Vegetables - Corn
Back to Vegetables

  (July) I have sent you an odd looking piece of corn that my corn plant has produced. Instead of being all yellow, the kernels are misshapen, black and ugly. What is this? 

  Your corn has smut. Corn smut is a black, bulbous fungus which causes corn kernels to swell to many times their size. Most U.S. farmers consider it a disease, and destroy infected plants. However, the Aztecs considered it a delicacy, and it is still prized in Mexican cuisine. It has also been called Mexican truffle and maize mushroom. It can supposedly be found in gourmet markets fresh, canned and frozen. I have never eaten it, nor am I likely to, since it is not the most appetizing looking thing!

  My neighbor told me I could use mineral oil on my corn to prevent corn earworms. Does this really work, and if so, when do I start using it, how much do I use, and how often do I apply? This sounds too good to be true. 

  Mineral oil is a good way to prevent corn earworms. You begin using a drop or two right on the silks, as soon as you see the silks forming. The mineral oil acts as a physical barrier and prevents the worm from getting into the ear of corn. Normally you apply the oil once a week until the silks turn brown. Occasionally you’ll have an industrious worm that will penetrate the ear of corn further down, but for the most part this works great. Be careful not to be too heavy-handed with it, since you can prevent the ear of corn from filling out all the way if you get too much oil in there.

Back to Vegetables