Is corn a perennial plant or does it require yearly planting?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Corn is a seasonal crop, which means you must plant it again every year. It will take 60-100 days from seed to harvest. Corn stalks do not regenerate like perennials do. I discovered this after I attempted to get last year's patch to produce corn, only weeds grew where my tall corn plants had been.
Germination
- Soil temps must reach 50°F (10°C) for sprouting
- Seeds rot in cold, wet soil below 45°F (7°C)
- Emerges in 7-10 days with adequate moisture
Vegetative Growth
- Develops 8-12 leaves in 30-40 days
- Requires 1 lb nitrogen per 100 sq ft monthly
- Mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds
Stagger your plantings with a fresh sowing every two to three weeks to ensure a continuous harvest. I typically sow ‘Quickie' hybrids first, whose average maturity is 65 days, then move on to mid-season varieties. Finally, I sow a cold-tolerant variety like ‘Northern Xtra-Sweet' to allow me to pick until the first frosts of early autumn. I like to use this succession planting style to keep something on my table all summer.
Testing
- Collect samples 6" deep from 5 garden spots
- Target pH 6.0-6.8 for nutrient availability
- Adjust with lime or sulfur 8 weeks pre-planting
Fertilization
- Apply 10-10-10 at 3 lbs/100 sq ft at planting
- Side-dress with ammonium nitrate when stalks knee-high
- Container corn needs weekly fish emulsion feeds
To prevent overcrowding, space seeds 12" apart in blocks. My first crop had most stalks small and spindly because I planted them too close together. Airflow helps to minimize fungal diseases. Pollen from neighboring plants must reach silks within three days to develop full kernels.
Locally grown corn is sure to be sweeter and more tender than corn from the grocery store. I recommend you place ears in the refrigerator for fast as possible once picked, as it will take only a couple of hours for the sugar in corn to convert to starch. If I have a surplus crop, I will blanch and freeze it in portioned bags. My kids love all the sweet kernels in winter soups and casseroles.
Read the full article: How to Grow Corn: 9 Essential Steps for Sweet Success
