Removing the suckers will not increase yield or make the main stalk taller, but you may be right that leaving them on in such small pots could mean the plants will need more nutrients and more frequent watering. On the other hand, you risk damaging the main stem by trying to remove them.

Here is a link that might be useful: Purdue article on corn tillers or

I agree, I would not remove them. I have had little luck with corn in pots. Pollination issues. You need a good block of them. I have had success that way. If your corn ends up missing a lot of kernals, you had poor pollination. I grew On Deck and it worked, but yield was poor. Great corn, btw! I would grow it again but in a 10x10 area. I got so many about 66 ears, very cool!

This post was edited by Drew51 on Sat, Jun 21, 14 at 22:38