Corn growers can spot an infected plant by examining the first internode on the stalk and looking for blue-black dots known as perithecia, which can be scratched away using a fingernail. 3 ...

Tall corn stalks provide shade for lettuce. "Use corn’s height to your advantage to stretch the season of cool season vegetables, especially leafy greens, like lettuce," says Turner.

Not only are Iowans sweating in this heat, but the corn stalks are too. Iowa has seen temperatures in the 90s with heat indices of over 100 degrees — and corn sweat is contributing to the humidity.

BASOM — The tallest corn stalk Lewiston Road resident Charles Silvernail was able to grow this year was about 15 1/2 feet, but he’s aiming higher next year.