tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post4946198761879251259..comments2024-03-28T12:01:24.909-04:00Comments on 5 Acres & A Dream: Corn StoverLeighhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-29818283873873409712015-09-27T17:43:15.282-04:002015-09-27T17:43:15.282-04:00doublebhomestead, welcome and thank you for your c...doublebhomestead, welcome and thank you for your comment. Your information is truly helpful and was gently put, so please forgive me if I go off a bit. It isn't you, but I've gotten quite a few comments (as you've read) about bees and corn pollination, which wasn't even the point of the post! Rather, the post was to share about another homegrown goat feed and another step toward animal feed self-sufficiency. Contrary to the ignorant impression I apparently made, I do know that corn is self-pollinating, even if the tassels are attractive to insects. So, I've removed those two words, which were actually an excuse to link to another blog page. They have turned out to be a distraction, as evidenced by all the corrections I have received. <br /><br />Anyway, don't take my rant personally! I'm on my way to return the blog visit. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-83220469102399430192015-09-27T14:51:15.111-04:002015-09-27T14:51:15.111-04:00Being an Agricultural Consultant for nearly 40 yea...Being an Agricultural Consultant for nearly 40 years I can say with certainty that corn will pollinate just fine without help from any insect or bees. The pollen falls from the tassels at the top of the plant down onto the silks emerging from the ears. Each kernel on the cob has a silk attached to it. The amount of kernels depends on many factors. Even with adequate moisture in the soil, if the air temperature is too high, some of the kernels won't be pollinated. After pollination moisture must be maintained at an adequate level for the kernels to fully fill out. Being a new beekeeper mysel I did research on what plants would benefit bees and corn is low on the list. Corn is a nectarless plant but it does produce pollen. Bees will harvest the pollen, but it is an inferior pollen because it is low in carbohydrates. I am on a steep learning curve with my bees!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-24640306711061371842015-09-26T05:55:37.397-04:002015-09-26T05:55:37.397-04:00Another great tidbit of information, Judy. I may l...Another great tidbit of information, Judy. I may look for that as well. I plant my popcorn and field corn at different times to avoid cross-pollination, but never managed to stick sweet corn in there as well. A shorter days-to-maturity would be useful there.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-54252154093807991872015-09-26T05:54:12.281-04:002015-09-26T05:54:12.281-04:00Judy, thank you for that! Great information. Dan a...Judy, thank you for that! Great information. Dan and I were talking about how we might irrigate; this sounds like the best method. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-40298976531649325542015-09-26T03:32:54.869-04:002015-09-26T03:32:54.869-04:00There are some 60 day sweet corns out there. Grew...There are some 60 day sweet corns out there. Grew it one year in my fall garden. Stalks were about 4' and the cobs were short too but it was very tasty.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530748998376076224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-4859293499597356532015-09-26T03:23:30.136-04:002015-09-26T03:23:30.136-04:00Dad flipped the dirt up on the bottom of the stalk...Dad flipped the dirt up on the bottom of the stalk when cultivating, gave the corn more dirt around the roots and created an irrigation ditch. He would soak the ground when he watered. This does several things, waters the plants, of course; evaporation cools the air around the plants so the pollen doesn't get over-heated and keeps the tassels dry so the water doesn't wash the pollen away.Judyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06530748998376076224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-29483849557804863962015-09-25T22:41:01.063-04:002015-09-25T22:41:01.063-04:00Aw shucks, Sandy. It's mostly hard school lear...Aw shucks, Sandy. It's mostly hard school learning, but for me, that's the best kind. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-79087622051998431152015-09-25T22:40:28.516-04:002015-09-25T22:40:28.516-04:00I figure every little bit helps!I figure every little bit helps!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-78470792692669225722015-09-25T22:40:15.355-04:002015-09-25T22:40:15.355-04:00Somehow I think I just stumble across a lot of goo...Somehow I think I just stumble across a lot of good information. It's funny, but I rarely see the bees anywhere. I've been trying for days now to get some close-ups, but they are usually out of sight!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51695619817042273352015-09-25T22:39:05.086-04:002015-09-25T22:39:05.086-04:00I don't know about that, but I do want to feed...I don't know about that, but I do want to feed my goats! :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-20776700451045132652015-09-25T21:51:10.394-04:002015-09-25T21:51:10.394-04:00Stephanie, fire ants are one of my top garden pest...Stephanie, fire ants are one of my top garden pests, right there next to wire grass. I probably get 3 to 5 bites every time I'm in the garden. Sure takes the fun out of gardening. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-20452161888057395002015-09-25T21:50:05.917-04:002015-09-25T21:50:05.917-04:00Good memory! Yes, the link goes to the blog post. ...Good memory! Yes, the link goes to the blog post. :)Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-62815042248577805902015-09-25T21:49:09.580-04:002015-09-25T21:49:09.580-04:00Barb, read Ed's comment above. Corn self-polli...Barb, read Ed's comment above. Corn self-pollinates, but I couldn't help but think that the bees must have helped somehow. He has better information on corn pollination.Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-40047657366510884112015-09-24T07:43:01.586-04:002015-09-24T07:43:01.586-04:00My corn got hit by fire ants, so our goats only go...My corn got hit by fire ants, so our goats only got a few stalks. The rest went into the fire pit. One of these days I will hopefully find a way to keep the ants out of my garden.Bateman Homesteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079969516047805928noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-10645543107827790422015-09-24T06:49:52.309-04:002015-09-24T06:49:52.309-04:00Remind me, the goat chow maker is a chipper?
Remind me, the goat chow maker is a chipper?<br />Farmer Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07596672416236302171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-45866985725475492642015-09-24T06:49:30.277-04:002015-09-24T06:49:30.277-04:00I am always charmed by corn growing. Maybe I will...I am always charmed by corn growing. Maybe I will grow some for my bees, too! It goes without saying that I will have to be fencing it. I also want to have sunflowers around the edge for cut flowers and because there will be a fence up. My bees need more flowers than I have around here. Great idea!Farmer Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07596672416236302171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-51453256933924901782015-09-23T21:15:59.045-04:002015-09-23T21:15:59.045-04:00I'm surprised someone hadn't developed a s...I'm surprised someone hadn't developed a shorter growing season variety of corn. Our northern gardeners in the US would appreciate that too!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-72263483650306778172015-09-23T21:15:02.772-04:002015-09-23T21:15:02.772-04:00Nancy, I hadn't heard of that book and so look...Nancy, I hadn't heard of that book and so looked it up. Sounds like something I'd enjoy reading!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-85156540967405899772015-09-23T21:11:22.134-04:002015-09-23T21:11:22.134-04:00Karen, what kind did you get? It's interesting...Karen, what kind did you get? It's interesting how something like kernel size can be a factor, as can other details. It's fun to experiment with varieties, though. I'd recommend giving Truckers Favorite a try!Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-58543068566040258332015-09-23T21:10:03.747-04:002015-09-23T21:10:03.747-04:00Well, both good and bad are a part of life. I thin...Well, both good and bad are a part of life. I think I learn more from problems and failures than i do from success! I always hope others can learn useful things from our experiences too. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-88803198042155624882015-09-23T21:08:49.299-04:002015-09-23T21:08:49.299-04:00Yes, silage is a common treatment. I've read m...Yes, silage is a common treatment. I've read mixed reviews on silage for goats, however, so I haven't been willing to learn how to make it. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-68732980240718853852015-09-23T21:07:57.183-04:002015-09-23T21:07:57.183-04:00Fern, I suspect that you and Frank are like Dan an...Fern, I suspect that you and Frank are like Dan and me - there is just so much to do to prepare that we're only able to chip away at each one a little at a time. I sometimes think that if I only had one thing to do (house, garden, animals) then I could do that thing really well. As it is, I just do the best I can.<br /><br />That book is online at Google books, but at 691 pages, it's not the kind of book I'd want to read that way. Here's the link though - <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/Feeds_and_Feeding.html?id=SVgaAAAAIAAJ" rel="nofollow">https://books.google.com/books/about/Feeds_and_Feeding.html?id=SVgaAAAAIAAJ</a>Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-5247761056671849172015-09-23T20:59:58.427-04:002015-09-23T20:59:58.427-04:00Oh no! That's disappointing about the tomato. ...Oh no! That's disappointing about the tomato. When they're few, every one is precious. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-46488997073668318432015-09-23T20:59:25.449-04:002015-09-23T20:59:25.449-04:00Ed, very interesting. We did get nice rainfall ear...Ed, very interesting. We did get nice rainfall early this summer, but I never correlated the two. Sounds like we need to figure on some sort of irrigation if we have inadequate rainfall during pollination. It's so nice too look forward to all that corn. Leighhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02435811789823712254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1694364001063554832.post-21648995707523346962015-09-23T18:09:55.430-04:002015-09-23T18:09:55.430-04:00That makes a lot of sense in terms of my experienc...That makes a lot of sense in terms of my experience with corn pollination success - thanks, Ed!Quinnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17292701509476856967noreply@blogger.com