Zea mays

Back in February I was given 11 little corn plants from the farmers' market along with some beautiful little dwarf green beans. I planted these in an alternating zig-zag pattern in a spot that I realized only afterwards was not quite as sunny as I'd hoped, but all of the corn survived and only one of the beans didn't, so I think they're doing all right!

15 February, 2015
heirloom variety of corn, Zea mays, interplanted with dwarf green beans and some edible, red celosia at the end
photo by Lydia Green

Less than two months later and they're already blooming! Although, there are no pretty flower petals to attract pollinators because corn is essentially wind (or human!) pollinated.

08 April, 2015
the little cuties grew!
photo by Lydia Green

Corn is monoecious, meaning it has both male and female flowers on the same plant. 

08 April, 2015
pollen-bearing anthers on a tassle of Zea mays
photo by Lydia Green

The tassles up at the top are the male flowering parts and the little ears with silky bits coming out the top are the female flowering parts. 

08 April, 2015
silk leading to the ovules which will become kernels on an ear of Zea mays when successfully pollinated
photo by Lydia Green

Each silk strand connects to an ovule which, if pollinated, will develop into a corn kernel. If not pollinated, no corn. This is why it's sometimes recommended to plant corn in blocks, so that the pollen will be more likely to land on the silks. You can also hand pollinate if you time things right in the morning, post-dew, by taking a tassle of pollen-bearing anthers (that are fully open!) and brushing them onto the silks of the ears. The ears appear slightly after the tassles, so you've got to wait a bit for both to be there!