Gardening Quick Tip #10 - Don't Plant Two Types of Corn Together

Planting two types of corn together can lead to cross-pollination, which occurs when pollen from one type fertilizes another. This mixing can affect the characteristics of the resulting corn kernels. For instance, if sweet corn is planted near field corn or popcorn, the sweet corn may lose its sweetness and become starchy. Similarly, popcorn might not pop properly if cross-pollination occurs, as its kernel structure could be altered. Field corn can also experience changes in qualities like starch content or its intended use when cross-pollinated with other types. To prevent these issues, it's essential to separate different corn types by a significant distance, typically at least 250–300 feet, or to plant varieties that have different pollination timings to avoid overlap.