Sweet Corn Worms

[37 chief]

My sweet corn is doing great. Some of it is 7 ft. tall. Without being watered here in Calif is almost not possible. We haven't had any measurable rain since April. Most people here now days don't realize farming was done without crops being watered around here for years.Sometimes Dad had good crops, sometimes not so good. Anyway as for worms what is a good way to keep them out of my corn? My watermelons,and melons are also doing great .Stan

 

[Brian Schmidt]

Couple ways to go about it based on your preference. Pesticides or soapy water. If you can water your crop, plumb up a way to inject dish soap into the water. Then just turn it on and you are covered.

 

[State of Jefferson]

You must be a ways south of me, as my corn is just barely above knee high. But finally coming along.

I haven't tried it yet, but I understand mineral oil on the silks deters ear worms. Also there is a natural pesticide that come from a natural occuring bacteria, BTK. You can order it form Johnny's Sellect seed. They sell me all my seed. Prompt delivery even to us west coasters. And good products.

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-5989-dipel-df-og-1-lb.aspx

Also, a quick Google search turned this up for me...

http://www.pfi.iastate.edu/ofr/Crops/SA14_Protecting_Sweet_Corn_from_Corn_Earworm_w_Oil_and%20Btk.pdf

Good luck, and let us know what works for you.

Ben

 

[Mike Aylward]

We were told a few years ago that a good way to control ear worms in sweet corn was to put mineral oil on the silks just after pollination. We tried it and it worked. Just be careful and do it after pollen shed. It will affect filling if you do it too soon. Mike

 

[gitrib]

Farmers Market grower use these little parisites to control Sweet corn ear worms here in Oklahoma.
gitrib
Worm killers

 

[cadet trooper]

Does the dish soap make your ears squeaky clean? Sorry, I couldn't help myself on such a serious issue. LOL

 

[wfw]

I have had good results by spraying dipel or thuricide on the ears. they are a bacteria that attacks the worms digestive tract and paralyzes it, thus they cannot eat anything else and die. works good on cabbage loopers also. will not harm people,birds, cats, dogs, etc. just worms. this bacteria is where the gene came form that has been spliced into some typs of field corn with success. hope this helps.

frank

 

[Brian Schmidt]

No, but it makes me hear better... LOL....