| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
BrianC 
Orange Level Access
Joined: 16 Jun 2011
Location: New York
Points: 1619
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Sweet Corn
Posted: 04 Sep 2022 at 4:08pm |
My third batch of sweet corn has ear worms. About 20% of the ears are damaged. Providence variety sweet corn. Since first silks, I spray, then skip two days then spray... This year so far I have not messed up and sprayed late. I am using Garden Tech's Sevin insect killer concentrate. 4oz per gallon. Hand sprayer. I get the silks good and wet till runoff. This is a Zeta-Cypermetherin insecticide, not carbaryl.
So I am now spraying every other day.
But come on, how to stop them buggers? Anyone try the Spinosad? How about a mix of products?
I need something that a homeowner can use, no pesticide license. I want a contact insecticide, not systemic. Thanks.
|
 |
|
Sponsored Links
|
|
|
DiyDave
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Gambrills, MD
Points: 53268
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 04 Sep 2022 at 5:14pm |
Old farmer's trick was a squirt of just plain mineral oil on each silk, repeat after each rain... 
|
|
Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need!
|
|
Lars(wi)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Permian Basin
Points: 7710
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 04 Sep 2022 at 8:59pm |
|
How about pepper of some kind?
|
|
I tried to follow the science, but it was not there. I then followed the money, and that’s where I found the science.
|
|
plummerscarin
Orange Level Access
Joined: 22 Jun 2015
Location: ia
Points: 3764
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 04 Sep 2022 at 9:21pm |
|
Does planting date have anything to do with it? Our first early planting had zero problems. No chemicals post emerge. The last planting was July 4 and noticing bug damage.
|
|
DiyDave
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Gambrills, MD
Points: 53268
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Sep 2022 at 4:47am |
 plummerscarin wrote:
Does planting date have anything to do with it? Our first early planting had zero problems. No chemicals post emerge. The last planting was July 4 and noticing bug damage. |
Definitely, the later planted, the worse they get!
|
|
Source: Babylon Bee. Sponsored by BRAWNDO, its got what you need!
|
|
DMiller
Orange Level Access
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
Points: 33126
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Sep 2022 at 7:33am |
|
Our tomatoes had hornworms, could not get rid of them this year for some reason. Seems the New Formulation Sevin does little good.
|
|
tadams(OH)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Jeromesville, O
Points: 10611
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Sep 2022 at 8:21am |
I am having trouble with my late planted green beans and so far 7 has not helped.
|
|
tomNE
Orange Level
Joined: 13 Sep 2009
Location: dorchester, ne
Points: 1225
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Sep 2022 at 8:54am |
|
Location rotation?
|
|
BrianC
Orange Level Access
Joined: 16 Jun 2011
Location: New York
Points: 1619
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Sep 2022 at 11:35am |
I read that the oil in the ear tip silk is still not totally effective. My dad did it when he was a kid. But then when he was growing it for "profit", he used a spray rig. Sevin, then Lannate. The Lannate worked, but it is a restricted use systemic type.
I planted this corn 6/25. The previous two plantings were clean. I also observe the later plantings get hit harder. As for location, I am on Long Island NY. "Were grow the best sweet corn". Maybe your town grows the best also! The guy I bought my 720 garden tractor was from Ohio, west of Akron. He grows sweet corn and said he has no ear worm problems. I thought that isn't fair.
I have been growing the sweet corn 8 seasons straight in the same plot. The very first season had the ear worms also. Supposedly they migrate up from the south. I don't know if they can over winter in the soil here. I think I will plow under (instead of just disking) all the stubble after the last patch. I already shred (bush hog) it. I think I may plow again in the late winter, when not frozen and not too wet. But that will leave the ground bare for months. Late April is the earliest I can plant. Too cold and or too wet. Hum I don't know. Seems that if they don't overwinter in the soil then nothing will be gained from that plowing and exposing them to winter weather. I should call our Mr. Kimball county agent.
Does anyone know if the Spinosad insecticide works better?
|
|
Ray54
Orange Level Access
Joined: 22 Nov 2009
Location: Paso Robles, Ca
Points: 4660
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Sep 2022 at 2:06pm |
The moth stage of the little buggers seem to fly real good and can catch a lift from storm fronts and really get around. I googled corn ear worm and read what the Texas "MR. Kimball" had to say. An if any kids ever read this that ant seen a bunch of "Green Acres" TV shows that is your county extension agent , brought to you by your Land Grant University.  They be from govberment to help us poor folk. An sometime do.
I have some experience with mineral oil as a fungicide. It seemed to work Ok in a vineyard but the label says it's only good for 7 days. So if it works on the moth laying a eggs, I would guess spray every 7 days or after every rain too. We used one called Stylet oil. Made in Texas if I recall, they had 2 prices. The high dollar stuff had a organic label, and the cheaper stuff did not. But as I recall all the same stuff, if you looked at label it was highly refined mineral oil as the only ingredient on ether label.
I am not big time into organic but to spray a bug killer on my corn and then eat it a few days latter, I think I will put up with bugs.
But if you eat the bugs too your getting yourself primed for how the big wigs like Bill Gates thinks all us peons should eat anyway. |
|
steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 85532
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Sep 2022 at 4:19pm |
"SOME " of them live in the dirt over the winter, then come out in the spring and grow up, then lay eggs on the corn.. Normally the "EARLY" corn gets a pass... The eggs are later in the season and effects the "LATE" corn...
Have read the plowing the field and getting cold air to them in the winter will kill off a good portion. Always wondered about spraying BUG KILLER on the ground early winter or just before planting ... to kill anything there.??
|
|
Like them all, but love the "B"s.
|
|
DMiller
Orange Level Access
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
Points: 33126
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 05 Sep 2022 at 4:53pm |
|
Brings up a Discussion I have had with farmers around here that have relied on No Till propagation for some time. Seems the parasite issues get worse each year until they do perform a full field plowdown and roll the surface matter Under exposing more or less undisturbed soil.
|
|
BrianC
Orange Level Access
Joined: 16 Jun 2011
Location: New York
Points: 1619
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 06 Sep 2022 at 4:53pm |
My local "Ms. Kimball" says the corn earworm can overwinter here. The severity of the winter determines how many make it through. However most of the action is because of migration from the south.
She though exposing them to the cold should help. A local farmer said
that doesn't really work. Everyone says the later crops get hit the hardest. Seed suppliers and pesticide suppliers say alternate spray types. Carbaryl, then a pyrethrin, then BT.
I have read some university reports saying when the moth pressure is the worst, you could expect 20% of the corn to have an earworm (no matter how much you spray). Remember we are talking fresh sweet corn. City slicker stops at the quaint farm stand, buys the corn, gets home and finds a big worm with worm crap on the cob. They get traumatized.
I have just a garden plot. However, I use the tractors and equipment my dad left us. I plow and disk and mow with Allis 160 or Ford 3000, cultivate with Allis C. Plant with an Earthway hand push planter, spray with the 2 gallon pump up.
|
|
BrianC
Orange Level Access
Joined: 16 Jun 2011
Location: New York
Points: 1619
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 Sep 2022 at 6:58am |
Spraying every other day worked. Bug count down, about 3 out of 280 ears.
So I stopped checking into every ear. Next year I will start the 3rd batch on this schedule. Expensive.
I planted too much, spending time and effort to give it away.
|
|
Bob-Maine
Orange Level
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Central Maine
Points: 922
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: 16 Sep 2022 at 3:58pm |
|
I have heard that BT is effective. I know it works on cauliflower and broccoli.
Bob@allisdowneast
|
|
I used to think I was indecisive, but now I'm not sure.
|
|
