Corn in the backyard 2011, weeks 9 & 10

 July 17

Height = 101 inches

Last week growing degree days = 199

Historical average growing degree days = 175

Growing degree days since planting = 1454

Historical average since planting = 1327

 July 24

Height = 101 inches

Last week growing degree days = 254

Historical average growing degree days = 180

Growing degree days since planting = 1708

Historical average since planting = 1507

The week preceding July 17 was warmer than average, and found the corn stalks pushing 11 inches higher despite the plant's need to push energy into pollinating and growing ears.  The corn should have passed the pollination midpoint during that week although my amateur observations failed to recognize clues of that event.  The following week was much warmer than average as evidenced by the 254 growing degree units recorded in just seven days.  Unfortunately, hot weather during the pollination cycle could be disastrous for the plant.  Dry heat can stress a plant that doesn't have access to sufficient moisture, and the stress can limit the effectiveness of the pollination. Any ovules not fertilized during the short pollination window will not form kernels, and if the kernels are limited, the harvest is poor.

This is one of the stalks on the 17th showing a major ear and minor ear, both with healthy silks.  The plant was not exhibiting signs of stress as far as I could tell.

In this picture, that same stalk is to the left of center and doesn't look a lot different than before other than the silks have started to turn brown, indicating they've done their job, and kernels should be forming.  After almost a week of no rain, and temperatures over 90 F everyday, God blessed us with over an inch of rain on the 24th.  Hopefully that's sufficient to ward off stress in the short term until the weather returns to a more normal pattern.  Check back again next week to find out if normal kernel development continues!