corn stalks starting to collapse

noobgardener2010

15 years ago

So my corn went from looking like this

{{gwi:77694}}

to looking like this

{{gwi:77696}}

in one day! I'm trying to tie it up with string so everything doesn't snap off. I've been watering it deeply, used one of those soil meters and it comes up 'moist' out of dry/moist/wet with the probe about a foot down. I'm feeding it blood meal every two weeks and added a bit of 10-10-10 last feeding(2 feedings total, over 4 weeks).

It looks like it needs lots more water though, is this right? I planted each plant 10" apart(10-12" recommended on packet of seed) each row 18" apart. Is it too dense a planting? Do you think if I thinned this patch out(45 plants currently) I could stop this?

Right now I have about a quarter of my plants either fallen over or looking like they are going to fall over. Any ideas appreciated.

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Comments (8)

wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
15 years ago
Maybe too wet?
forpityssake
15 years ago
I'll say...too much water. Sweet corn has shallow roots to begin with. They really need to reach for water to be able to withstand high winds.

I make sure my corn gets an inch of either rain or water, per week...no matter HOW bad it may look. Those roots need to grow down & not out, to find moisture.

If that were mine...I'd stop watering for a least a week.

Good luck.
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forpityssake
15 years ago
I don't know how fast Stewarts Wilt happens ,but...if you quit watering it and it doesn't get better, Stewarts Wilt is the only thing I can think of.

Here is a link that might be useful: Stewarts Wilt
jean001a
15 years ago
The images for that disease look entirely different than OP's corn.
forpityssake
15 years ago
jean001a...I know, but...other than cutworm damage, off the top of my head Stewarts was the only other thing that came to mind. Cutworm damage can be above or below ground.

That article also lists some of the types of sweet corn that are prone to (or not prone to) Stewarts. IMO, a valuable list.

I still think it's more likely the corn was overwatered.
n2xjk
15 years ago
You might be loving your corn to death. Any of these individually or in combination may contribute to the problem: overwatering, cultivating too deeply, over fertilization.
Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
15 years ago
Is it possible that earwigs could cause this damage? All of that moisture would call them to action. How much blood meal? How did you apply? Could a nitrogen OD do this? (Asking on your behalf, I don't know the answers.)
traildad450-vegan_yahoo_com
15 years ago
I have a similar problem, but mine are over 6 feet tall. I read about green snap. From the time corn is about 8 inches tall and growing fast, it is susceptible to green snap. It has to do with the cells stretching out and becoming weaker. I noticed mine did it right after I watered. As the ears form and growth slows, the stalk strengthens. 'Green snap can occur at most any vegetative stage after the growing point reaches the soil surface (8 inches tall), but corn usually is most susceptible from the 14-leaf to tassel stages.

Here is a link that might be useful: Corn production guide