sweet corn harvest - a mixed bag

Sometimes you think everyone knows what you know, y'know?
When I said something to a friend about hand pollinating my sweet corn, she was surprised.

I explained that, unless you had a block of sweet corn (not just one or two long rows),

the corn kernels might not all get pollinated, and you would have a spotty ear of corn.

Definitely NOT good eating.You can see there are some pollination issues with the top ear of corn,

but the bottom ear definitely missed some pollination.

Each kernel of corn has a silk attached to it, and needs to be pollinated,

or it won't develop.

The pollen comes from the tassels at the top of the corn stalk.
According to the University of Florida's extension article about hand-pollinating garden vegetable crops:
"Two methods of pollen transfer may be used with corn.
Cut an entire tassel, and use it as a wand, shaking pollen grains (dust) onto the silks. Alternatively, strip the tassel and deposit the pollen from the anthers directly onto the silks. Either way, the pollen is transferred.
Be thorough when dusting the pollen onto the silks,
so chances for a bountiful harvest are increased."

I usually collect pollen by running my hand up the tassels, then sprinkle it on the silks protruding from the corn that is developing.

Here is some of the sweet corn that did get fully pollinated.
And it was delicious, too!

A few other sweet corn growing tips:

Corn needs lots of nitrogen, so don't skimp on fertilizing. Don’t plant your seeds too close together, and hand pollinate.
Corn plants tend to have shallow roots, so putting some soil at the base for support can help .
Use the stalks afterwards for fall/Halloween decorations!

Show and Tell Friday - potting up plants for September

Friday is here again, and I thought I'd show what I am spending most of
my summer on- plants !
Be sure to head to Kelli's to see who else is participating in Show 'n Tell today.

This is a new rose for our yard this year, I love the peachy color, couldn't find the name tag at the base of the plant. The fragrance is light and lovely.

This is one of my pots I am getting ready for our wedding reception in the yard in September. Yeah, I know, May would be a much better time for this than July, but I am slow!

This pot has yellow/white colors, with an over-large daisy in the back, yellow leaved tansy on the left, a calendula in front of that, with yellow celosia and some white profusion zinnias on the right. I may put some golden oregano in the front.
I guess it is not the best photo.

Next is my effort at some dramatic color -

this pot will look better after the plants (esp the purple ruffled basil) adjusts to the move and fills in the pot. I am so happy with this combo that I wanted to show it today, it is not really for the reception. In the front is Sweet potato vine (Ipomoea) 'Blackie', in the middle is an ivy geranium called 'Picasso', with intense dark red colored blooms, and the mess in the back is the wilted basil and annual Scabiosa 'Black Knight'.

Here's a closeup of the geranium flower -

- and of the scabiosa. I messed w/ the color a bit in Photo Shop to try and recapture

the maroony loveliness of this flower. Maybe I'll show my pots again when they are more filled in.