How to Grow Corn (2024)

The corn family

Sweet corn is the only grainthat is eaten fresh as a vegetable. There are several types of corn.

Field corn is not eaten fresh. It is also referred to as dent corn because of the appearance of the dried kernels. Field corn is used aslivestock or poultry feed or dried and ground into corn meal forpeople.

Indian corn or flint corn is often brightly colored and is starchy like field corn.

Popcorn is grown and dried to be eaten popped.

Sweet corn is the most popular corn usedby many gardeners. Sweet corn is grown in mostvegetable gardens and is eaten fresh. It is one ofthe most popular vegetables in the United States.

Corn needs a big garden

Since each plant produces only one or twoears, it would be necessary to plant at least 80feet of row to produce enough sweet corn for afamily of four. Corn is wind pollinated. It mustbe planted in blocks or squares of three or morerows. Do not plant in one or two rows becausethe ears will not be pollinated, meaning thatthere will be few kernels on each ear.

Corn is a warm weather crop

Sweet corn is a warm season crop thatrequires warm soils and full sun all day. For anearly crop, although frost can injure seedlings, asmall number of seeds can be planted early. Youare gambling on the unpredictable weather. It’srisky, but it can give an earlier harvest.

Wait to plant most of the corn in late May to reduce the risk of frost damage.

Kinds of sweet corn

Sweet corn can be divided bycolors, sweetness and time of theseason it becomes ripe. Kernels ofdifferent varieties will be yellow,white or a yellow and whitemixture often called bi-color. Inregards to sweetness, there is standard, sugar-enhanced and thesweetest which are called supersweet. The sugar-enhanced and super sweetsoften do not germinate well in cool soil. Cornis also divided into early, mid-season and latevarieties.

Planting

When planting, follow the directions on theback of the seed package or plant seeds 1.5 totwo inches deep, five to six inches apart in rowsthat are two to three feet apart. Thin plants to 10to 12 inches apart.

Many people find that the super sweet corn varieties do not germinate well. If seeds do not germinate, plant when the soil is warm to the touch and space the seeds closer than recommended.

Succession planting

To lengthen harvest, plant early, mid-seasonand late varieties all at the same time. Makesuccessive plantings of mid-season and or latevarieties until late June. Wait until each plantingis about two inches high before planting more.

Keys to success

• Plant four, short rows rather than long, single or double rows.
• Plant mostly mid- and late season varieties for the best quality.

The basics

Corn will grow most soils if it is well-drained. Corn grows best in loam soils. For goodgermination of seeds, the soil needs to be 60°F orabove.

Corn is a heavy feeder, especially of nitrogen (fertilizer). Follow your soil test recommendations or use two pounds of 5-20-20 fertilizer per 100 square feet of soil. When the plants are knee high or at the beginning of July, apply a high nitrogen fertilizer (4 lbs of 21-0-0or 2 lbs of 46-0-0) per 100 square feet along the sides of the rows.

Keep corn free of weeds and grasses. Cultivate with a hoe, but be careful not toinjure shallow roots. A mulch of straw or similar material can be used to control weeds and holdin moisture. Do not remove suckers (side shoots), as this may reduce yields.

Corn needs lots of water, especially from the time the tassels (silky, hair-like material growing out of the top of the ear of corn) appear until harvest. An inch of water per week, either from rain or the hose will ensure proper moisture. More water may be required on sandy soil.

Harvesting

Harvest sweet corn after the silks on theear turn brown and are dry. Corn kernelsshould be round and filled out. Kernels that aresquare may be past their prime and the sugarsconverted to starch. Husks should appear fresh and not dried out.

Storage

The quality of sweet corn decreases veryrapidly after picking. The sugars convert to starchand the unique flavor is lost. Use immediately orstore for a short time in the refrigerator. Freshsweet corn can be frozen or canned, if donecorrectly.

Problems

To help prevent seeds from rotting in coldsoil early in the spring, it is possible to use seedstreated with a fungicide. Those that are treatedwill be colored, like a brilliant pink. The packagewill also have that information on it.

Cover the seeds well with soil to deter birds or animals from eating the seeds. If loss of seeds to birds or animals is a continuing problem ina small garden, use a narrow strip of hardware screening or chicken wire over the row until the corn plants just begin to emerge. Eaves troughs covers work well for this, too. Be sure to remove screening before the corn plants sprout and are damaged.

Insects or animals may be troublesome, especially corn earworms and raccoons. Contact your local Extension office for information on how to manage these pests.

Originally developed by Lee Taylor and adapted by Gretchen Voyle. Revised by Hannah Stevens.