Cornstalk Tomato

[carolyn137]

Freda was here this AM propping up lilies that the rain bashed down, bringing in some fresh flowers for me and swearing at the deer who are eating the rose blossoms but then came in and told me something I didn't expect.

She said that there was a nice cornstalk growing in one of the Gro-bags right along with the tomato.

Great said I, let it go and we'll see if it's cow corn, which it probably is, or whatever. And we'll see if any more cornstalks appear.

This year all my tomato plants and other veggies are being grown in 12 gal grow bags and various sized containers.

So here's the question.

Everything was filled with new mix, one bag of Pro-Mix Professional soiless mix to one bag of commercial composted cow manure with humus.

There's not a chance that there would be cornseed in the Pro=Mix and if the cow manure was composted any viable corn seeds should also have been composted.

So is it a bird donation? No way to know, but doubtful this time of year even though I live in dairy country, and I'm wondering if any of you have had anything interesting show up when using a mix such as was used for everything I'm growing this year, and everything looks wonderful......to date.

[JerryL]

I had revenuers show up once when I mixed corn with….. Oh you were wondering about plants. Sorry

[Worth1]

I had the same thing happen this year with my NEW potting soil for my squash seed starting cells.

Tomatoes came up so I let them grow and they were cherries that were pretty good.

I wasn't even around a tomato seed when it happened.

Worth

[svalli]

I once had a bag of composted cow manure couple of months laying on the yard. When I finally opened it, there were a lot of grass like sprouts growing on top of the manure. The bag was unopened so the seeds must had been in the bag.

[Tormato]

Jerry,
That old joke has "still" got it.

Carolyn,

I've never had stray plants from any of my starter mixes.

I do get stray seeds mixed in with other seeds, which I'll sometimes plant. This year, one dark red corn seed that hitched a ride with a pack of Texas Honey June. It is producing variegated leaves, green with cream stripes and magenta edges.

Also, some sort of "pea" (cow? pigeon?) that came with a pack of Hickory King corn. A small round tan colored seed, producing a "hairy" plant (stems, the undersides of leaves, and pods).

Those, along with a variegated leafed dahlia, and many "weeds" that are popping up, means I have alot of research to do on all of these new, to me, plants.

Gary

[dice]

Maybe the squirrels have taken to farming cow corn. Or perhaps
one stopped there to reconnoiter with his cheeks already
full of seeds, including corn, looted from some bird feeder,
and he dropped a few out in his haste to get away when a cat
showed up.

[carolyn137]

Originally Posted by dice

Maybe the squirrels have taken to farming cow corn. Or perhaps
one stopped there to reconnoiter with his cheeks already
full of seeds, including corn, looted from some bird feeder,
and he dropped a few out in his haste to get away when a cat
showed up.

Likely story.

MY squirrels can't get corn from my bird feeders b'c I don't feed corn to the birds. Just Black Oil and nyger seed for the finches.

And I'm far away, geographically, from anyone who even feeds the birds.

Besides, I've trained the gray squirrels to do what I want them to. I can't deal with my red squirrels b'c they have a mind of their own and can't be trained.

And yes, I have two cats, one is brilliant and the other one less so, and yes, they've been know to chase squirrels, but fortunately don't go after birds.

[tlcmd]

Unfortunately, corn and tomatoes share several common agricultural pests. Planting them togeher increases the chance of attracting them. (specifically tomatofruitworm aka corn earworm. Most companion plant sites recommend keeping them apart.

[WVTomatoMan]

I've had corn (and weeds of course) show up in my container plants. I attributed it to birds or squirrels. In most cases I used the same stuff indoors and didn't get anything unexpected until the contaier was moved outside. I use Pro-Mix BX and cow manure with humus (don't recall the brand).

I have 2 "Absolute" bird feeders with black oil sunflower seed mostly for the cardinals, but I get chikadees, tufted titmice, sparrows and more. There are even other types of birds hang around on the ground waiting for leftovers. I also have a couple of niger feeders for the finches (gold and purple).

Randy