Detasseling corn is removing the immature pollen-producing bodies, the tassel, from the tops of corn (maize) plants and placing them on the ground. It is a form of pollination control, employed to cross-breed, or hybridize, two varieties of corn.

What happens if you dont Detassel corn?

Up to 70% of tassels are removed mechanically. Then crews come through and clean the fields by hand removing any tassels that the machines missed. Timing is important because if you detassel too early yield may decrease. If you wait too long, the corn plant will start to pollinate itself.

What is the purpose of detasseling?

Detasseling is the painstaking process by which we help to create hybrid corn. The farmer will plant rows of two different varieties of corn right next to each other. We remove the tassels at the top of the corn plant off of one of the variety of corns, so that it can't pollinate itself.