Few know that 20% of human calories globally come from what is technically a grass: corn But what is crazier is how it's pollinated. It's a "wind-pollinated" crop, meaning it needs to be planted in "blocks", or groups of corn stalks The way corn reproduces is fascinating as well - the "tassels" at the top are the male flowers, which release millions of pollen grains They need to fall onto the silky strands that stick out from young ears of corn, but not just that... EACH individual silk corresponds to one kernel on the eventual ear of corn, meaning if a silk doesn't catch pollen, that specific kernel won't form This is why you have to plant corn in blocks, usually a minimum of 4'x4' for home gardeners... The blocks increase the chance that every silk, on every ear of corn on, EVERY stalk gets a grain of pollen to travel down it and form a proper kernel, leading to those thicc juicy ears you can harvest and eat fresh in summer