Corn is a staple food all around the world. Packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins B and C, carbohydrates, and fiber, they are often used as an ingredient for salads and stews or just eaten boiled or grilled. Do note that they spike your blood sugar levels, so consume them in moderation.
Growing sweet corn is not as easy as ABC, but you don’t need blood, sweat, and tears to succeed. Sweet corns are very demanding and heavy feeders, so they need much of your attention. But if you set the conditions right, your plants will do most of the work for you.
Be all ears as we learn about the A’s through H’s of growing sweet corn and be a-maize-d how great of a gardener you are by following this “corn-prehensive” guide on planting, growing, and harvesting corn.
Table of Contents
A is for Advanced Planning
Corn is very susceptible to frosts. Check out when the frost dates are in your location. Wait until all the dangers of frost are cleared, about two weeks after the last frost date, before you start planting.
Also, prepare fabric row covers in case of a surprise late frost to cover your seedlings. For cold climate areas, lay a black or infrared transmitting plastic a week before planting to warm up the soil. Corn needs about 60°F for its seeds to germinate.
Another way of advanced planning is to know more about the crop you will be growing, which, in your case, is corn. We have already laid out everything you need to know so let’s keep going!
Need more tips: Read this blog we wrote on Smart Gardening.
B is for Block Planting
First of all, how does corn mature? They grow when the wind carries the pollens from the tassel or the flower falls into the silks or the ear shoots.
Block planting, a method of planting in squares instead of individual rows or columns, helps the pollination process become successful. The crowded spacing of the plants ensures that the pollen falls into the silks rather than the ground.
In your garden, make a grid using strips of wood or string. How big is up to you; make sure it is at least 4×4 feet wide. For a 4×4-sized grid, the columns should be spaced six to eight inches apart, while the rows should be about 18 to 24 inches.
C is for Caring Properly
Plants need to live a good life too! When handling plants, any gardener should know their needs and how they should be properly handled. Corn constantly needs about an inch of water weekly. When watering them, do it only at the soil surface, and avoid spraying from above that can wash off pollen. When dehydrated during the pollinating season, it will result in missing kernels.
Corn is also a heavy feeder and very demanding of nutrients. Feed them with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer or side-dress them with blood meal or diluted fish-based fertilizer. Do this when the stalks grow eight inches high and again once they become 18 to 24 inches high.
Also, be careful when weeding around the plants, as you might damage their root system. Don’t remove any side shoots and aerial roots that appear; they are necessary for the plant’s development.
D is for Delaying Problems
As they say, prevention is better than cure, which applies to growing plants too! Destroy weeds and pests that may cause problems in the development of your corn. Using resistant varieties and crop rotation could also help prevent diseases.
Corn earworms are the most common pests in corn. Earworm larvae feed on the developing ears inside the corn husks. To prevent them, clip the silks with a clothespin to prevent the worms from crawling inside. Also, spray the tips with vegetable oil, dishwashing liquid, and water.
How to Prevent Corn Earworms
When you see the presence of corn smut (they look like pale, shining, swollen galls), cut off and dispose of them before they burst and release powdery black spores.
E is for Encouraging Pollination
As we have said, wind is the major pollinating agent of corn. However, you could lend Mother Nature a helping hand in encouraging your plants to pollinate. When the pollination of silks is unsuccessful, your corn cobs will have underdeveloped and missing kernels. Placing much could lessen the evaporation of water, especially during hot days.
You can shake the tassels and collect the falling pollens into a large, dry container. Don’t do this on a windy day because the pollen will ride the wind, and you won't get a chance to grow and harvest your plants. Carefully transfer them into a smaller and more manageable container, then sprinkle the pollen into the silks of the plant yourself. Repeat once or twice after a day for a more successful result.
F is for Figuring out the Right Variety
Figuring out the right corn variety to plant should be easy if you know about the four main types of sweet corn hybrids. Look for the type of corn indicated in the packaging when purchasing seed packets.
- Sugary (SU) – has moderate sweetness (the traditional sweetcorn)
- Sugar-enhanced (SE) – slightly sweeter than sugary varieties
- Shrunken (SH) – the sweetest variety (aka supersweet);
- Synergistic (SY) – the sugar-enhanced variety combined with either the sugary or shrunken varieties
Aside from being cautious of the sugar content of the different types, you should be aware of how easily corn can cross-pollinate. Cross-pollination is when the pollen of one flower reaches another plant. If the wrong combination of types cross-pollinates, your corn could turn out to be of substandard quality. Need Corn Seeds? Try Peaches and Cream or Ambrosia Sweet Corn.
Look at this handy table to help determine which varieties should not be planted together (they are marked with an X!):
| SU | SE | SH | SY | |
| SU | X | X | ||
| SE | X | |||
| SH | X | X | X | |
| SY | X | X |
G is for Growing Companion Plants
Do you know that corn, squash, and beans grow together in perfect harmony? Collectively known as the “Three Sisters”, indigenous peoples traditionally cultivated these three together, showing the extensive agricultural knowledge of our ancestors.
The Three Sisters in Gardening
In this remarkable symbiotic relationship, the beans climb the tall corn stalks in search of sunlight, providing support and stabilization against strong winds. At the same time, they supply the nitrogen needs of the corn in the soil. Meanwhile, the dense foliage of the squash shades the ground, maintaining its moisture and preventing the infestation of pests. The prickly hairs of some squash varieties also repel larger animals such as deer and raccoons.
Other than the two, you could also plant cucumber, melon, dill, and marigold alongside corn, but NEVER tomato, cabbage, eggplants, or fennel.
H is for Harvesting – Just in Time
Three weeks after the first appearance of rounded brown silks, your corn is most likely ready for harvest. You can confirm their ripeness by pulling down some husk and then piercing a kernel with your fingernail. They are ready when the liquid that oozes out is milky or white. Pull the ears downward when harvesting corn, then twist it off the stalk.
This “milking” stage is brief, so check them for ripeness consistently. An ear of corn past its prime will have completely dry silk or a yellow or faded-green sheath.
FAQs Sweet Corn
How often should I water corn?
Corn needs regular watering, especially during hot and dry periods. Aim to provide about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm) of water per week. Deep watering is recommended to encourage root growth.
How should I store harvested corn?
For the best flavor, consume freshly harvested corn as soon as possible. If storing, refrigerate ears with intact husks for 2-3 days. Alternatively, blanch and freeze the corn for longer-term storage.
Can I save seeds from corn for next year?
Saving seeds from hybrid corn may not produce consistent results. To save seeds, choose open-pollinated or heirloom varieties and ensure isolation from other corn to maintain genetic purity.
Conclusion
Now that we have let you in on some secrets of a bountiful harvest (and we know it’s a lot), so here is a quick run-through of what to keep in mind when growing corn in your garden:
- A is for advanced planning to make sure everything you need is ready
- B is for block planting to ensure pollination;
- C is for caring for your plants properly with the right amount of water and nutrients;
- D is for destroying weeds and pests like corn earworms and corn smut;
- E is for encouraging pollination by shaking the corn’s tassels;
- F is for figuring out the right variety, as corn tends to cross-pollinate;
- G is for growing corn’s companion plants, such its sisters, beans, and squash; and
- H is harvesting just in time when the kernels leach out a white milky liquid.
By embracing these tips, you're on the path to a fruitful harvest of mouth-watering corn in your very own garden. So, get your hands dirty, prepare to care for your corn crop, and relish the joy of savoring homegrown corn right from your backyard. Wishing you a delightful journey of growth and a rewarding experience!
