what is this?

[Robert]

Hi everyone had a off year with this new garden this year. Late frost, bad ground, voles and now my corn is "growing" funny looking kernels.
What is this and do I need to burn down the 40 plants?
It is Sweet corn none Hybrid. No other corn within a mile of me.

Thanks for your help and time,
Robert

 

[Chuck]

Hi everyone had a off year with this new garden this year. Late frost, bad ground, voles and now my corn is "growing" funny looking kernels.
What is this and do I need to burn down the 40 plants?
It is Sweet corn none Hybrid. No other corn within a mile of me.

Thanks for your help and time,
Robert

Google corn smut fungus

 

[CanadianLori]

Welcome to the forum! You just got great advice from one of the experts on this forum.

I, being new at growing anything other than hot peppers, feel fortunate to be here and I know you will too!

don't forget to add your zone and location so everyone can try to help with advice specific to your groeing area!

 

[Robert]

Lol I have heard of Smut didn't know what it was! Thanks, my wife just saw it and freaked out!

I will add my zone. Off to Google Corn Smut!

Thanks again

well that is just...odd. I did have some mushrooms show up in the soil shortly after the corn germinated. Will have have to try a different kind of heritage sweet corn next year. Don't think I will try thecorn smut. Just not my cup of tea!

 

[Beth_B]

• Holy frosted flakes, that looks alien and creepy.

Whatever Chuck said is probably spot-on.
Edit to say, that rang a bell about something I have read before and apparently corn smut is a delicacy in some circles.
http://www.eattheweeds.com/corn-smut-mexican-truffles/

 

[Chuck]

Hi everyone had a off year with this new garden this year. Late frost, bad ground, voles and now my corn is "growing" funny looking kernels.
What is this and do I need to burn down the 40 plants?
It is Sweet corn none Hybrid. No other corn within a mile of me.

Thanks for your help and time,
Robert

If you had a hundred acres of this stuff you would be rich.

On an aside, what was the variety that has the smut? And where do you live, and what type of soil?

 

[Chuck]

Lol I have heard of Smut didn't know what it was! Thanks, my wife just saw it and freaked out!

I will add my zone. Off to Google Corn Smut!

Thanks again

well that is just...odd. I did have some mushrooms show up in the soil shortly after the corn germinated. Will have have to try a different kind of heritage sweet corn next year. Don't think I will try thecorn smut. Just not my cup of tea!

The mushrooms had nothing to do with it. They are a sign of fertile soil. It is a varietal issue, especially if the varieties history came from central and/or South America

 

[IcyBC]

OMG-that looked like an alien corn! I have never seen anything like that before, but I did have good chuckle about "Corn Smut" Yikes, I would freak out too to see that!

 

[Robert]

I was going to post the corn info but didn't want to get "into trouble" for posting but after reading about corn smut and the seed company getting back to me saying that it is corn smut and is "normal" I will do so now.

I am happy with the fast response back from Baker Creek Seed. Everything I bought germinated and made it to the garden however not everything survived! Weather, soil and vermin maybe me too!

soil sucks it is missing a lot of nutrients and minerals as I have found out. But with some compost and some work next years garden should be better.

As for the corn smut I am going to have to see if I have more. A Marine Corps buddy how is Hispanic has never had or heard of it but if I can find more I just might try and sell it!

Thanks for the info and laughs!

 

[headfullofbees]

I was going to post the corn info but didn't want to get "into trouble" for posting but after reading about corn smut and the seed company getting back to me saying that it is corn smut and is "normal" I will do so now.

I am happy with the fast response back from Baker Creek Seed. Everything I bought germinated and made it to the garden however not everything survived! Weather, soil and vermin maybe me too!

soil sucks it is missing a lot of nutrients and minerals as I have found out. But with some compost and some work next years garden should be better.

As for the corn smut I am going to have to see if I have more. A Marine Corps buddy how is Hispanic has never had or heard of it but if I can find more I just might try and sell it!

Thanks for the info and laughs!

Firstly, I'd check the pH of your soil. If it's too acidic for a number of plants, then it really doesn't matter how good or poor your soil is, as nutrients will be unavailable.
If it's missing minerals, then compost is unlikely to solve that problem, I'd suggest thinking about long-term remineralisation with rockdust.

 

[Chuck]

Better do as Bees suggested. Stowell corn is not know for Smut. It is one of the better heirlooms

 

[Robert]

I will give them a try. I am "new" to heirlooms and have not been gardening for too long. Getting back into it finally.

I'm going to have the soil tested to see what it needs. I'm sure it is deficient in something the tomatoes are showing it in the size and quantity of them and the leaves are curly and some of them taste like store bought but the ones that are good OMG are they good!

I have a small battle going with a succulent that is growing like crazy. Pull and bag and pull some more like a bad rash it comes back! I will win I have to win this battle!