How to Keep Worms Out of Home Grown Corn

If you have a backyard garden and are trying to grow corn, here is a tip on an easy way to keep those creapy worms out of the tips of the corn ears.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Eye Dropper
• Mineral Oil

1. First, one must understand the "anatomy" of the corn plant.
   
   Tassels are the antenna like structures the form at the top of the corn plant that carry the "rice like" structures the fall off and into the crevices of the leaves on the stalk.
   
   Silks are the thread like structures that appear at the top of the ear of corn as it is forming. Each silk is connected to a kernel of corn on the cob.

2. As soon as the grower sees the silks forming on the ear of corn is the time to act quickly. This is when the moth lays her eggs on the silks that then form into a caterpillar that feeds on the tips of the ears.

3. Take an eye dropper full of mineral oil and put several drops of the oil on the silks area. This will smother the eggs that have been placed there by the moth.

Tips & Warnings

• It is important to be vigilant about this process. If you miss the silk forming time period, you WILL have those nasty worms in your corn.