Troubleshooting
Corn problems — and how to fix them
Corn (Zea mays) is generally forgiving once you match its basics, but a few issues come up again and again. Here is what each one looks like, why it happens, and the fix.
Patchy cobs
Poor pollination — plant in blocks of at least 4×4.
Corn earworm (US)
Caterpillars in the silks; a few drops of mineral oil on silk-emergence helps.
Wind lodging
Tall stalks topple; hill soil around the base.
Sweet flavour lost on storage
Sugars convert to starch within hours; eat or freeze same day.
Smut (fungal)
Grey-black galls; remove and destroy.
Prevent corn problems before they start
Most corn issues are care-mismatch, not bad luck. Dial in the basics:
Corn problems — FAQ
Why is my corn patchy cobs?
Poor pollination — plant in blocks of at least 4×4.
Why is my corn corn earworm (us)?
Caterpillars in the silks; a few drops of mineral oil on silk-emergence helps.
Why is my corn wind lodging?
Tall stalks topple; hill soil around the base.
Why is my corn sweet flavour lost on storage?
Sugars convert to starch within hours; eat or freeze same day.
Why is my corn smut (fungal)?
Grey-black galls; remove and destroy.