Sweet corn "isolation required"

[CMV]

Was going to do some corn & summer squash this year. Can get those in & done before time for pumpkins to go in the ground. Not a lot of corn - maybe 4000 seeds or so. The descriptions for various seeds say "isolation required" and the rows or 2 areas to plant aren't really far enough apart to prevent cross pollination. So does that mean just pick one type & go with it? Or is sweet corn sweet corn and it would only be a concern if I had other types like decorative or feed corn going too?

Was wanting a few different types - just to see what holds up to bugs and whatnot the best, what does best in my soil [orange clay], and maybe have some separation where it isn't all wanting picked at same time.

Oh - and is a horribly bad idea to do squash & corn, then follow with pumpkins in same place, same year? Kind of thinking would be a good opportunity to get the bugs that got a lot of my pumpkins last year - let the squash draw them in & concentrated in that area, then insecticide when squash/corn are done but before pumpkins get started. I get a little of a pine chip/chicken poo mix from a friend so will have some organic material to till in between them, but it isn't much. I get a pickup bed at a time, plus whatever small compost piles I have produce.

This is more hobby than anything. We about broke even on pumpkins last year (assuming we work at $0/hr). Did a little squash, but didn't sell any - that was all for us & to give away. We gave a LOT away since they did pretty well. Probably same this year....sell the pumpkins, give away squash & corn.

 

[Diggin It]

Dunno, haven't read up that much on it so I'll be interested to see what others say. I have three varieties of sweet corn and was hoping to do a few rows of each next to each other.

 

[randy41]

corn varieties should be isolated so that what you harvest is true to the seed you planted. isolation can also mean by pollination time rather then by distance.

 

[ruffdog]

Winter squashes and pumpkins (for pies) do not mix good either.

 

[Jstpssng]

corn varieties should be isolated so that what you harvest is true to the seed you planted. isolation can also mean by pollination time rather then by distance.

How much does cross pollination matter if you're not raising seed? I've always staggered my plantings anyways, as I can only eat so much corn.

4000 seeds is a LOT of corn! 300 dozen ears even if you only get one per stalk. Do you sell, give it away, or freeze the surplus?

 

[Diggin It]

I was thinking 4K was a bit more than one person could use. I have three small packets, maybe a 100 or so in each. I may sell some to the neighbors or give some to a food bank. I don't eat much of it, but want to do something different.

 

[randy41]

How much does cross pollination matter if you're not raising seed? I've always staggered my plantings anyways, as I can only eat so much corn.

4000 seeds is a LOT of corn! 300 dozen ears even if you only get one per stalk. Do you sell, give it away, or freeze the surplus?

when you're growing sweet corn the seed is what you're raising.

 

[Diggin It]

Disagree. Most plant it for food, even though it's the seed we eat. Planting for seed means letting the kernels dry and packaging for planting next year.

 

[CMV]

I have no idea what kind of survival rate they'll have. So 4,000 seeds minus what doesn't sprout, minus what some critter chews up as a seedling, minus what some other critter tramples, minus plants/ears bugs destroy, minus what doesn't get pollinated, etc....no idea what final yield would be from that. But since seeds come in increments of 500/1k figured 4k would be good number and could do 4 types maybe? Not a farmer by any means - just something to do with land that is otherwise idle. Also something constructive for me to do after work & on weekends so I'm not idle either

Our church is pretty big & supports numerous other outreach groups - plenty of them would be grateful for a bunch of corn & squash if everything grows well. Won't go to waste that's for sure. Even the leftover pumpkins we had last year - took them & fed to pigs & turkeys at a nearby farm. Had no idea turkeys ate pumpkins.....

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^
That's a good plan. Your statement "Not a lot of corn - maybe 4000 seeds or so" just seemed ironic to me. I try to start mine inside so that I don't sacrifice as much to crows, but that would be quite time consuming in the quantities which you are growing. I also like to hill my corn, for stronger root systems. By planting seedlings I can use the trencher on my Troybilt to dig a trough and bury them a bit deeper.