Corn

General Information:
Sweet corn is a pleasure to grow as well as to eat. Since the days of the Pilgrims corn has been a popular American favorite either fresh, frozen or canned. Different types of corn should never be grown together or close to a crop grown by a neighbor. Pollen from dent corn or popcorn will contaminate sweet corn causing the kernels to be starchy and un-sweet. Likewise standard sweet varieties should not be inter-planted with the super sweet varieties as cross pollination will contaminate them adversely. If both types are planted, separate them by 400 yards.

It's not very demanding and will produce well using my culture method. If you have failed to produce full kernelled, truly sweet delicious ears of corn in the past perhaps it's not the fault of the corn you sowed. Perhaps you need a better method to guarantee success. That's precisely what I offer you here. Its no great mystery to grow great sweet corn. You just have to provide superior growing conditions which it requires for maximum success & production.  

Soil Preparation:
Soil should be enriched with a moderate amount of compost or enriched the previous season with well rotted manure. Beware of fresh manure as it may contain seeds, & high concentrations of urine & salts. Rake to break up & remove debris from the soil. Work the soil only when it is dry enough not to stick to garden tools. Using a garden hoe form a shallow trench in the center of the 36" wide bed about 4" deep. Do not allow the trench between the 2 rows too extend beyond the end of the beds as this trench will hold water later. Covered with leaves or straw until 2 weeks before sowing seed. Remove mulch 2 week before sowing allowing the soil to warm.

Fertilization:
Perform a complete soil analysis to determine fertilization needs. Soil sample kits including sample bag and instructions can be obtained from your local county Agricultural extension service office free of charge. However, the fee for the actual soil analysis is usually about $15.00.

Corn is a a shallow rooted heavy feeder. Requiring above average amounts of nitrogen. It is best to plan ahead and precede a corn crop with a legume or other high nitrogen cover crops and worked into the soil. Side-dress plants with 1 tablespoon of 13-131-13 fertilizer in the trench between rows when the plants show first sign of cobs forming between leaf joints and again immediately upon first sign of silking. A complete organic fish emulsion fertilizer can also be used bi-weekly.

Planting & Growing:
Corn should always be planted at least 4 rows wide to allow adequate pollination. Corn is self pollinated and spread by the wind. Corn should be planted to allow prevailing wings to blow across rows, If space is a consideration plant in short 36" wide beds side-by-side with 2 rows each. Since corn is a shallow rooted plant it is very sensitive to moisture fluctuations. Without adequate moisture the shallow roots of corn cannot deliver the require nutrients to produce full sweet kernels or corn. When you are ready to sow your corn seeds in your 36" wide beds do the following. With a garden pointed hoe form a 4" to 6" deep trench in the center of the right and left rows formed previously in the 36" wide bed. The 2 rows in the 36" wide bed should be about 18" apart. Sow your seed in the bottom of the trench about 1" deep and 4 inches apart. This can easily be accomplished by pushing the seed into the loose soil with your finger to depth of the first joint of your index finger or thumb, then cover with soil. Keep the soil moist to help prevent crusting of the surface. After the seeds have germinated and grown to the height of about 5" thin plants to about 10" to 12" apart to allow them room to grow quickly.

Start slowly pulling soil from the 18" area between the 2 rows of corn in the 36" wide rows to fill the trench the corn is planted in until you have a 6" to 8" deep trench between the corn rows. Do not allow the trench between the 2 rows too extend beyond the end of the beds as this trench will hold water later. The added soil on top of the root zone will keep the corn from blowing over from heavy rains and strong winds. Cover the entire 36" wide bed including the trench between the rows with leaves or straw mulch. The mulch will retain moisture, attract worms and reduce the growth of weeds in the beds. Any weeds that do germinate are easily removed by hand or light cultivation. When it is time to water your plants simply apply a moderate amount of water into the trench between the row you formed earlier. Do not apply water to quickly as you may wash out soil holding the water. The water will slowly soak deeply onto the root zone. Using this method your plants will always have adequate moisture to perform well. It is of great importance that the soil be kept moist and weed free for corn to perform well.

Care during the growing season:
Keep the soil in the beds moist by watering once a week if rain is inadequate. Side dress the rows with fertilizer in the trench between the rows in the 36 wide beds at the first sign of silking and maturation of the ears.

Harvesting:
Cornstalks should produce at least 1 large ear per plant under good growing conditions. Many varieties produce a second smaller ear. Sweet corn ears should be picked during the "milk stage" when the kernels are fully formed but not fully mature. This stage occurs about 20 days after the appearance of the first silk strands. Kernels should be plump smooth and the juice in the kernel appears milky when punctured. Sweet corn remains in the milk stage less than a week. Check frequently to make sure that the kernels do not become too mature. Other signs that indicate when the corn is ready for harvest are drying and browning of the silks. The silk should be slightly green at the top of the ear with brown silk at the ends. To harvest, snap the ears off by hand with a quick, firm, downward motion, twist and pull.

Storage:
The ears should be eaten, processed or refrigerated as soon as possible. Summer temperatures cause the sugar in sweet corn to quickly decrease and turn to starch.