Sweet Corn Earing Up

Sweet Corn Earing Up
The ears are forming up nicely on my little patch of sweet corn. For those unfamiliar with corn’s method of pollination, the male flowers are held high above the plant on a structure called a tassel. Pollen from the tassel drops down on the silk that exudes out from under the husk of the corn. Each of those little silk threads attaches to a single kernel of corn on the ear. When the pollen from the male flower touches the silk, it fertilizes it. Once fertilized, the kernel will fill out and mature. If it is not fertilized, the kernel will remain small and undeveloped. When planting corn, especially in small plots like mine, it is important to plant is small blocks so the pollen can fall down onto the silks. Corn planted in rows probably would not pollinate.
Botanical Name:
Zea mays subspecies mays
The word corn in most of the world refers to any cereal crop that finds use as a food. It could refer to wheat, rye, or any one of a number of grain crops grown as a staple. In North America the word corn refers to a specific grain, maize. The word maize derives from the word mahiz. This is the word a Caribbean tribe called the Taino used in reference to the grain North Americans call corn. The original English word for maize, Indian Corn, became shortened through usage to corn. Sweet corn refers to the sweet variety usually eaten before the grain matures when it is still sweet and soft.
Raccoons Love Corn
I have to go to extreme measures to keep the raccoons from raiding my sweet corn. This cage covers all four sides and there is a “lid,” on top. Raccoons are persistent raiders of sweet corn patches. If not for this poultry wire cage, I would harvest no sweet corn at all.

Gardeners Guide to Growing Vegetables
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