The Shake, Rattle and Roll of Corn Pollination

One way to check if the kernels on the ear were pollinated is to wait a couple weeks and see which ones plump up.  If you're impatient you can check the week after pollen shed by using the Shake Test.  

Here are the instructions for the Shake Test:
Select an ear with silks emerged and pull it off the stalk.  (See the anthers on the silks!)

Take a knife and cut 1/4 inch slices off the bottom of the ear until the bottom of the cob (and kernels) can be seen.

Very carefully peel the husk leaves off of the ear.

Then hold one end of the ear and shake it up and down to see how many silks fall off.  

Each silk that falls off represents a kernel that has been fertilized. 
This particular ear has not been pollinated yet.  

That's the Shake Test, Thanks for scouting with us!