From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Ohio

I am going to grow indian corn this year instead of sweet corn as my wind break for my patch. Last year was the first time I ever planted corn and it worked excellent at blocking the wind and also made the patch area look better instead of having plastic walls put up around the patch.

I did have one small problem with the corn is that it would get knocked over during a hard storm or real heavy winds that made me stake them up. Has anyone had this problem with Indian corn? Last year I planted 5 seeds per mound about a inch 1/2 deep.
Why is it that regular field corn doesnt seem to have this problem being knocked over? Does field corn have better roots to help hold it up?

Also was wanting to know if anyone had some neat looking indian corn seeds they would like to share or trade.

thanks
Brooks

1/8/2006 5:15:34 AM

wisconsin rapids WI

I grew the giant indian corn and sunflowers last year I plant it in rows about one foot apart if it is a strong wind it tends to tip it over or break it off the sunflowers are stronger they tend to help hold the corn up this year im going to alternate the rows corn and sunflower

1/8/2006 8:58:46 AM

Ohio

Wade, I have thought about growing the sun flowers. I dont know if its true or not but have heard that growing sunflowers close to pumpkin plants isnt good for the pumpkin plant,I heard the roots of a sunflower acts like sorta like a poison to a pumpkin plant. Have you heard this before? Anyone ever heard this? This is the reason why I havnt grown sunflowers as a wind break because i wasnt sure if it was true or not.

There was a post on this site about it ether last year or the year before but I cant find it.

Brooks

1/8/2006 3:16:29 PM

Norton, MA

An old pumpkin farmer that I've worked for here grows sunflowers in his pumpkin patch, and he has amazing yields. AleX Noel.

1/8/2006 5:59:10 PM

Topsfield, Ma.

Brooks, I've heard the warnings on sunflowers and AG's but don't have info on its origins. I've got volunteer sunflowers around the patch every season with vines sometimes climbing them, w/o any observed detrimental effects...but I haven't broken 1000 lbs yet either...LOL!
Duff

1/8/2006 6:41:59 PM

wisconsin rapids WI

I cant say if its true but my vines grow right through my sunflower rows and out the other side

1/8/2006 7:12:53 PM

ENGLAND

I think what Brooks means is that there may be an incopatability between the roots of the Sunflowers and the Pumpkins when they come together in the soil. Maybe the Sunflower roots have some sort of natural defence system, ie. chemical release, to stop other plant roots invading their growing space which may in turn kill or interupt the growing of the plants the roots are attached to.

Just a shot in the dark reasoning to any theory.

Regards
Mike

1/9/2006 5:57:33 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Sunflowers are supposed to be alleopathic.

1/9/2006 8:09:00 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Allelopathic....plus its supoose to be a chemical in the seed hulls. I don't think it is an issue for a wind break.

1/9/2006 9:10:43 AM

Michigan

I was thinking of corn as a windbreak as well, and Indian corn sounds like a great idea. How far from the patch should it be planted to prevent unnecessary shading? Should it be planted just along one side of the patch? And would 3 rows be sufficient?

~Jessica

1/9/2006 11:04:59 AM

Piqua,Ohio

when planting corn of any kind the closer the seeds are spaced the weaker the stalk will be if you want stong stalks and a wind breaak is what you want plant minimun 7" apart in 30" rows and plant atleast three rows maybe 4 the more the better. so planting in hills would not be advised

1/9/2006 2:13:30 PM

Anamosa, IA BPIowegian@aol.com

Brooks,
Most field corn is bred to send out extra brace roots from the stem to hold them up in the wind. The Indian corn may or may not get those brace roots. Just depends on the seed line. About35-40 years ago I planted some Indian corn in a spot where we had buried fish guts and heads for 2 years. I kept it well watered and I ended up with 12' to 14' tall stalks with 2 ears each. One stalk had the bottom ear 8' off the ground. So if you take care of it you can have impressive results.

1/9/2006 5:10:04 PM

Ohio

Thanks! This thread helped me out alot. Linus, that was the word I was looking for "alelopathic".

Mike, your exactly on the right track with what im talking about.

Sam, Im going to plant the indian corn like you said instead of the hills.

Seems to me their hasnt been any problems with growing sunflowers next to your patch according to the posts, and I cant say if i ever heard of a plant dying because of sunflower roots.

thanks again,
Brooks

1/10/2006 11:24:22 AM

Montoursville, PA

The problem is in the seed coats. Birdfeeders over plants can kill the plants under them. Grass goes first. I have effectively killed shrub junipers. It has to be a consentration and long term not just a few seed.

4/30/2006 9:06:35 PM