Corn

Here are my tips for growing great corn:

Site, soil type:

Corn needs moderately fertile soil.

Plant corn in full sun.

Planting requirements:

Plant when the soil is at least 60 degrees.   To get a headstart, corn can be started indoors and transplanted.

Corn does not tolerate frost.

Sow seeds every 4 inches and about an inch deep.  When a few inches tall, thin plants to 8-12 inches apart.

Put 30” between rows.

Plant a block of at least four rows to improve pollination. Read about corn pollination (using the wind) at the bottom of this page.

Nutrition/Fertilizer needs:

Use 6 lbs of a complete organic fertilizer per 100 feet of row.   Use fish or kelp formula every 14 days until corn begins to tassle.

Light green leaves indicate a nitrogen deficiency.

If plant is dark green, cut back on fertilizer.

Water needs:

Keep the soil moist at all times.

Other tips:

Plant using three sisters approach, plant corn, beans and squash together.  Corn uses nitrogen, beans provide nitrogen, squash keeps down weeds.

Corn likes heat.  Use row covers after planting to give corn increased warmth.

Removing suckers may reduce yields.

Put panty hose on the end of a developing ear to exclude corn worms.