the garden hose to help, they will return, but lots will be killed from the jet, good luck. WeeNel.
tucsonjill Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) September 7, 2008 8:23 PM	Thanks for the info, all! Les, I was told at NativeSeed/SEARCH that this variety would be good for eating fresh, not a dried meal-type. So that's what my plan was--but, again, depends on actually getting some ears! I did plant my little plot as a square, following the square-foot-garden spacing of 1' apart in all directions. Heavy water, heavy fertilizer. Unfortunately, we seem to be too hot to have happy ladybugs, and none of my lizard friends are showing any inclination to climb the corn. Still, something will work its way out, always does.
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX September 9, 2008 8:06 PM	There are a host of all kinds beneficial insects and birds suited for your area. I wouldn't be surprised if something comes along and finds those delectible aphids for lunch. The small flowers of herbs tend to attract beneficial insects. [HYPERLINK@www.oregonlive.com] Don't forget to tell me how the corn tastes later on...lol. Les
tucsonjill Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) September 9, 2008 8:41 PM	I did find a total of 2 ears forming out there, but I'm concerned because all the tassels are kind of dried-out looking. Just have to wait and see what happens, I guess!
Les_Cooper Brazoria, TX September 9, 2008 11:34 PM	Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. James 5:7
Horseshoe Efland, NC (Zone 7a) September 13, 2008 2:17 PM	Hey, Jill, what's the latest update on your corn? Did it ever make for you? Sign me, Curious Shoe
tucsonjill Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) September 16, 2008 2:31 PM	Howdy, Shoe! I am finally seeing some ears form on some of the stalks. I have no idea what to expect, since most of the tassels opened up a while ago, and are pretty dried up now. Hopefully there'll be something out there! Thanks for asking! :)
Horseshoe Efland, NC (Zone 7a) September 16, 2008 4:03 PM	Thanks. Sure is weird the tassels would open up so much earlier than they are supposed to, eh? Fortunately those tassels are usually "trained by Ma Nature" to only give off pollen at certain times; hopefully they have saved some for your silks to benefit from. Will be keeping an eye on this thread, hoping and wishing you a good corn crop! The variety you chose sure looks like an interesting one. Best, Shoe
tucsonjill Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) September 16, 2008 6:23 PM	Thanks for the encouragement, Shoe! It is an old OP variety that's been grown by the Natives in this part of the SW for a long, long time, so I'm hoping it's not as finicky as some of our more pampered modern cultivars. Heck, even if all I get are some lovely red ears for display this Turkey day, it'll be worth it! :)
excelrealty Argyle, TX (Zone 7b) November 29, 2008 1:28 AM	What about lacewings? How big of a corn plot did you plant? If not very much wind or not very many plants, next year you could try hand pollinating your silks with pollen from the tassels by tapping into an envelope and brushing onto the silks. Mike
Horseshoe Efland, NC (Zone 7a) November 29, 2008 12:42 PM	Glad this thread got opened back up. Jill, didja get any corn off those plants? If so, how was it? Shoe
tucsonjill Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) November 29, 2008 7:53 PM	Hey, Shoe! Thanks for asking about my corn. This was one of those times I was sorry to be right--pollination was very spotty. I did get some ears that were maybe 50% at best, and scraped the kernels off to cook, so we got a meal out of it, but all in all, not a success. Great sturdy stalks, though, and my bean plants loved the height and climbed right on up, so I may plant a row next year just as supports. excelrealty, it was a small plot, maybe 30 plants in a square arrangement, and we had good breezes. Just really weird about the tassling and silks forming at such different times. I don't have much experience with corn, but it seemed odd to me, and apparently it wasn't useful for the corn, either. Never had anything take care of the aphid problem--no ladybugs (which aren't crazy about our summer heat anyway), no lizards, and I've never seen a lacewing in the summer either, although I do in the spring. I'm not sure I'll try a late-summer crop again, but if I do, I'll have to figure out an answer to the aphid problem, and I think I'll stick to a more modern hybrid until I get the hang of things! But thanks, all, for the moral support--it helped a lot!.
Horseshoe Efland, NC (Zone 7a) November 29, 2008 8:00 PM	Thanks for the report, Jill... I wonder if you'd have better crop with this variety just planting it earlier. Ya never know! Maybe it was the temps, daylength, and soil temps that confused that poor cornpatch, eh? Shoe (who loves Kandy Korn and until this past year only grew that variety since the late 80's).
excelrealty Argyle, TX (Zone 7b) November 30, 2008 11:00 AM	If a small planting like 30 plants, you may try the hand pollination a coupple of times a week. You apparantly had some silks and tassles at the same time or you would not have even had partial pollination. My main problem is the earworms here. Mike
texasrockgarden Canyon Lake, TX (Zone 8b) November 30, 2008 11:10 AM	The little guys are thrips. Do a Google search for "thrips control". Good Luck! Jerry
tucsonjill Tucson, AZ (Zone 9a) December 2, 2008 1:14 AM	Thanks, Jerry! They're long gone now, but if I ever see 'em again, I'll go on the warpath.

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