Hand pollinating corn

Raiquee · November 11, 2018

Has anyone done it? I’d love to grow some of the rare heirloom
Sweet corn, but I’m surrounded by corn fields (typical Midwest) and the air is thick with stray pollen. I’ve had ok success with timing my corn, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

Hand pollination looks like it’s not too hard, just looking for other people’s experience. Thanks.

PhilaGardener · November 11, 2018

It's actually really easy, and the best way to get well-filled ears in a small patch, but it is hard to keep out stray pollen unless you bag your silks. Just wait until the tassels are shedding and then pick and shake-shake-shake!

Raiquee · November 11, 2018

Yeah I have good pollination as we are very windy and I plant in blocks. But that’s part of the problem, is that it will get crossed knowing my luck. I will have to bag silks and tassels. Which I don’t mind, just have never done it.

Looks like seed savers has the bags pretty affordably! I guess I’ll watch a YouTube video and give it a whirl next year!

rhines81 · November 11, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raiquee

Has anyone done it? I’d love to grow some of the rare heirloom
Sweet corn, but I’m surrounded by corn fields (typical Midwest) and the air is thick with stray pollen. I’ve had ok success with timing my corn, but it doesn’t always work out that way.

Hand pollination looks like it’s not too hard, just looking for other people’s experience. Thanks.

Truthfully, wouldn't worry about it unless your crop is right next to theirs. 300 ft should be plenty of spacing unless it is directly down wind.

Raiquee · November 12, 2018

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhines81

Truthfully, wouldn't worry about it unless your crop is right next to theirs. 300 ft should be plenty of spacing unless it is directly down wind.

Well we live in a very windy micro climate and my sweet corn was late this year and tassled same time as the field corn. Was ruined. Not to mention I want to grow multiple varieties and I can’t even give them 100ft in my patch let alone 300. I’m going to do timing like I usually do, but for the rare types that I will give back to other people, I want to know for sure it’s true.

**carolyn137** · November 12, 2018

The following link should answer almost ALL of your questions about cross pollination and how to prevent it.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...&bih=815&dpr=1

Carolyn

JRinPA · November 15, 2018

I tried it this year but it was pain in the butt in blocks. If I was hand pollinating 100% I would do rows or double rows only for easier access. My second stand was fine this year, but the first was really dry and buggy when it tassled and the third was super wet. I'm not sure what I learned though, and that is a bad feeling.

Tormato · November 17, 2018

It's very easy to do by hand. And, if doing entirely by hand there's no need for planting in blocks, unless it's to conserve garden space. I plant in single rows, which makes hand pollinating very easy.

Some years the plants don't tassel and silk at the same time (I've had one variety produce silks one month after tasseling

). So, I freeze pollen until it's time to pollinate.

Also, if attempting to save OP corn, I think 100-200 plants are needed to keep a variety stable.

Raiquee · November 17, 2018

Thanks guys!! I was looking for insight on people here who have done it. I’ve watched enough videos. You make a great point about the rows vs block, sounds like it would be way easier.

I did read that, 200 plants I believe to keep the variety stable. Which...that’s a lot of seed! Haha. Gonna have to divide it year to year.

Thanks for the ideas guys.

November 11, 2018	#1
Raiquee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 307	Hand pollinating corn Has anyone done it? I’d love to grow some of the rare heirloom Sweet corn, but I’m surrounded by corn fields (typical Midwest) and the air is thick with stray pollen. I’ve had ok success with timing my corn, but it doesn’t always work out that way. Hand pollination looks like it’s not too hard, just looking for other people’s experience. Thanks. __________________ Desire' Mother of 3, homesteader, canner, gardener, dwarf tomato participant.

November 11, 2018	#3
Raiquee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 307	Yeah I have good pollination as we are very windy and I plant in blocks. But that’s part of the problem, is that it will get crossed knowing my luck. I will have to bag silks and tassels. Which I don’t mind, just have never done it. Looks like seed savers has the bags pretty affordably! I guess I’ll watch a YouTube video and give it a whirl next year! __________________ Desire' Mother of 3, homesteader, canner, gardener, dwarf tomato participant.

November 12, 2018	#6
carolyn137 Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Upstate NY, zone 4b/5a Posts: 21,169	The following link should answer almost ALL of your questions about cross pollination and how to prevent it. https://www.google.com/search?q=how+...&bih=815&dpr=1 Carolyn __________________ Carolyn

November 17, 2018	#8
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	It's very easy to do by hand. And, if doing entirely by hand there's no need for planting in blocks, unless it's to conserve garden space. I plant in single rows, which makes hand pollinating very easy. Some years the plants don't tassel and silk at the same time (I've had one variety produce silks one month after tasseling). So, I freeze pollen until it's time to pollinate. Also, if attempting to save OP corn, I think 100-200 plants are needed to keep a variety stable.

November 17, 2018	#9
Raiquee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 307	Thanks guys!! I was looking for insight on people here who have done it. I’ve watched enough videos. You make a great point about the rows vs block, sounds like it would be way easier. I did read that, 200 plants I believe to keep the variety stable. Which...that’s a lot of seed! Haha. Gonna have to divide it year to year. Thanks for the ideas guys. __________________ Desire' Mother of 3, homesteader, canner, gardener, dwarf tomato participant.

November 11, 2018	#2
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	It's actually really easy, and the best way to get well-filled ears in a small patch, but it is hard to keep out stray pollen unless you bag your silks. Just wait until the tassels are shedding and then pick and shake-shake-shake!

November 15, 2018	#7
JRinPA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SE PA Posts: 972	I tried it this year but it was pain in the butt in blocks. If I was hand pollinating 100% I would do rows or double rows only for easier access. My second stand was fine this year, but the first was really dry and buggy when it tassled and the third was super wet. I'm not sure what I learned though, and that is a bad feeling.