Corn Pollination question

[macmex]

Photos are terrible for showing the perspective of depth. June, did you hill your corn?

[heavyhitterokra]

June,
That corn is beautiful!

[june]

Well, thank you heavyhitterokra.  I saw pictures of the NRJ and fell in love with it.  It originates in the 4 Corner's (Navajo) and the 2nd Mesa (Hopi) regions.  I searched for a year to find seeds...only found a couple of sources in the entire country and my seeds came from the 'only pure strain in the country' (so I was told).  I had to jump through hoops to get them, so I don't want to screw it up.  A couple of things I will probably do differently in the future, but so far things are going OK.  It is a very finicky corn, not suited for most parts of the country.

George, I did not start with furrows, but I'm trying to hill it up as much as possible as I go alone.  I'm still dealing with shoulder issues and can't use any tool that requires two hands....I'm doing pretty good, considering...that, and way too many birthday candles on my cake.

[macmex]

For years I've tried to take a photo showing hilling, whether it be a hill for sweet potatoes or hilled corn. Can't ever get a photo to show it. Somehow pictures don't give sufficient depth to the beholder.

I understand about physical limitations. That's tough.

[june]

UPDATE: Navajo Robin's Egg corn planted April 1 (in OKC) is just starting to tassel.  We've had high wind and heavy rain--NRE does not seem damaged at all.  It is a short corn--at present about mid-thigh high.  Leaves are a beautiful variegated.  My soil is sandy and very well drained  (over red sandstone bedrock)  NRE is a desert corn.  So far, no animal damage.

[june]

I've been told that striping is not a normal trait of this corn--it is probably caused by a soil deficiency--which does not surprise me.  My soil is very poor quality.  I'm just happy that the corn is alive and growing...others in areas that get more rain, have said they could not grow it.

[heavyhitterokra]

I've never seen striped corn stalks before. I like that trait.

[june]

LOL....I like it, too, heavyhitterokra...at least I did until a 'corn guru' told me that its not suppose to be that way--the stripes are apparently caused by a mineral deficiency in my very poor soil.  (I still like it....maybe everybody with poor soil should grow it!)

[chrysanthemum]

I like it as well, I admit, but I had some striping like that when my corn needed feeding. As I recall I mixed up some watering cans with fish fertilizer for the nitrogen as well as Epsom salts for magnesium and sulfur, and the corn definitely greened up. I don’t know which addition did it, or if it was the combination. Mine was just a tiny plot, sixteen square feet, so it didn’t take much to make a difference.

June, did your “corn guru” give you any advice on how to proceed?

[june]

Chryanthemum, I fed my corn once while it was fairly small.  I have everything I need to do it again.

No advice from the 'guru'--but she did post last year that she 'cannot' grow Navajo Robin's Egg corn in her area (New York) because it rusts so badly from too much moisture.

I'm just happy that mine is alive and growing--period.  I will feed it again first thing tomorrow.

[june]

Navajo Robin's Egg corn seems happy enough--which makes me happy!

[june]

My 2nd variety, Oklahoma Cherokee Sallu Yah, planted near-by but 30 days later.  Cross pollination should not be a problem since there is no sign of tasseling yet on the Sallu Yah.

[macmex]

Looking great, June! I agree. Looks like you're good. Beautiful! 

[chrysanthemum]

Those do look wonderful, June. Thanks for posting pictures. They make me happy, too!

[hmoosek]

Spectacular!