Growing Corn

It is not recommended to start corn seeds indoors. Corn should be first planted outside in the garden two weeks after the last spring frost. Sweet corn is a warm-weather plant, and the soil must be warmer than at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit upon planting. If planting super sweet corn, wait for the soil to warm up to at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Since sweet corn has a long growing season, the best way to plant sweet corn is to plant an early variety and then plant again further into the season. For colder areas, warm the soil by placing black plastic across the area planned for the sweet corn and plant the seeds through holes in the plastic. Corn is best grown not in rows but in square plots, as it is pollinated by wind.

Plant seeds 1 inch deep and 4 inches apart in rows set 3 feet apart. Water the corn seeds well as soon as you plant them. 

Once plants reach 4 inches tall, you may thin them to grow 8 to 12 inches apart. Corn must be well-watered due to their shallow roots. Corn requires 5 gallons of water per square foot of crop. Also, weed carefully to not damage the roots. Water retention may be done by mulching the corn plants. Corn requires well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.

Corn is ready to harvest when its tassels are brown and the cobs swell, which is approximately 20 days after the silks appear. To harvest, pull the cob down and twist it off the stalk. 

Fertilization can be done at the time of planting, as corn is meant to grow quickly, and it is a hungry plant. Fertilize the corn every 30 days. Once the fertilizer has been released, water well. Corn doesn’t prefer a certain kind of fertilizer, so fertilizer by following the fertilizer brand’s instructions.