Cornstalk Tomato

**carolyn137** · July 23, 2008

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 · July 23, 2008

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

Worth1 · July 23, 2008

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 · July 23, 2008

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 · July 23, 2008

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 · July 25, 2008

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** · July 25, 2008

Quote:

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 · July 28, 2008

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 · July 30, 2008

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

July 23, 2008	#1
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	Cornstalk Tomato 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. __________________ Carolyn

July 23, 2008	#2
JerryL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.W. Ohio z6a Posts: 736	I had revenuers show up once when I mixed corn with….. Oh you were wondering about plants. Sorry __________________ Jerry

July 23, 2008	#4
svalli Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vaasa, Finland, latitude N 63° Posts: 838	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. __________________ "I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream." - Moomin-troll by Tove Jansson

July 25, 2008	#6
dice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: PNW Posts: 4,743	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. __________________ -- alias

July 28, 2008	#8
tlcmd Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Greensboro, N.C. Posts: 132	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. __________________ Harmmmmmmmmmoniously, Dick "If only Longstreet had followed orders......" "Show me something more beautiful than a beautiful woman and then I'll go paint it." Alberto Vargas

July 23, 2008	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	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

July 23, 2008	#5
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	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

July 30, 2008	#9
WVTomatoMan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Virginia - Zone 6 Posts: 594	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