Tassels snapping

[trents]

I've never had this happen before. My sweetcorn tassels have fully emerged and silks are now appearing. Plants are taller than I am and look vigorous. I went to the garden today to check things and found that on half my corn plants the tassels are broken and bent over. They don't look like they have been chomped on and there's no obvious signs rot or disease. See pic. This has happened since yesterday! I live in western Washington state, hardiness zone 8a-8b. Temps have been moderate with highs in the 70's and 80's. Some gusty winds up to a max of maybe 20-25 mph. But no broken corn stalks. What can cause this?

 

[Meadowlark]

Welcome @trents

The obvious answer would be winds and/or other environmental stress...but it seems you haven't had those. Sure looks like wind to me.

 

[oneeye]

I've never had this happen before. My sweetcorn tassels have fully emerged and silks are now appearing. Plants are taller than I am and look vigorous. I went to the garden today to check things and found that on half my corn plants the tassels are broken and bent over. They don't look like they have been chomped on and there's no obvious signs rot or disease. See pic. This has happened since yesterday! I live in western Washington state, hardiness zone 8a-8b. Temps have been moderate with highs in the 70's and 80's. Some gusty winds up to a max of maybe 20-25 mph. But no broken corn stalks. What can cause this?

You may have gotten some hail as well as wind damage.

 

[Heirloom farmer1969]

Alot of my first planting tassels looked just like yours.
I noticed most of mine was always as @Meadowlark said after a big wind storm.
It seems it never hurts the corn is one good thing as I had a very good harvest.