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What are my sweetcorn Swift doing?

Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
in Fruit & veg
The plants are growing well and there are lots of cobs swelling, but I'm also getting weird growths on all of the plants - there are several of these on each plant - what are they and should I leave them there?
Many thanks



Billericay - Essex

Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

Posts

  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731
    edited July 2018
    Do you mean the silks?
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Not the silks as such, the cob on the one above is exposed - on others there are more male flowers appearing, on others both silks and tassels forming together.
    I recall Dove had mentioned in another thread that these tillers are basically suckers, but they are terminating in these strange forms
     Androgynous corn?







    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    They do look a bit strange don't they? Ours haven't even got that far yet and as I've never grown them before, have no idea what they should look like.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    Just found this, Pete.  A bit scholarly but seems it's a lack of natural plant steroids due to a mutation in the affected plant:

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ItalophileItalophile Posts: 1,731
    The second photo is more revealing. Tillers are suckers but they don't look like the tillers I used to get. It looks more like a mutation. Very strange.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Thanks Bob and Italophile
    That looks like an interesting article Bob. Just had a quick scan as it's time for a shower and dinner, then I'll sit down with a glass of wine and let it sink in - alcohol always helps :)
    One bit that caught my eye about height - my plants are about 5' 6"...

    My first time growing them  - trust me to get something weird going on
    I'll have a read in a while
    Thanks!


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Fascinating article. :)

    I've grown Swift a few times now and have always been very pleased with them.  We're growing them this year ... no sign of tillers or anything abnormal yet ... I shall keep my beady eye on them shock

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I have swift as well. they are loving this heat , along with lots of water. They are late, but we don't want them until September.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited July 2018
    A very interesting article - thanks Bob.
    I've only given them some seaweed extract since planting (I haven't got any gibberish acid) and I'm keeping them well watered. They look healthy enough with lots of proper cobs swelling too.
    On the plus side, it means more male flowers, which is good, because the ones at the top seem exhausted and there are still new silks appearing

    I've done a bit of googling whilst sipping my wine and came across an article that calls them tassel-ears
    https://www.agry.purdue.edu/Ext/corn/news/timeless/TasselEars.html

    Further reading suggests they cause the plant no harm and they do not affect yield, but removing them decreases yield due to shock and injury to the plant.
    So I'll leave them alone and see what develops - just hope I don't wake up one night and find a mutant sweetcorn plant standing over me :)

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384
    A scene from the original 'Day of the Triffids' came to mind when I read your post! :D
    Good article.  The trigger could be anything by the looks of it - maybe UV as that causes mutations in just about any living thing.  Hope you get a great crop - nothing quite like sweetcorn fresh from the plant.   :)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
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