I think I have exploding smutty balls...

Nollie

...on my sweetcorn  Just found this near the top of a plant in the middle of the block, so it’s escaped my notice until now (also I am well overdue new specs). Looking in my Hessayon, he describes a growth called a Smut Ball -  large balls/galls caused by hot and dry weather. Odd, since we have had a lot of rain over the last couple of months, they are well watered when it’s dry, get a regular feed and it’s actually quite humid here now.

Is that what this is do you think? Have disposed of the offending ball in the rubbish bin, but will the rest of my crop be ok this year? I have some really good cobs developing and would hate to lose them.

Dovefromabove

I'd never come across them Nollie, but then the weather has been unusually hot.

I found this on the interenet, if it's of any use   https://www.indianaprairiefarmer.com/corn/corn-produces-progeny-even-when-smut-attacks

I'd better go out and check my sweetcorn ............. 

Nollie

Thanks for the link, Dove, some weird and wonderful photos, but also reassurance I might be ok with the rest of the crop. That’s the odd thing, we has a cooler than usual start to the season here, we did go through a dry patch but then lots of rainstorms. I used to grow sweetcorn in a much hotter and drier climate than my current one and never seen it before.

Dovefromabove

They do look amazing don't they 

Nollie

Yes, weirdly fascinating! 

Obelixx

Ours have done that too and it turns out the unaffected cobs have badly formed kernels and are dry despite having 2 years' worth of rain up to late June and regular watering since.   Shan't bother again.  Last year's crop was even worse cos of the year long drought but at least we didn't have the galls. 

Nollie

That’s a shame, @Obelixx, I wonder if mine will be the same. Nothing like a fresh corn on the cob. Mine were doing really well last year, until the cobs got eaten before I could pick them 

Papi Jo

I had this horrible-looking thing on my sweet corn when I grew them many years ago when I lived in la Vendée. In French it's called "le charbon du maïs" and it does look (and feel) like powdered charcoal. Fortunately only some of the cobs are affected and you can still safely eat the un-affected cobs. Can't remember what the weather had been like at that time, though.

Nollie

Thanks Papi Jo - there is hope then, unless they get eaten again. Think it may have been mice - our cats are always shirking their mousing duties.

Obelixx

Thanks for that Papi Jo.  Definitely won't try again.  We're going to pull up the plants and give the unaffected cobs to the birds.

Lizzie27

Ugh, they look like aliens!  Hope my sweetcorn doesn't get them. Beginning to get quite excited as four of them have the tasselly thingies (first time I've grown them), but apparently they might take another month to develop according to my veg book.