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drscottr

Corn in a high tunnel

14 years ago

Folks,

To avoid stink bugs I am considering building a high tunnel 20 foot wide and 30 feet wide. I would cover it with a fabric that allows light transmission but doesn't retain much heat.

Will corn grow under the tunnel? Do I need insects for pollination or can i get away with shaking the plants, etc.

How about squash and tomatoes?

Scott

Comments (10)

  • 14 years ago

    Corn would benefit from some shaking...a good idea even outdoors.
    Tomatoes would benefit from shaking too when insects are excluded.
    Squash pollination would be totally dependent on you when insects are excluded, unless ants are very numerous.

  • 14 years ago

    I think tomatoes have perfect flowers so you'd think they wouldn't need any help. On the other hand, there is a hand held device that is used in commercial greenhouse ranges that vibates, it is periodically held briefly to the bloom clusters to aid in pollination.

    Ditto with Wayne on the corn, do it more than once and when the plants are actually shedding pollen, outdoors that would be after 10:00 a.m. +-.

    Squash, take a male flower and gently rub on the female, repeat until the female begins to visibly deteriorate.

  • 14 years ago

    Sounds as if these plants are not fully dependent on insects. I can recreate the effect of wind.

  • 14 years ago

    Squash pollen is heavy and must be "hand-carried" to the females by either the critters or you.

  • 14 years ago

    That's an expensive stinkbug control option.

    Technically it can work if you re-create wind conditions and continuously scout the corn for pests so a closed population doesn't blow up. A structure that large is hard to 100% lock down from the outside elements.

    You'll end up with some pretty expensive corn, though. Remember, the sun breaks down a lot of cover's lifespan (along with wind) and you get a lot of both during corn season.

  • 14 years ago

    I've thought about this for corn earworm. Woven 30% black polypropylene would provide the right environment for corn. But as suggested could keep the stink bugs out or in!! They blew up on a peach I had under this stuff this year.

    Mine has lasted 30 years with off and on use.

    Here is a link that might be useful: polypropylene shade cloth

  • 14 years ago

    With all my corn, I help with the pollination. Depending on the type (some are tall, some are short). With the short, I will put on a flannel shirt and drag my arms over the tassels as I go down the rows. The taller types I rig a post with the shirt and drag across. In a garden setting this will help you greatly. Farmers in large fields have acres of corn, so there is no problems with pollination. If you try this you will see the results.

    luke

  • 14 years ago

    Very few people have use greenhouses for corn because the cost is too high for the return from the crop. It doesn't matter that you are using a row cover material in place of plastic. You should first do the math and calculate your costs.

  • 14 years ago

    I'd sure put the money into mineralizing the soil and thus strengthen the plants against insect pests. Minerals increase the system over years while plastic degrees and becomes a problem to be disposed of. Check into local stone dust sources.

  • 14 years ago

    I realize this wouldn't be cost effective but I lost 100% of my corn after August 1. The stink bugs swarmed at 5 - 10 bugs on each plant. They ruined every ear and stunted the growth of the plants. Willing to spend money and labor to win - I'm stubborn.