Re: y2veggie
- To: v*@eskimo.com
- Subject: Re: y2veggie
- From: P*@aol.com
- Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 23:08:36 EST
- Resent-Date: Wed, 29 Dec 1999 20:08:45 -0800
- Resent-From: v*@eskimo.com
- Resent-Message-ID: <"WN10f.0.Ge.DhjQu"@mx1>
- Resent-Sender: v*@eskimo.com
In a message dated 12/29/99 4:52:22 PM Pacific Standard Time, jlw@planetc.com
writes:
<< I'm thinking I could do 2 rows, down each long edge, so the rows would
still
be maybe 30 inches apart. I know you're supposed to do at least 4 rows for
wind-pollenization purposes, but couldn't I hand-pollenate that much? And
in case it's a total loss, I would interplant it with pole beans and squash,
hoping for 2 out of 3 on the same space?
Has anybody ever tried a mad idea like this? How would you modify these
plans to be more realistic or more likely to succeed? >>
Yup, I've done it. I've had a single row of corn....and interplanted
with pole beans (the Indian way). Simply walk the row when pollen starts to
shed and shake the tassles over the silks on adjacent stalks. Do it early in
the day, while the pollen is alive, and the silk is receptive. You know, I
always did that when I had more rows too. Sometimes there isn't too much wind
during pollen shed. I never had the sparse kernels that I saw in other
gardens.
A morning thunderstorm is the greatest thing in the world during corn
pollination.
Some years ago, I visited the Andes Mountains, and the primary food crops
there were corn and beans, all interplanted... They were slow growing at that
altitude, but did quite well.
Dave Green Hemingway, SC USA
The Pollination Home Page: http://www.pollinator.com
The Gardener's Best Friend: a gift for your gardening friends:
http://members.aol.com/PotGold/gardencalendar.htm
