Only certain varieties of sweet corn will have their flavor affected by a nearby field corn planting. These are the ones labeled "super-sweet," "sugar-enhanced," etc. That's why some of the advice above is incorrect -- though it would be true for "ordinary" vegetables (and non-enhanced varieties of sweet corn, for that matter). You could try timing your planting to avoid cross-pollination, but I wouldn't rely on starting indoors; direct-sown corn catches up quickly to transplanted. Or simply plant a variety of sweet corn that doesn't become starchy if cross-pollinated. Some people prefer these; their disadvantage is that the corn must be eaten very quickly after harvest, while the enhanced varieties can keep their sugar for days. Here is a link that might be useful: Sweet corn

We get lots of earwigs on our corn every year, but the earwigs don't eat corn here (they just like to hide in it). I also would check to see if you have some other kind of pest. The only major corn pest we get here in the western corn rootworm beetle, and they DO eat corn silk.

Maidin, I second your watering habits. I too allow Dracaena soil to dry. Especially in winter. Humidity is another thing, but soil dries. Mike you are absolutely correct about care, mainly sunlight, depending where one lives. But, no matter where one resides, a plant should be cared for similar to it's native lands. For instance, desert cactus grow in sandy regions, hot and direct sun, and little rainfall. So, naturally, let's use cactus as an example, to duplicate it's native lands..We'd set it in well-draining soil, the sunniest window, and water sparingly. If a cactus grew in a dark corner, in heavy soil, and watered daily, good bye cactus..lol.. So, I understand what you're saying about different locals, on the other hand, a person in Fl can possibly get by setting a plant that'd do best for us facing south, they place in a west. Do you understand what I'm saying? Moreso, when plants are set outdoors. BTW, how ya doing? Keltic, is the soil dry? If so, give it a drink...Did the trouble start during winter? Did you repot in a larger pot, or just change soil mediums? If possible, place your Corn Plant in the shower and spray away..If you use 'saved' water, aim shower head on foliage. If not, shower the entire plant. Afterwards, allow corn plant to sit in the tub, absorbing air moisture. In fact, keep the bathroom door shut. You can even leave it overnight..First thing in the morning, remove from shower and set in medium light, working your way up to bright light..Toni

I live in Iowa......boy do they know corn here! Originally from New Jersey, my father's side was Dutch heritage, who knew all about saving all the bits and pieces that Iowans tossed to the pigs. Iowans don't know scrapple nor head cheese. Even the Dutch in Iowa, of which there are lots and lots, don't know that stuff. There's always more corn in the field and another hog out there eating it. What corn stock is really is the bits of corn left on the cob after you cut the kernels off for freezing, boiled up and cooked down. Won't work so well with the cobs left from eating the corn off the cob with your teeth, because people do a better job of removing the kernels. When I cut the corn off the cob I always run the back side of my knife down the cob to get the germ of the kernel out and into the dish with the corn. Not much left on that cob at all....and the resulting broth tasted strongly of cob. Suit yourself, I know someone who saves the skins when canning tomatoes to boil up for broth. I think I get better flavor from an additional ear of corn and one more tomato, and it's a better use of my time and energy. But I know that mid-westerners feel that way about scrapple, headcheese and my beloved Taylor's Pork Roll....eww throw those nasty bits away....have another pork chop!