Growing different varieties of sweet corn in same plot?

[Amadioranch]

Two questions for you veteran sweet corn people.

#1 I have a 120' x 120' plot that im going to be growing sweet corn this coming summer in. Id like to put in 2 or 3 different varieties starting with a super early 60 day and then maybe another 75 day followed by 90 day. Question is....is 15 day difference enough separation to prevent cross pollination issues?


#2 We have grown Bodacious and a few others with varying degrees of success. Our main issues tend to be heat and drought tolerance. Are there and particularly varieties you might recommend?

[Alice In TX/MO]

The only issue would be if you are going to save seed. Otherwise, there's no need to worry about timing or physical separation.

[geo in mi]

Originally Posted by Amadioranch

Two questions for you veteran sweet corn people.

#1 I have a 120' x 120' plot that im going to be growing sweet corn this coming summer in. Id like to put in 2 or 3 different varieties starting with a super early 60 day and then maybe another 75 day followed by 90 day. Question is....is 15 day difference enough separation to prevent cross pollination issues?


#2 We have grown Bodacious and a few others with varying degrees of success. Our main issues tend to be heat and drought tolerance. Are there and particularly varieties you might recommend?

If you keep it simple, the difference in maturity dates should be sufficient. But it gets a bit complicated if you MIX different varities that have the same maturity dates.... Here's the more detailed stuff from Purdue (the extra sweets and supersweets and triple sweets)for you to sort through http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/ho-98.pdf It's sort of like trying to make a seating list for a banquet of important people. Oh, yes, and white and yellow will cross and give you peaches 'N cream.....

As for heat and drought tolerance, well, you have to consider your area. Can't do too much about the heat--at about 90 degrees, pollen tends to melt and go sterile...and heat stress could make a growth mismatch in silk growth and pollen drop. Water, one inch to one and a half inch per week is best, and in drought you may need more than that. Watering at soil level is preferred in order to keep it from evaporating so fast.

Remember, this year's kernal IS next year's seed. ANY cross pollination this year will affect the taste and starchiness of the corn you eat. Usually starch is dominant--cross-pollination between sweet and starchy will result in starchy kernals this year, and in next year's crop. .....That's why you keep them separate in whatever way you can.

geo

[mmoetc]

You can also stretch your maturity dates by staggering your planting times. If you plant your 75 day a week after your 60 day you gain an extra week in between. Plant the 90 day a week later and you gain another week. Your growing season should be long enough that a delay in planting date shouldn't cause problems at the other end of the season.

[Rustaholic]

I well remember all the pretty sweet corn when we planted Indian corn about 16 feet south of the sweet corn. There was some type of squash between them. Because of that the next year we planted strawberries where the Indian corn and that squash were. I think it was acorn squash.
There were a LOT of potatoes between the sweet corn and the field corn.

[Paquebot]

As long as you don't plant any sh2 varieties, there's no worry about cross-pollination affecting the quality. Bodacious is an se+ and would affect any sh2 but not v.v.

Martin

[where I want to]

Please Martin- English. I know that is probably an allele reference but what does it mean in corn?

[Paquebot]

"Sugary Enhanced varieties (designated se) have a gene that increases tenderness and sweetness. The result is a sweet, creamy, and tender kernel with a longer harvest period. Varieties designated se are hybrids that have se and su parents. Some varieties are designated se+ which means that they have 2 se parents for an increased degree of sweetness."

"Super Sweet, Xtra Sweet, or Shrunken varieties (designated sh2) have a shrunken gene that enhances sweetness and produces kernels that are crisp and juicy. Cross pollination between between supersweets and other other corns (including field corn) will result in a starchy, undesirable kernel in both."

Thus you have one of the very few instances of something being affected immediately from crossing rather than not seeing it until the following season.

Martin

[bja105]

Thankyou Martin.

[where I want to]

Yes- thank you.