How to Grow Corn

Corn is among the most popular vegetables, and hardly anything compares to the taste of fresh corn picked from the garden, moments before it is cooked. The only trouble with corn, is it requires a large amount of space to grow. Most backyard gardeners grow tomatoes because they can grow as few as one, and take up very little space. However, planting corn requires a minimum of three rows (ideally four) of about four feet in length.

You will need:

•   Compost soil

•   Fertiliser

•   Corn seeds

•   Netting

•   General gardening tools

Instructions

Preparing the soil

1. Choose a wind sheltered spot in full sun which provides good drainage and enough humus to ensure that the ground will not dry out too quickly in hot weather. Ideally, the top soil should be slightly acidic, deep and very fertile.
2. Dig up your plot in the winter being sure not to bring clay to the surface and incorporate  a good grade of compost into the soil. Two weeks before sowing the seed, rake in a good source of fertiliser.

Sowing and planting

1. For the best results, corn must be planted in a rectangle of at least 4 rows opposed to a singular row. This will not only ensure proper pollination, but provide some wind protection to the crop. Sow the seeds directly into the ground opposed to starting them in trays or pots as corn can be difficult to transplant.
2. Sow two seeds together approximately one inch deep every 18 inches in the row and remove the weaker of each two seedlings, leaving 18 inches between the remaining plants.

Looking after the plants

1. Protect your seedlings with netting if birds are a nuisance and keep down the weeds but do not hoe close to the plants. If roots appear at the base of the plant’s stem, mound dirt or compost over them.
2. The protruding roots, which are referred to as ‘tillers,’ should not be removed. If the plants are tall and little protection is available, it may be wise to stake each plant for extra support.
3. Be sure to provide plenty of water for the plants in hot water, which is especially necessary when they flower. Make it a habit to tap the tassels at the top of each stem regularly as this will aid germination.
4. Feed plants with a good liquid fertiliser source when the cobs begin to swell.

Harvesting

1. Each pant will produce several harvestable cobs. Test the cobs for ripeness then the silks have turned a dark brown colour by pulling back part of the sheath (husk) and squeeze a couple of the grains between the thumbnail and fingernail.
2. If a watery liquid squirts out from the kernel, the ear is unripe. If the discharge is creamy, the ear is prime for harvesting, whereas if the liquid is thick and somewhat solid, you have waited too long to harvest.
3. Carefully twist the ripe ear from the plant’s stem, being careful not to injure the plant. Harvest just before you intend to cook the corn as this crop is at its best if cooked within 10 minutes of harvest.
4. If storage is necessary, corn can stay fresh in your refrigerator for up to 3 days, but can also be frozen for the freezer in zip-lock freezer bags.

Tips and warnings

• Corn likes it hot. It is somewhat resistant to dry weather. It sends its roots deep, seeking moisture in the dry summer conditions, and is usually one of the last garden vegetables to wilt in the heat of the sun and drought conditions. Corn does not like frost or cold weather. Although they may survive light or scattered frosts.
• Some gardeners try to transplant corn seedlings to fill gaps in the row. In general, corn, does not transplant well. You can succeed however, under the right conditions. First, transplant when the seedling is very small. Second, transplant in cooler weather and near evening. Dig extra deep to extract the plant as corn seedlings send out a long, deep tap root. Finally, water well and daily for about a week.
• Fertilise with a general purpose fertiliser every two to three weeks.
• Water corn plant regularly and deeply, in dry weather.
• Keep corn plants well weeded in their early life, place mulch between the rows to keep weeds down.