How to Open-Pollinate Field Corn

Growing open-pollinated corn allows farmers and gardeners to renew their seed supply by saving seed from the harvest for next year's crop. It also helps preserve varieties of corn in danger of becoming extinct, as farmers focus on high-yield hybrid varieties. Hybrid varieties are created by cross-pollinating two different species of corn. The seeds are sold to farmers and gardeners. But seeds produced by the hybrid varieties cannot be re-used in following years with the same results, requiring farmers and gardeners to purchase more seeds every year.

Instructions

- 1
  Obtain a supply of open-pollinated corn seed. You can order many varieties of open-pollinated corn from seed catalogs. You also may find local farmers who open-pollinate their corn and are willing to share or sell some of the seed.
- 2
  Plant the seeds at least 200 feet from other varieties of corn, to prevent cross-pollination. If you work with just one small garden plot, plant just one variety each year to maintain the integrity of the strain.
- 3
  Plant the seeds in several short rows instead of a few long rows, to make it easier for the corn to pollinate.
- 4
  Leave the best ears on the stalks and allow them to dry. Save the kernels for planting future crops. Store them in the freezer; they can last for several years.

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