Hand Pollination

The common complain in growing corn in a garden is the ears are not filled with kernels. Often in gardens (and to my personal experience) corn ears arent fully filled with grain. this is just caused by poor pollination. Pollen coming from the tassels (Topmost part of the plant) is usually blown by the wind and lands on corn silk. each silk is connected to a kernel. When the pollen lands on a silk a kernel is fertilized and begins to grow. this is not a problem in farms for pollen is everywhere. In gardens the gardener must sometimes take into his own hands what nature can't do.

Hand pollenation is relatively easy. First you will need a jar or glass. you bend the tassels down into the container and shake the tassels until you see some brown dust in the bottom of the jar. this is pollen. then you get a brush or a cotton swab and place some pollen on it then stroke gently the corn silk with the pollenated brush. make sure you brush every strand or there will be missing kernels. You can also experinment making your own hybrids this way. Try brushing pollen on one variety to another variety and then plant the seeds. who knows you might soon be the creator of A new high yield miracle corn.

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