Hi Mandi,

I don't see any reason you would have to detassel corn in your garden, just pick the ears when they are ready and let the stalks die off at the end of the year. The only reason I know of to detassel corn is to prevent cross polination with different types of corn (field and sweet for example). Others on this great forum may have more insight.

With my squash and pumpkins I have, I let them do their thing (no melons so I can't say). They take up a huge area, but I have had some tremendous squash. I try my best to keep the weeds down, but mine are so spread out and the leaves so huge they block most of the sun for the weeds. They have spread out more than my garden are into the surrounding weeds. Beautiful plants!

I spent a few summers working corn and beans in Iowa back in HS (many years ago now) so just wondering where you are from in Iowa.

Good luck!!

Shawn

Yes detasseling is to prevent cross pollination and is done all over in the large fields of Nebraska. My son worked in the fields last summer when we were living there and he hated it as well. Good money though for young kids.

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