Author Topic: Why are my Sweetcorn tassels brown already?  (Read 1310 times)

skyblu

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Why are my Sweetcorn tassels brown already?
« on: July 17, 2009, 14:53:33 »
It's my first year growing sweetcorn and I believe that the corn is just about ready for picking when the tassels turn brown and a milky liquid is released on pressure from a thumbnail to the kernels.  But my tassels are turning brown and dry already....the plants are beautifully healthy and the cobs swelling well but I am sure they can't be anywhere near ready yet!

So what is going on? why turning brown so early?  I take it this can't be usual or it wouldn't be one of the signs to look out for....
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saddad

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Re: Why are my Sweetcorn tassels brown already?
« Reply #1 on: July 17, 2009, 15:11:32 »
The browning is because they are dieing off, having pollinated the grains... some modern varieties are quite quick to produce cobs. Mine haven't even put out tassles yet...  :-\

PurpleHeather

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Re: Why are my Sweetcorn tassels brown already?
« Reply #2 on: July 17, 2009, 15:16:55 »
It is the spider syndrome. Once the male has done his bit he dies off so the female can get the nourishment and produce.

 

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