Wind-Pollinated Woes: Why Your Corn Harvest Might Be Patchy

Emily, a homesteader and TikTok user (@emilygwashington), recently shared her experience with growing corn at home. Her first harvest was perfect, but the second one showed signs of a common challenge for home growers: misshapen ears and missing kernels.

In the comments section of her video post, gardeners pointed out that pollination might be the issue. As it turns out, corn is primarily wind-pollinated, unlike many other garden plants that rely on bees and insects. If there are too few stalks or they're planted in a way that limits pollen spread, ears can develop unevenly.

Experts note that a disappointing harvest isn't always the grower's fault. Conditions outside of their control can affect crop growth. However, there are steps home growers can take to increase the chances of favorable growing conditions.

To improve pollination, gardeners can plant enough stalks close together in a block formation, allowing wind to move pollen around more effectively. For smaller plots or less-than-ideal conditions, hand-pollinating is also an option, collecting pollen from tassels and gently applying it to the silks.