Corn With 3 Stalks

[baymule]

I have corn putting out 2-3 stalks. Should I cut off the extras or let them be?

 

[seedcorn]

Let them be.

They are suckers that come from excess nutrients. Many theories on to keep or not to. I’m of the opinion, leave them alone.

 

[ninnymary]

Could you perhaps leave some and cut some to see if there is any difference for you?

Mary

 

[Ridgerunner]

Could you perhaps leave some and cut some to see if there is any difference for you?

Mary

I like this idea. See for yourself. Make up your own mind instead of being wishy-washy!!!! That will probably come back to haunt me but that was so tempting. Bay as wishy-washy. Really!

I remove them. Occasionally some may make enough of an ear to give the chickens something to peck at but I don't get anything for me off of them. Variety may have something to do with that too. I generally grow Bodacious, a fairly short cornstalk. They tend to sucker a lot.

The main reason I take them off though is space. I plant them in two rows 12" apart, skip abut 32" then plant another two rows at 12". I don't have any pollination issues but they are packed in pretty tight. I don't need something nonproductive competing for sunlight/nutrients or making it even harder for me to walk through.

 

[flowerbug]

i would not want to disturb the roots of the middle plant at that stage of growth so would either leave them alone or chop off suckers and leave the roots undisturbed. this would reduce competition for moisture and nutrients for the main plant. the smaller cut off plants may try to regrow, but they are not going to get very far with the main plant catching most of the light.

 

[seedcorn]

The “middle” plant is the main stalk. Cut it, might as well kill the plant.

 

[majorcatfish]

dang yankees going into your garden after you planted seeds and putting extra ones just to make mad......

 

[seedcorn]

@majorcatfish i’d do that to you....not to @baymule —that I’d admit to......

 

[majorcatfish]

@majorcatfish i’d do that to you....not to @baymule —that I’d admit to......

said the man who hates southerners and kale......

 

[baymule]

I've never had corn sucker like that. This part of the garden has been composted with sheep, chicken and horse manure compost. I laid cardboard down, double and triple in the walkways, then covered with wood chip mulch. I cut holes to plant the corn plants in. @seedcorn what you said about plenty of nutrients.....yep, ah reckon so! @Ridgerunner... haha, me being wishy-washy!

I am of the opinion that the extra stalks won't gift me with fully formed luscious ears of corn. But I wanted to get some other opinions and experiences. Mary I like your idea and will probably leave a couple with the suckers just to see what happens.