Question
I planted sweet corn in successive plantings roughly 2 weeks apart.  The second planting looks fine.
The first is stunted and today I noticed corn silk growing
out of the tip of the stalks.
What might the cause be, and should I just pull it up and wait for the second planting?

Answer
Dear Steve:

I fear that your sweet corn may have contracted Stewart's wilt which  is caused by a bacterium Erwinia stewartii (syn. Pantoea stewartii) that can spread systemically throughout the plant.  Stewart's wilt is a a bacterium that enters through feeding wounds on leaves created by the corn flea beetle and spreads to the developing stalk of the plant, where it kills the growing point (dead tassels). Gradually the seedling wilts and dies. Leaves may show linear pale green to yellow streaks. Infections of older plants usually result in the development of another phase, the leaf blight phase. This phase is characterized by long whitish to chlorotic streaks along the leaves. These streaks usually have irregular wavy margins, running parallel to the veins, and may extent the entire length of the leaf. In some cases the entire leaf my dry up and die suggesting drought damage or nutritional deficiency.  

Suggest you pull up the damaged corn plants and burn them and start some insecticide control on the remaining crop.

Several insecticides may be used as foliar sprays for corn flea beetle control; trade names include Sevin, Asana, Pounce / Ambush, and Warrior.  Other controls include: Using resistant or tolerant hybrids and varieties. Early applications of insecticide to control vector on susceptible varieties.

Regards,

Mack Jean
AllExperts
Master Gardener
Tennessee