Farmer in the Making Week #12

If you will remember last week we had tassels and silks and were excited to see something new in My Little Farmer's corn field.  The tassels are still shedding pollen.

My little farmer thinks it is fun to see if he can hide in the corn field and the boys even played a little game of Marco Polo.

The silks haven't grown any longer which we have been told is a good thing.  As I understand it, the silk will stop growing when it gets pollinated.

My little farmer couldn't wait to pull back the shucks and see what was hidden beneath the green.

He was careful to try to not pull the silks when he opened up the shucks.

Look!  Baby kernels of corn!!

After the corn field, we went to check on the milo that My Little Farmer helped plant.  I love that he is right there with dad checking the seedlings just coming through.  We also had a little farm friend visiting from California who followed along to see what was going on.  His family hosted Flat Aggie the first year and has also shared about their family's almond trees.

If you would like to know more about what goes on with corn pollination, I found this great article this week. I learned quite a bit reading it and it gave me an idea of what to look for next week.

What would you like to see next week?

-A Kansas Farm Mom

Farmer in the Making Corn Week #11

This week's corn report is a bit late.  We have been busy in the wheat field, the boys and I went on the State 4-H Geology Field Trip and we have been planting soybeans.  I also wanted to wait until we saw something new and exciting in the field.  We have tassels!!!!!  The brace roots now have roots on top of the brace roots.  The corn looks a lot different than last week.

Here's a picture of a set of brace roots just starting, so you can see it a little better.  This was pretty exciting to my little farmer in the making.

He also has silks!  Here is what he learned about the silks.  Each silk attaches to the corn cob and is responsible for one kernel of corn.

The tassels have pollen falling off of them.  The pollen falls down onto the silk.  Each silk must have pollen touch it to fertilize the silk and make the kernel.

Here is an ear just starting to come from the stalk with no silk quite yet.

My #littlefarmerinthemaking was amazed at how much the corn has continued to grow taller.  He has also learned that you need to get down below the leaves to see what is really going on in the field. 

My mom overheard the boys this week trying to figure out how much money they thought he would make.  They sure thought they had enough to buy a $30 item. At least they aren't dreaming too big.

If you would like to see pictures from wheat harvest on our farm, be sure to follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

-A Kansas Farm Mom