How to Pull Side Stalks From Growing Corn

Many gardeners subscribe to the belief that removing the suckers that grow from the base of the cornstalk produces a bountiful crop of large, juicy ears. Some experts, such as R.L. (Bob) Nielsen from the Agronomy Department at Purdue University disagree, while others such as the AgriLife Extension say its not necessary, but stop short of saying there is no benefit from the practice. Abundant suckers, or tillers, signal favorable growing conditions with abundant nutrients. Farmers who remove the suckers in such conditions may attribute an abundant crop to removing the suckers, when it may simply reflect optimal growing conditions.

Instructions

1. • 1

     Grasp the sucker where it attaches to the main stalk. Typically suckers form near the base of the corn's stalk. If allowed to grow these tillers are capable of forming roots of their own. Under adverse conditions where the main stalk has been damaged, suckers may overtake the damaged stalk and produce corn.

   • 2

     Pull outward quickly to snap the stem where it joins the stalk. The object is to break the sucker away from the stalk, not pull it up from the roots. Pulling upward, instead of outward, may uproot the main stalk.

   • 3

     Discard suckers in the compost bin. Large suckers may need to be cut or broken into smaller pieces so they will compost quickly.