How to Grow Corn Successfully at Home

Learn how to grow corn and bring fresh, delicious food to your table, along with the satisfaction of gardening. Corn is a rich source of vitamins A and C, as well as fiber, making it a nutritious food. The eat-off-the-cob cobs from your back garden will be sweeter than the store-bought ones. You gain the bonus of eating food you planted.

That's planting through to harvest in 22 easy steps. We begin with soil preparation, followed by seed selection. Next are watering and pest control. Finally, we describe the harvesting process. Each stage has simple instructions to help you succeed.

Growing corn> in the garden or in containers is simple. With the right tools and a little care, you can get great results. Start with a single variety and grow a few plants to build your confidence as you see the little green shoots appear. You will be on your way!

Corn. The main pests of corn that require rapid intervention are corn earworms and cutworms. Check plants twice a week for chewed-up leaves and frass; handpick any large offenders in the early morning dimness. For small infestations, use neem oil or insecticidal soap. Aphids in your corn may spread to other vegetables; consider introducing ladybugs to help eliminate them.

Environmental stresses bring plants a whole heap of grief. Drought makes the top of one's list. Keep an eye out for curled leaves, which indicate that the plants are water-stressed. If growing stalks regularly lean, it's time for a windbreak. Want to conserve soil moisture? Try mulch. Protect young fruiting plants in a heatwave with shade cloth. Always make sure you're watering at the base and never overhead.

discolored leaves often reveal nutrient problems. "Yellow stripes" indicate a nitrogen deficiency. A purple tint suggests a phosphorus deficiency. Test the soil for pH every year before planting. A "hair of the dog" in the form of compost tea as you plant helps start them off on the right foot. When your plants reach knee height, side dress with aged manure.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" applies to corn. You should change the location of planting each year to disrupt the life cycle of certain pests. Obtain and grow varieties that are resistant to diseases. Keep your garden tools clean to prevent the spread of obvious pests. Well-made, healthy soil produces healthy plants that are often resistant to disease and insect trouble.

Knowing the "milk stage" leads to the perfect harvesting time. Check the kernels by sticking your thumbnail into one; pure milk becomes a spurting liquid, and if the kernels also feel tender and plump under pressure, the sugaring period is at hand. The husks are now deep green, and the silks are drying brown. By no means bring the ears over too soon; the flavor of the corn is then wholly different.

For those who want cleaner ears, try the twist technique. Grasp the ears firmly with your hands and draw them downward while twisting. This harvesting technique allows the stalk to break off cleanly, reducing the likelihood of disease in your crop. When the stem is cut, the path is open for germs to enter. Harvest only in the cool of the morning, when the corn has the highest sugar content.

Unhusked ears will keep in the refrigerator at 0° to 4° C. for a week. Blanched kernels can be frozen and stored for up to six months, but they will lose their sweetness over time. In contrast, corn canned at home will keep for a year, although it is likely to lose its crispness over time. At the latter process, it can be dried into chip candy, to be kept for months at a time.

Immediate cooling. Preserve sugar by placing picked ears in ice water within half an hour, then refrigerate for that garden-fresh taste. In hot corn, sugars turn into starch quickly.

Corn depends on wind pollination to develop ears, so plant it in blocks of not less than four rows 45cm apart. This allows the wind to catch the pollen and carry it to the silks. The morning from 10 AM to 3 PM is the best time for pollination weather, with winds between 15-25km/h being the most effective for carrying pollen. Therefore, avoid overhead watering during this period.

Hand-pollination. This method is best for a small garden with only a few plants. Gather pollen in a paper bag when the tassels are shedding pollen and the morning is dry and warm. To transfer the pollen, rub the brush or your finger over the silks. Do these three days in a row as the silks are emerging. Then cover the pollinated ears with paper bags.

Companion plants provide pest control and nutrient benefits. Basil planted every 60cm repels corn earworms. Beans naturally fix nitrogen, improving soil fertility. Marigolds help suppress root nematodes, while dill attracts beneficial wasps. Avoid tomatoes as they compete for nutrients.

SH2 varieties must be isolated from any non-corn plants. Maintain a 250-meter distance, or plant a barrier of sunflowers to create a visual deterrent. Time the planting of neighbouring parcels such that they will not be in bloom at the same time, or, preferably, bag the ear before the silks show. If the ear is successfully sealed, the pollen cannot reach the supersweet body to destroy it.

Water needs vary considerably in the growth stages. At germination, daily watering with light is required to keep the soil constantly moist to a depth of 2½cm. When tasselling commences, corn is thirsty and needs at least 4cm of water weekly. Use the finger testing method at a distance of 15cm.

Fertilize with caution. For speedy results, try a synthetic like 10-10-10, taking care not to let it build up salts. Visit an organic garden center. Applying compost tea or fish emulsion every three weeks will yield great results. Follow package rates to the letter to avoid excessive nitrogen, which can cause precious plants to fall over (lodge).

Testing Your Soil Moisture with Simple Tools. Use a soil probe or a long screwdriver to test how easily you can penetrate the soil. If moist, your probe will push through with little resistance to the depth of the roots. If you're serious about growing in the soil, consider purchasing a moisture meter and learn how to take readings at different depths.

Be careful not to give your plants too much nitrogen, as they will fall over if you do. You may side-dress them with a generous application of high-nitrogen fertilizer when they are approximately 30cm tall. Later-season applications may produce weak stalks, which can be easily toppled over. Allow compost to release its nitrogen slowly throughout the whole season.

Prepare your planting site four weeks before sowing. Select a position in full sun, getting at least eight hours of direct light every day. Have the soil tested for acidity, and, if necessary, treat with garden lime to achieve a pH reading of 6.0-6.8. Where possible, work in 8cm (3in) of compost into the topsoil layer to create rich, fertile beds.

Direct Sow: Wait until soil is 15°C (60°F) at 5cm (2in) depth. Plant seeds 2.5cm (1in) deep spacing apart by 20cm (8in) in grid patterns. Cover seeds gently pressing soil into good contact with seeds. Water using a fine mist nozzle to minimize seed displacement.

Transplants of seedlings started indoors 3 weeks earlier. Pot them up in biodegradable Incuclatorm 88 1/4-inch pots to protect their fragile roots. Harden off for at least a week, then expose them to a greater degree of sun later on. Transplant them for a few hours at 30cm (1ft) spacing and to the same depth as they stood in the pots.

After planting, apply a 5cm (2in) straw mulch around the plants. Water daily with 0.6cm (0.25 in) until germination occurs. Thin to 30cm (12in) apart, when the seedlings are 15cm (6in) high. Provide wind protection if you live in a breezy spot.

Know your types to choose according to your preferred taste and the duration you want to store the corn. The SU varieties, such as Golden Bantam, offer the classic corn taste. Still, this flavor is lost within 3 to 5 days after they are picked. The SE types, such as Kandy Korn, will remain sweet for two weeks if refrigerated. The SH2 varieties, such as Xtender, will still be sweet three weeks later.

Select by climate conditions. SU types germinating at 10°C. (50°F.) would be suitable in cold regions. In the warm sections, SH2 varieties require a temperature of 21°C. (70°F.) Soil would have the preference. For variable weather and wind-damaged rows, dwarf corn is obviously preferable.

Drainage requirements and space needs vary, of course. Standard corn requires 30cm (12in) [28] spacing if grown in large garden beds. Dwarf varieties, such as Yukon Chief, are bred to grow well at 20cm (8in) spacing and are excellent in small spaces. Container gardeners find that 30cm (12in) pots with one handsome, productive plant in each pot are suitable.

Urban gardeners rejoice with these great container-friendly choices. Bush varieties only grow 1m tall and produce ears you can nibble on right in the garden; they're great for balconies too! It's a bonus when you can plant corn and compact beans in large pots, creating mini three sisters gardens. You can easily get 4 or 6 ears in a container with the right care!

Successful corn growing stems from fundamentals anyone can master. Prepare the soil before planting. Select varieties that are suited to your climate and space. Water corn regularly at critical growth periods. Thwart insects and pests using organic methods to kill or deter them. Get these basics right and enjoy success.

Year-round upkeep improves results for subsequent harvests. Test your soil after bed cleaning and amend as needed. Winter is a wonderful time to repair any structures that have fallen into disrepair. Keep a notebook of all of your favorites. Things that could hold your eye this year for next spring. Move your planting location every year. It takes small and consistent efforts to reap bigger harvests every year.

These methods are suitable for gardens of any size. Adapt to suit your available space. Containers or pots will work fine on your patio, and dwarfs will come to the rescue in the smallest of yards (with smaller-row plantings possible). You will be able to extend your planting as your gardening skills increase. Just try one variety this season and experience the joy of growing your own corn.

Start now. You will enjoy the difference that fresh corn makes; you can always pass on your extras to a neighbour if you grow too much. That's it. You are now starting. With more than 120 top-growing methods to tap into, you can grow with confidence!