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Buffalo,Minnesota

I lost nearly all my corn to some kind of grub last year. It was white and about 1/4" long. Would this be caused by too much rain(40+" last summer) or did I just get some bad seed?

3/8/2003 11:48:56 PM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

was it in the actual ear, or was it in the stalk? Ambrosia did awesome for me last year.

3/9/2003 12:11:44 AM

Walton N.y.

you could have had either the corn earworm or european corn borer and lean more twords the borer spray with bt to control and don't think it was from bad seed just bugs in your area

3/9/2003 9:25:41 AM

Walton N.y.

check out the gardensalive.com site for pictures of bugs and what organic sprays help control them

3/9/2003 9:27:03 AM

Western Pa.

Here's what has always worked for me: When the silks start browning (after pollination), spray them with a little mineral oil. (just the silks) It works and is safe.

3/9/2003 10:59:55 AM

Rm, Tn

We use the mineral oil too. It works for us. Oh, for a good ear of corn,HURRY up summer!

3/9/2003 2:06:06 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

There really is nothing like muching an ear of corn so fresh that the kernal's milk sprays all over as they pop. MMMMM

3/9/2003 3:18:12 PM

Another Question: What do you do about the coons beating you to it. This is my main competition re sweet corn.?

3/9/2003 6:38:43 PM

Covington, WA

I lost nearly all mine to thieves. I haven't figured out what to spray to get rid of them so I'm moving the patch. Hey Tremor, there any pesticide to keep thieves out of the patch?

3/9/2003 8:26:48 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Three options:

1.) Electrified fences do a nice job. Just make sure it's the industrial type geared for Steer.

2.) Miller's Hot Sauce works well too. 400 times stronger than a cayan pepper. I melt a little Vaseline in a double boiler. Then while wearing rubber gloves, mix 1 part Hot Sauce with 2 parts melted Vaseline in a tin can. With a 1 inch disposable paint brush, paint any surface you think the hoodlum might touch while engaged in the thievery. Then throw the hole shooten-match away. You can't clean it anyway. It won't hurt the corn. Just don't treat the ears themselves unless your making Gumbo.
The criminal would have to wash with soap & water at least 3 or 4 times before they can touch their own face. They won't. When they touch their face, their eyes will sting as though they've been hit in the face with Police grade Pepper Spray. The capascin that Miller uses is the same stuff that is used to prepare law enforcement grade pepper spray.

3.) 12 Ga. Shotgun.

Option 1 is legal in most communities. Options 3 isn't either unless the garden is in your living room. Option 2 is also illegal because the label doesn't include human theives. But it has never been fatal here & I've used it successfully twice.

Last summer a very famous rock star had a problem with his dogs chewing up his girlfriend's new herb garden. Option 2 worked like a charm & he didn't have to explain any dead or burned (much) Dogs to his Hotty-squeeze.
Does a great job on Squirrels that try to chew bid feeders, Christmas lights, & Pumpkins too.

So Tiller, as hard as it is to beleive, I guess the answer is yes.

You know they always say, truth is stranger than fiction. LOL

Steve

3/9/2003 8:57:32 PM

i think a stake out is in store. get your shotgun and a camera. (works well to catch mail box smashers) or set out a CamTrakker (motion camera for wildlife pictures) have some fun with it. make the little clicky sounds from the movie Signs. get a bottle that attaches to the hose (like the miracle grow ones) and fill it with the pepper spray. then spray em when with it. just make sure they can't afford lawyers.

For the coons buy a trap. My grandpa is pretty handy, and he has problems with coons. He made a trap that had bait in it, and a pan of water. He had electricity hooked to the water so when a coon walked in it to get the food, they got a shock. There's so many fun options.

3/9/2003 10:25:29 PM

Buffalo,Minnesota

Yes, the grubs were in the ears, thats why we couldn`t eat them. Yuck! Just got off the phone with Don Langevin, and he thought it was earworms. He suggested dusting with sevin just after the silks start. Thanks for all the ideas to try.

3/9/2003 11:49:19 PM

New Brunswick

I use Rotenone (an organic dust that is non toxic)for those corn ear worms. Just sprinkle a light dusting on the silk as soon as it appears. You can harvest one day after dusting so it is quite safe. I just reapply after a hard rain. This stuff really works. I tried the mineral oil and it seemed to really take a lot of it....I like the dust better.

5/2/2003 3:50:37 PM