DOUBLE Your Corn Harvest from a Small Garden with this TRICK

In this video I reveal a little trick for getting more corn from however much corn you plant in your small garden. For a long time I'd plant a smaller bed of corn and was disappointed with how the ears wouldn't fill out fully because of poor pollination. Using this method you can get ears full of kernels all the way to the tip.
There's nothing better that sweet corn in summer, except maybe getting more of it out of the same space.

[@stephenjohn6850]

Thanks. I watched this video last year and used this technique. It works great for a smaller sized garden. I got every corn fully pollinated

[@HardcoreSustainable]

That's great to know that people are using it and it's working for them. Thanks for coming back to let us know it worked for you.

[@christophergranthem5983]

@@HardcoreSustainable one trick that works is the hill method where you plant the corn 5 - 7 seeds in a circle elevated slightly, itll self pollinate cus the corn is close together, the hopi people did this

[@HardcoreSustainable]

@@christophergranthem5983 I've planted corn that way in the past as well. It would be more likely to get pollinated I think.

[@christophergranthem5983]

@@HardcoreSustainable yeah you dont have to worry about the corn bein too close on the hills just space them like an inch apart, theyll naturally space out, further improving this is the 3 sisters method, plant some peas around the corn hills then plant either watermelon or sqaush or maybe lettuce in the middle of the hills, the squash/watermelon/lettuce will shade the ground, the peas will supply nitrogen and the corn will be a trelis for the peas

[@HardcoreSustainable]

@@christophergranthem5983 I planted beans with corn several years ago but they made a great ladder for rats to get up to the corn. I've stopped doing that. Maybe peas would be better. I think beans is the traditional 3 sisters climbing crop since they are an American native.

[@shaunvernonkenney]

Finally -- a video that advertises "one neat trick" that actually matters.

[@NS56sn]

Best comment yet

[@EleanorPeterson]

Excellent advice. It might be worth mentioning for any peeps new to gardening that the big rice-sized brown bits that fall onto the newspaper from the tassels are not the corn's pollen; they're the factories that produce it. The actual pollen is an almost invisible 'dust' that blows off them in vast quantities. So don't feel that you need to collect those big seed-like things in order to pollinate the silks. Lightly tapping them over your newspaper will produce (literally) tens of millions of microscopically tiny pollen grains, and puffing these across the young cobs is all that's needed to do the job, even though you may not be able to see any actual pollen as you do it. 🙂

[@ericargento4429]

Thank you for your very timely advice I was just posing the question internally about the size of corn pollen and the next thing I read was your information perfect timing thank you very much 👌👍😎

[@rebeccamarkey2760]

Thank you for this! Hand pollinated this year and was totally wondering when/where the actual pollen was, as I have seen the fine dust before. Wasn't sure if the brown tassels held them within or not and when they would open to show the dust. Again, great info!

[@amandawilson8935]

Thank you for clarifying that!! I was wondering why the pollen was so huge! LOL!

[@AaronLimberger]

Love how a corn video starts with a garlic montage

[@waynekitchen7134]

You are so hilarious 😂😂😂 Lol 😂😂😂...

[@lisacooper1201]

THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR TECHNIQUES WITH HAND POLLINATING CORN!!!😃 I'M A BEGINNER GARDNER AND I PLANTED ABOUT 9-10 🌽 CORN JUST TO SEE IF I REALLY COULD GROW SOME CORN IN A POT🤓🌽🌽🌽SO NOW I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO SEE HOW THEY TURN OUT!!! EITHER WAY, I'M ENJOYING LEARNING SO MUCH ABOUT GARDENING!!!😄🙋🏽‍♀️🙏🏽👑✝️📖🔥

[@williamadams9318]

I was very much interested in what you were talking about at the end of your video. I grew up farming. I saw the beginning of chemical farming, and suffered the cancer related effects also. I'm retired in florida, but still have an interest in our family farm. I now garden organic . To an extreme. I see the need for every man to contribute to food growth, city or country dweller. While I don't need instructions at my age, education brush ups are important. We need what our forefathers had. A life centered about and around agriculture!

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Well said! I think if people had more of a connection to their food they wouldn't waste it so much and they would find a meaning to their lives that has been lost to urbanization. It's definitely happening to some degree with the local foods movement, but as with most things these days, it is an uphill battle against detachment from nature.

[@L3TTUC3prey]

... a family that grows together stays together! Think about how uninterested in the garbage that's on TV anymore these days, and mind numbing video games so many more kids would be if they had something like this to be a part of. There's endless life lessons to be learned on a farm of any size, and I think there's a lot to be said about our recent generations losing touch with that experience. I enjoyed this, keep em coming 👍

[@grannybee6805]

@@L3TTUC3prey I agree with you about the TV. The important things in life are to be found here on You Tube from people who are like minded share their knowledge with others.

[@yeboscrebo4451]

“Cultivators of the earth are the most valuable citizens. They are the most vigorous, the most independent, the most virtuous, and they are tied to their country and wedded to its liberty and interests by the most lasting bonds.” -Thomas Jefferson

[@glennmiller8880]

I fully agree with you about organic growing. I have long been a proponent of green manure. I was raised Amish and a love for the earth was instilled in me, while I have left that part of my life behind I still believe in being green. I keep trying to convert farmers to adopt the green manure method, as it would build up the soil and allow air and water to reach the roots. I am talking about planting buckwheat and when it reaches about 8 to 10 inches high you deep plow it under and plant plant a second crop of buckwheat. And again when it reaches 8 to 10 inches high you deep plow it under, and plant again only this one you allow to over winter. In the spring you plant your corn, and your harvest will double. The reason being that buckwheat is the best nitrogen fixer known to man, it fixes nitrogen into the soil as it decomposes. At the same time it breaks up the soil allowing water and air to penetrate, it also helps control weeds and pests. If you have clay soil the green manure method will change it over time into productive blackish soil. And if you have Sandy soil this method will add vegetable matter to the soil, allowing it to retain water. This is the best way to double your harvest organically. Thank you

[@brandong.5514]

What the hell? This guy actually just gets to the point?? That's refreshing. Subbed!

[@OvGraphics]

My Golden Queen corn is dandy now principally due to the Safer BT spray I have been doing for the last 3 years or so. However...a new fly in the ointment that's been worrying me a bit. My neighbor planted field corn not 100 feet away. I think I escaped last year. My solution was supposed to have been planting to miss his pollination period....but that didn't really work out. His corn was kinda slow and mine was kinda fast so both still tassled at the same time. I guess the prevailing wind saved me. Now, hand pollinating...beating his corn to the punch...that's a neat idea and one I would never have thought of. SUPER thanks HS! GREAT job!! I'll do it! One fellow below suggested the tap with a stick method. I'll have about 7 rows 60 feet long...I think I'll have a go with that. Heck, just shouldering through that stuff when it really gets popping stirs up yellow clouds. (Sneeze!)

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Yes, if you can get to the corn early in the day and get all those silks pollinated as soon as they come out, you won't get crossing. You've got a lot of corn though. Glad you found the video useful.

[@uprightfossil6673]

Six years later and I am just finding out about hand pollination. Now…it’s time to plant some corn finally this year. I hope I remember to do this when the time comes. Cheers and thanks.

[@victoriaoshea4865]

I always wondered why I never had success with corn! Thank you very much

[@VK-qo1gm]

This Channel just popped up, I watched out of curiosity to the end. Enjoy the no nonsense approach & great info. I also enjoyed reading the comments which had so many helpful tips & advise. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Just subbed, Thank you 👍🇦🇺

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Glad you enjoyed it and got some useful info. Welcome!

[@dudleydorite7678]

Mom the neighbor is showing his corn the morning newspaper again

[@tyndaleisrael6058]

a blower also works, maybe not as good, but if you have a lot of corn or tomatoes

[@estelltabor4692]

When the silk turns from white to red that shows that its already pollinated. Its is still a good practice to do when the corn is thin and the first row that the prevailing wind hits 1st. A good shake works good too. It looks like your corn is in need of nitrogen. A good time to side dress is when its knee high and again when the silk 1st shows. After that pray for rain or water if you can. Good video.

[@VK-qo1gm]

Estel, Thank you!

[@sandrarichardson2713]

I played around with gardening off and on and got ok results. But now I want to really learn much about gardening correctly. I believe this video is one of the things that will make harvest time so much more fulfilling. Thanks and Jesus bless.

[@seannovillo2110]

i like useing the pollen in the coffie bean grinder then useing a straw and blowing it on the silks.

[@jimlongino8420]

I've found it easier to just grab a top and touch it to the silks directly and when it looks used up grab another top. I've had great success doing this for 20+ years with sweet corn.

[@HardcoreSustainable]

That's another way to do it, but you don't always have tassels producing corn right next to silks that are receptive. With this method you can take pollen from whatever tassels are producing, and transfer them to whichever silks are receptive to pollen.

[@colleenzilligen9319]

Thank you so much. Out of all the you tube gardening channels your is the first I've seen regarding corn. Gonna try this tomorrow morning!!😊

[@katalew6688]

I came to your site because of the headline. I clicked subscribe because of the great opening music. Time and your content will determine if I will stay subscribed. Here's hoping that I do!

[@jonathansheats3583]

Thank you brother for actually posting a real tip to help those of us that desperately want to learn how to improve our gardens. I appreciate you taking the time to make this video and I am about to subscribe to your channel after watching this one tutorial. Thank you.

[@patricktreece9188]

I walk around and tap each stalk with a stick so the pollen falls onto the silk.

[@justasplash380]

That's very smart of you. When I lived in Murfreesboro, TN, a farmer in Illinois told me about your idea. It's definitely good to know. Good luck if you're planting again this year. The weather has been killing my sprouts this year.😢

[@lizadelacruz2971]

@@justasplash380 im planting 30 red corns and theyre growing the heat in phillipines changes everytime

[@billcat1840]

I shake the tassels 😅

[@ChrissyGodcallsmeBeloved]

Glad I found this video, I have never had a full ear of corn. Now I know how to better my chances.

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Good luck to you. I know it works!

[@simonjack8122]

Putting paper bags on over night and then flicking the bag in the morning will help get alot more pollen, works really well

[@HardcoreSustainable]

yes you could do that and you wouldn't lose any pollen. smacking the bag before taking it off would help.

[@ws2228]

Thats the way research companies do it, but timing is critical.

[@crystalmenzyk941]

I have watched alot of the corn pollination videos but this is one is my favorite way of doing it thank you for the show

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Pinkenstein]

Oh wow, this really makes my upcoming first attempt at corn so much less intimidating! Thank you so much for sharing this!

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Good luck with it! Sweet corn is delicious when you pick it fresh from the garden.

[@Pinkenstein]

Hardcore Sustainable That's what I keep hearing. As much as we love the store-bought stuff, I can't wait to see for myself what the real stuff tastes like! It'll be so fun to be able to start the grill and walk over to the corn patch and just pick what we need right when we need it. I'm also planting a block of Glass Gem on the other end of our yard, because we go through a ton of microwave popcorn, and I'd love to be able to just scoop some beautiful kernels out of a glass jar and pop it on the stove. No more chemical bath "movie theater" junk! And I think the wacky colors and shapes of all the heirlooms should spark more interest in the kids to get involved in the garden. I hope it works!! With this pollination tip, I think it will; It makes perfect sense. How often should I do this per season, and what should I look for to know it's go-time?

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Just be careful about the pollen mixing between sweet and popcorn though. Different dates to harvest can help for different varieties. And don't let the raccoons steal it all if they are in your area.

[@Pinkenstein]

Hardcore Sustainable Oh, they are! Along with opossum, armadillo, rabbit, coyote, and all kinds of birds. I have some panels made of 2x4 and chicken wire, but they'll be worthless against climber and fliers. I'll have to figure out how to guard it. Maybe some kind of netting? I have so much more to learn!

[@gillisdanos9354]

My first year as well. So glad I found this.

[@thuytrangle5033]

My first time growing corn and No wonder my corn was missing kernel and was wondering what I did wrong. Thank you for the tip! I will do this next year.

[@stcroixman2002]

very experienced sweet corn gardener here...as long as you are block planting 200 seeds plus, hand pollination not needed. 200 seeds is a pretty small plot when you do the planting math and/or actually plant the seeds...always plant in blocks, never rows. If you have to plant in a couple long rows for some reason by all means follow this procedure..

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Thanks. Yeah I don't have the space for 200 plants of a single variety. I plant less than 50 of each kind and have a bed system in my garden. Of course, I'm kind of giving up on corn now because I can't figure out a way to keep my corn from the raccoons. I've tried everything.

[@cheesekake1841]

@@HardcoreSustainable Have you tried to use a "motion detector sprinkler" to deter animals? We have two of the "Orbit Yard Enforcer Motion-Activated Sprinkler with Day & Night Detection" and they seemed to work last season. I hope you can find a solution.

[@HardcoreSustainable]

@@cheesekake1841 thanks for the suggestion. I haven't tried that yet. I'm open to anything. I could just see the raccoons bathing happily in the spray when it comes on.

[@cheesekake1841]

@@HardcoreSustainable 🤣

[@winterwolf2012]

Great, thanks from the Florida Keys.

[@hyacynthlily5527]

Great tip👍

[@mandimelton1090]

Awesome video!

[@aprilrose3506]

Wow! Thank you for this tip!

[@dirtpatcheaven]

Beautiful!

[@stevenmcgarva574]

Great video, well detailed.

[@newwavepressure6478]

First timer here thanks for the video

[@mferrarorace]

Thank you for the great tips!

[@nunnehiroots4289]

I loved this video! Thank you!

[@justagirllookingup]

Perfect! Thanks for the quick tip. 😁

[@TammyLetterman]

Wow!!! Never even thought of that! Thank you!

[@mborges2133]

Excellent info, thank you!

[@PhuongHuynh-qm5th]

Awesome home setup and thanks for the tip!

[@AAHomeGardening]

Thanks for the tip

[@funmonsterUK]

Thanks for the tip... i will give it a try this season :)

[@leeh6705]

Genius!! Thanks for sharing your tips 😉

[@marxman6924]

WOW!! YOU REALLY BLESSED ME!! THANKS !!

[@thelittlegardenthatcouldok9130]

Just came across this, really helpful!!

[@pinkguadalupe]

Can’t wait to try this season

[@grandmananners]

Fantastic! Thank you!

[@broken10100]

Wow this is amazing!

[@smalltown9052]

Thank you so much 😁 going to do this to mine.

[@RM-yf2lu]

Great content...will try it today!

[@suzannakoizumi8605]

I had no idea! Thanks.

[@fraservalleychris2958]

Cool! I had no idea that's how it worked. Thanks for a great video!

[@x21gokartracing]

I appreciate the tip, thank you

[@healthyrootsstrongwings538]

Thanks for the info! I didn't know this yet. Will try next season on my sweetcorn :)

[@Leigh_Leigh]

Cool idea!!👍🏼

[@fruitytarian]

Thankyou for this video. I look forward to trying this when I next plant corn 😊

[@dovelady3am815]

I'm way up north. It's hard to "corn" in zone 3/4 especially for newbie gardeners like me! I watch these videos and apply the wisdom, my attempt at corn is developing great because I shook my tassels EVERY day until there was no more pollen. We have good wind, but not everyday.

[@tarafox6618]

I live in zone 2. Last year I started my seed early in my house. It worked great to transplant the new plants into my garden. Now this year, after watching this manual pollination trick, should be even more successful.

[@dovelady3am815]

It worked out BTW. A great crop, I saved a bunch❤

[@luftwicker07]

Very cool trick. Thanks for the tip.

[@veefriend4201]

Yep, I'm going to hand pollinate. This is what I understand you to say, please correct me if I'm wrong. Shake all pollen tassels into a paper bag (or whatever). Do not pollinate each corn plant with its own pollen. This in order to get diversity. Then pollinate the silk.

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Yep, that's right. I will decide which silks I want to pollinate and then collect pollen from plants that are farther away from them. Then I'll take pollen from those plants I just pollinated and pollinate the ones that were farther away.

[@veefriend4201]

@@HardcoreSustainable Right on, thank you.

[@cheesekake1841]

@@HardcoreSustainable Very well, Thank you. This is what we will do with our corn this year. Last year we tried to grow corn first time and it was an epic FAIL. First because we planted corn too late, second we planted in a not ideal area, third we tried to hand pollinate but did it wrong. This year we put the corn beds in a better location with more sunlight and we'll try your method so hopefully we'll have a better harvest. Thanks for this video! 🙏

[@HardcoreSustainable]

@@cheesekake1841 Good luck!

[@williamwoody7607]

Excellent insight-thank you.

[@robertinowongsodimedjo13]

great idea

[@blessed2bloved354]

Awesome video! Thank you for sharing ❤️

[@REALBanannaman]

Great tip, I really appreciate you sharing.

[@terryli340]

Thanks for sharing.

[@SolidGoldShows]

Good to know. Thanks you for sharing mate!

[@janicesatterwhite8540]

That was really helpful. Thanks.

[@abnervalbuena9774]

I learned that I can do the same with a rooster’s feather. It yields the polen. Nice video, short and directs, as it should be.

[@jonathan_wasilewski]

Amazing Video! I liked it very much. :)

[@elizabethhicks9844]

Gonna try that this year...thank you for the hint

[@HealthyLivingWithWendy]

Thank you for sharing 💟

[@VeryMuchBlessed]

Cool tip. Thanks much for making this video.

[@maccliff2115]

Right to the point and great visual of how to to do it.

[@devildestiny555]

That's a beautiful place to be growing... :)

[@countingthecosttofollowChrist]

That was very helpful. Thanks!!!

[@DroneWolfMedia]

Great tip. Thanks for sharing!

[@ze-germans-r-coming]

I have planted just a few corn seeds in my garden for the first time this year. I would probably not have had ANYTHING out of it. Now i stand a chance :)

[@2fluffy2bunny]

Great idea. thanks

[@howtowithhank4791]

great video Dan, keep it up!

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Thanks for the support!

[@lennox7647]

wonderfully done straight to the point

[@viscache1]

On our small homestead we can make about $1,000 from the corn we grow on our 10 acres. We purposefully infect with corn smut. The harvest is a highly desirable organic fungus that tastes like an extraordinary mild English Truffle. We can sell our entire crop form our tiny farm to local restaurants for just under $30,000. This means the difference between feeding our sheep over the Winter or eating them and selling them for meat.

[@HardcoreSustainable]

That's great. You must be close to a good market for your product. I used to work at a project that was experimenting with growing huitlacoche for sale to restaurants like you are talking about. Unfortunately we are about 3 hours drive from any market that would value corn smut for a high value.

[@sweethometreasures]

Cool! Thanks for sharing! We'll be trying this out next month 😎🙌

[@peggygilbertsen9099]

Thanks for this info. Very clear and concise. Your land and garden is beautiful.

[@peterlynchchannel]

I love that method of blowing pollen out of a folded newspaper, great demonstration! You can also gently bend a corn plant over and use it's flower to dust the silks on the plants around it. Or just walk a long tapping the plants so that the pollen falls off onto it's surroundings. I like to hand pollenate cucurbits too, using a q tip or even just a finger.

[@HardcoreSustainable]

You could do those things, but this allows you to maximize the pollen you do get to pollinate the most silk possible. If you just tap the plants some pollen falls on the silks and most on the ground. Bending a stalk over might break the stalk and then you won't get any more pollen from it the next day or the day after. And you can only pollinate the ears within reach of the stalk. With my method you collect all the pollen and direct it onto the silks, so you are sure each kernel is developing in every ear you pollinate. And with pollen from one tassel, I can pollinate several ears throughout the bed of corn.

[@homesteadpilgrim]

Great video. I'm starting my first corn plot here this year.

[@kimothy777]

great thank you so much. I'm going to try this tomorrow

[@patriciasimmon6854]

Thanks Adler Farms! Hope your day goes smoothly. 💕from Ky.

[@michellemarkham1816]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I'm growing corn for the first time this year and I had heard of this but had no idea how to do it. Thanks!

[@sandracarter15]

Just wow ur the man!!

[@benglim226]

Very handy will be growing some corns soon.

[@mylesstandridge1111]

good info, I'll try it this year. A great big thank you for keeping the video short! Seems everyone wants to talk on and on for at least 12 minutes.

[@luke021380]

I liked the milkweed at the start of the video. Some nice buildings on your lot also.

[@tomfisher3117]

Wonderful video! Thanks!

[@ohioladybug7390]

Thank you for the information. We are adding sweet corn for the 1st time this coming spring so this will be handy. You are an expert to me 😉

[@julessanchez9216]

Great tip !! Very nice garden, hope that you have a great harvest !

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Thanks, I'm glad it was helpful to you!

[@ManzanitaStarwood]

I’ve done this in my small garden and it was a fun as well as hopefully useful activity

[@muddymississippientertainm7285]

Thanks for this information I hope it makes a huge difference

[@doraw7766]

Excellent. Thank you.

[@kathybluxome5514]

Thank you for this great tip!

[@HardcoreSustainable]

Glad you found it useful!

[@maximusfiya]

Very helpful and educational thanks

[@nikkil764]

Just found you. Great video.