How to grow corn: 10 Tips for growing corn

Corn picked and eaten fresh is about as good as it gets in gardening. Some people even put the pot of water on to boil before picking their corn so they can eat it right away. The reward of fresh-grown corn awaits those who are willing to put in the extra work that growing a successful crop of corn takes. Learn how to grow corn with these ten tips. 

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10 Tips for How to Grow Corn

1. Feed corn before and during the season

Corn requires rich fertile soil to meet its heavy nitrogen demands. Apply at least an inch of compost to your beds before planting. After planting, fertilize corn when the first leaves emerge and then weekly with fish emulsion. When the silks begin to appear, give plants a foliar feeding of a kelp fertilizer. 

2. Choose a sunny spot for planting corn

Corn does best grown in full sun. Plant corn where it won’t shade other crops as it grows. 

3. Plant corn seeds directly in the garden

Corn does not transplant well; plant corn seeds directly in the garden. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and about 8 inches apart. For hot weather plantings (such as a monsoon planting in Arizona), plant seeds up to 2 inches deep. 

Keep soil moist after planting and cover with tulle or netting to protect young seedlings from birds. Remove the cover when seedlings are 4-6 inches tall.

Looking for non-GMO corn seeds? Click here. 

For square foot gardening, plant 3-4 corn per square foot.

To grow corn in containers, plant corn in containers that are at least 12 inches deep. Hand-pollination will be required.

Corn varieties to try: 

4. How to grow corn? Plant corn at the right time

Wait to plant corn until soil temperatures reach 60℉ in the spring. Plant seeds every 2 weeks for a continual harvest. If you’re growing more than one type of corn, stagger the planting dates by at least 2 weeks so the corn doesn’t cross-pollinate. 

In the low desert of Arizona, plant corn from mid-February through March. Long-time farmers in Arizona say planting on March 1st is ideal. Plant again with the monsoons in late July through August.

5. Plant enough corn to ensure pollination

Corn is wind-pollinated and is best grown in blocks rather than rows in all but the largest home gardens. Planting at least a 4’x 4’ block of corn helps ensure better pollination. 

To avoid cross-pollination, plant different varieties of corn at least 10 days apart or space at least 25 feet apart in the garden.

6. How to grow corn? Give growing corn plenty of water

Corn has relatively shallow roots and needs regular water throughout the growing season. Water is most critical when corn is tasselling. Water stress during pollination can result in spotty pollination.

7. Give corn support as it grows

Tall stalks and shallow roots mean corn can tip and fall in the wind easily. Hilling dirt up around the roots of the corn can help. Drive stakes at the ends of the beds and run twine between stakes to give corn support. 

In the low desert of Arizona, the monsoon planting of corn will definitely benefit from being staked during the higher winds of monsoon season.

8. Keep an eye out for common corn pests and diseases

Corn is a favorite of many pests. Prevention is usually the best defense. Plant disease-resistant varieties, encourage beneficial insects, and rotate where you plant corn each year. If cutworms were a problem in past years, drench the soil with parasitic nematodes a couple of weeks before planting. 

Use floating row-cover to help prevent damage from birds, corn borers, or slugs. Check leaves for small holes regularly. If you find holes, spray with Bt each week as long as new holes appear. If worms have been an issue, place a few drops of mineral oil into the tip of each ear after the silk turns brown. 

9. Consider hand-pollinating corn to ensure plump full ears

Patchy spots in harvested corn indicate poor pollination. Each silk is connected to a kernel of corn and must receive pollen. Collect pollen from several tassels, and sprinkle on the silks when they first emerge. Pay special attention to corn on the outside edges of the bed. Repeat this process a time or two for best results.

10. Harvest corn at the right time

Check daily for mature ears once the silks begin to turn brown. Look for plump and full ears. When you puncture a kernel, the juice should be milky. Clear juice means corn is not quite ready. Corn quickly loses its sweet flavor after being harvested. Harvest early in the morning when temperatures are cool, and store in the fridge in husks until it’s time to eat. 

Do you have more questions about how to grow corn? Ask me in the comments. 

Do you have some tips about how to grow corn? I’d love to learn more. Please share in the comments. 

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