How much to drink with this hot, humid weather! What is that sweet smell coming out of the cornfield?

taken by Becky Litterer

How much to drink with this hot, humid weather!  What is that sweet smell coming out of the cornfield?  

WOW what can I say but it is hot and humid out.  It takes your breath away, and immediately you start to sweat.  90 F(32C) with heat index up to 108F(44C)  this is just DARN HOT.  I was outside at 7:30 watering and unloading trailer and pickup from Sunday’s Herb Fest in Greene. I made it till 9:30 AM and had to come in and cool off. I got done watering wagons at 11:30 and I will go back out after 6 to water the shrubs. It takes lots of water as all of you know.  I am sure you are watering your gardens and flowers. We had a very successful day at the Herb Festival.  We brought back about ¼ of what we took down.  This makes me smile.  All those plants in the gardeners’ garden and not in mine.  I still have 5 wagons with plants on them.  When it cools down some,  I will start cleaning up wagons.  I will plant some pots for me for my summer garden and the rest I will compost or I call it unplant.  Hope to do one wagon this week.  Cooling down supposes to be 80F(27C) tomorrow.  Hopefully the humidity will be down too.  That will seem more like it.    

Posting information about how much to drink if you are outside during this extreme heat. FOOD for thought, whoops drink for thought. 
How Much to Drink When the Heat Index Is Over 100
When the heat index is above 100°F, your body is working harder to cool itself, and you lose more fluids through sweating. You should increase your fluid intake significantly above normal recommendations to prevent dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heatstroke.
Core hydration targets
Pace: Drink about 8 ounces (1 cup) of water every 15–20 minutes while active in the heat
Hourly target: This adds up to roughly 32 ounces (1 quart, ~1 liter) per hour of exposure
Ceiling: Do not exceed 48 ounces (6 cups) per hour to avoid overhydration and electrolyte imbalance.
Daily baseline: On normal days, women need ~9 cups and men ~13 cups of fluids; in extreme heat, you may need 2–3 liters per hour if sweating heavily.
Extra water needs in extreme heat
At 40°C (104°F+), add 1,500–2,500 ml (about 5–8 cups) extra per day for moderate activity
Intense work or exercise can push sweat losses to 2–3 liters/hour — replace them immediately
Electrolyte replacement
For prolonged exposure (2+ hours), mix 1 part sports drink into 3 parts water to replenish sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium
Avoid caffeine and alcohol during heat exposure — both increase dehydration risk
Practical tips
Keep a reusable, insulated water bottle on hand and refill often.
Eat water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumber, and strawberries to boost hydration
Check your urine color: light yellow means adequate hydration; dark yellow means you need more fluid.
If you feel dizzy, have dark urine, or experience muscle cramps, stop activity and rehydrate immediately.
Bottom line: In heat above 100°F, aim for ~1 quart (32 oz) of water per hour while active, with electrolytes for long exposures, and never exceed 6 cups/hour. This proactive approach can prevent heat-related illness and keep you safe in extreme conditions
Field corn smells sweet at tasseling because the plant releases aromatic, sugar‑related volatile compounds during pollination, creating a noticeable sweet scent.
These volatiles come from the developing pollen, silks, and surrounding plant tissues, which contain natural sugars that contribute to the aroma.
Stay cool, stay safe and DRINK

Australia family and friends are having the opposite of this.  This is their winter and today they will have a high of 62F(16C) and low of 41F(5C).   They are having a sheep grazier warning severe weather because it is going to be raining every day this week, and it will create floods in the pastures with the sheep.  Sometimes, they don’t get the rain in Sale, but I am sure they will let me know.  Stay dry, stay safe. Stay warm. 
 
At the fair, we parked the wagon of plants out to Grandpa’s Farm.  We were next to the corn field, and I could smell something sweet.  Yes, it smelled sweet and it was coming from the corn.  It has been a long time since I was that close to a corn field to notice the sweetness in the air.  Remember this was the week of July 12th, 2 weeks ago.  I don’t know if the corn is still doing this.  Here is why.  Have you noticed? 
 
Although field corn is not harvested for sweetness, the plant still contains natural sugars early in development. As the corn enters the tasseling stage (when the tassel releases pollen), it emits volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These VOCs often have sweet or grassy aromatic profiles.  Sweetness in corn is tied to sugar content, which is highest before sugars convert to starch. Sweet corn is harvested at peak sugar levels, while field corn is left to mature and dry, converting most sugars into starch
Even so, during tasseling, field corn still produces sugar‑related volatiles that can smell sweet.  The sweet smell is therefore not an indicator of edible sweetness but a natural part of the plant’s reproductive phase, when aromatic compounds are released to support pollination and signal plant health.
This phenomenon reflects the same underlying chemistry that makes fresh corn smell sweeter before sugars convert to starch, as noted in discussions of corn sugar development and aroma.
 
Till next time this is Becky Litterer , Becky’s Greenhouse, Dougherty Iowa [email protected]  641-794-3337  cell 641-903-9365  Beckysgreenhouse.com  Facebook Becky Kerndt Litterer or Becky’s Greenhouse