In article ,
"Steve Peek" wrote:
"Suzanne D." wrote in message
...
I live in the southern Utah desert, zone 8-9-ish, heavy clay soil and hot
summers. I planted corn in my front yard, which previously had rather
unsuccessfully tried to be a lawn. This year, I forgot about grass, laid
drip lines, and planted it in corn.
Here are the stats of my situation:
** I planted Early Sunglow Hybrid on April 24. This variety is supposed
to grow about four feet tall, and the package gives it 68 days to harvest,
which would put it at early July.
** I planted the corn in five rows, in hills every three feet of 4-6
stalks per hill.
** Each hill has a 1/2 GPH dripper. I turn the drippers on for two or
three hours every other day.
** I keep each hill pretty well weeded around the corn, but the rest of
the yard is heavy in weeds.
** Germination was fast and successful.
** I used no amendments.
No amendments, hmmm my guess is that that is your issue.
** The stalks are about knee-high right now, and are very green and
healthy-looking.
Okay, so I went out there today and noticed that some of the stalks have
tassels! Nothing even resembling an ear or silk in sight on any of these
plants, and they are still so very tiny.
The ears will appear very soon, but with your lack of amendments won't
amount to much. Next spring work in all the organic materials you can find.
Manure should be high on your list, Put down alfalfa hay now for mulch and
turn it in in the spring. Almost nothing will grow in heavy clay without
"amendments".
Is this bad? Is it hopeless? What may have caused it? Can I help it
somehow? Can I stop it in the others? Are there baby ears down deep
where I simply cannot see them? HELP!!
--S.
I'm basically in agreement with Steve. Most plants have a tendency to
vegetate (not set fruit), if given plenty of water and a nitrogen source.
So I would suggest that you get some blood meal (high in N but low in P
and K, which help set flowers), water soluble would be best but if you
can't find it, use regular blood meal (1-2 lbs per 100sq. ft.) and let
soak in water, in the sun, for a couple of days. Strain the regular
blood meal, and apply. Cover soil, and keep it covered, with alfalfa as
mulch, and keep the soil damp. Blood meal is a little pricey, so when
you use up what you've purchased, I would fish emulsion the corn, every
2 weeks.
As soon as possible, sow garden with green manure (seeds). This will
prep your garden for next year, when you should add some amendments
(like sand, 10 - 30%, and organic matter (5 - 10%). If you follow
lasagna gardening, this will be the last time you will need to till the
soil. When not in production, continue growing green manure in your
garden area. At some point it will re-seed itself.
The other possibility, is raised garden beds, which are easier on backs,
and allows you the ability to mix the soil to specifications.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodmeal
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/l...480818532.html
--
- Billy
"For the first time in the history of the world, every human being
is now subjected to contact with dangerous chemicals, from the
moment of conception until death." - Rachel Carson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1Zunx_goz4
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/2...ra_hass_on_the