sweet corn
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
hello went down lottie this morning to harvest my sweet corn some of thecobs were ready but some of the plants had grown like a extra stem and a cob but when i looked at it more closer the top of the cob had exploded open and the corn inside had gone berserk they were like giant garlic cloves but when you opened one they went pop and all that was inside was like black soot any one else had this happen and what is it
Not good news I'm afraid Bluenose. It's sweetcorn smut which is a fungal disease and the spores can remain active for up to 5 years 
High temperatures help the spores germinate, so the hot weather this year has not helped. Destroy the plants i.e. burn or bin and plant your sweetcorn next year as far away as possible from this years site.
Sue
High temperatures help the spores germinate, so the hot weather this year has not helped. Destroy the plants i.e. burn or bin and plant your sweetcorn next year as far away as possible from this years site.
Sue
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cevenol jardin
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Yep sweetcorn smut.
The good news, if you are a brave culinary explorer, is that it is supposed to be edible. I read somewhere that sweetcorn smut balls are considered a delicacy in South America. Definately would want to research more before eating the stuff though.
We had it on the sweetcorn last year. This year i changed to an older variety stock and cleared the debris away as Sue suggested and no re-appearance.
The good news, if you are a brave culinary explorer, is that it is supposed to be edible. I read somewhere that sweetcorn smut balls are considered a delicacy in South America. Definately would want to research more before eating the stuff though.
We had it on the sweetcorn last year. This year i changed to an older variety stock and cleared the debris away as Sue suggested and no re-appearance.