produce corn yourself will give you the sweetest , fresh spike , and all you need is a sunny slur .
Bob Stefko
Growing maize in your garden is n’t difficult with warm weather , lots of sun , and plentitude of quad . Sweet corn(Zea mays)is a dissolute grower , acquire tall stalk with bright green leaves . One corn plant usually produces one or two ear in the dwelling house garden . you may prefer diverseness with yellow , white , dichromatic ( yellow and whitened ) , oreven rainbow kernel . Here ’s everything you need to know about how to imbed and rise maize in your garden .
Credit:Bob Stefko
Where to Plant Corn
flora Zea mays in alocation that have full sunand has rich , well - draining , slenderly acidic to indifferent soil . Because corn whiskey is winding - cross-pollinate , it ’s best to plant it in blocks rather than in a single words to ensure a good transfer of pollen to the silks .
Keep in mind that the tall stem cast subtlety over shorter crops . Plant it next to craw that benefit from being shielded from the hot summer sun , such as gelt or Asiatic greens . Avoid windy sites ; firm winds can cause the tall stalks to fall over . If your internet site is windy , prevent stalks from fall over by mounding soil around the lower 10 in as they grow .
How and When to Plant Corn
Sweet corn whisky is a lovesome - time of year craw that matures between 60 and 100 + days . flora edible corn semen in latespring when there is no more risk of frostand the soil has warm to at least 60 ° F to 65 ° atomic number 9 . Sow the cum directly in the garden ; corn does n’t graft well .
Plant the come 1 inch deep and space them 6 to 12 column inch apart in the words . Plant blocks of four or more short quarrel space 30 in apart for better pollination . For a steady provision offresh clavus , institute the same variety at 12- to 14 - day interval or plant multiple varieties that mature at unlike time .
Compare the days to adulthood number on the seed parcel to select early , midseason , and recent - season varieties for an elongated harvest season .
Credit:Dana Gallagher
Sweet Corn Care Tips
Light
Sweet corn ask lots of sun . A lower limit of six hours of full sunshine is necessary to develop full , chubby marrow .
Soil and Water
sugared corn flourish in fertile , well - enfeeble soilwith a pH between 6.0 and 7.0 . It requires an inch of water per workweek , so supplement with irrigation when rain is short . A steady supply of wet encourages the development of larger , fatter capitulum . Mulching around the foundation of plantsretains soil moisture .
Temperature and Humidity
perfumed corn thrives when temperature are consistently warm . When spring temperature are cool , the seeds are slow to pullulate and may moulder in nerveless , wet filth . Humidity ( high or low ) is not usually a problem with sweet edible corn .
Fertilizer
Sweet corn is a heavy feeder , requiring tons of nutrients to fire its fast growth . Even rich soilamended with compostneeds additional fertilizer to perform well . Work well - rotted manure or compost into the soil along witha balanced fertilizerbefore planting . Side apparel the rows withhigh - atomic number 7 fertilizerwhen the stalking reach about 8 inches grandiloquent and again when tassels begin to take form .
Pests and Problems
A few pests can create problem for maize raiser . crowing and other hoot may peck the ground and steal the seeds before or as they germinate . Use a row coversecured with pins , grime , or rock and roll to protect immature seedling . Allow some space for growth , and remove the covert after three or four weeks .
Two genesis of European Indian corn borers fertilize on silks and ears each year . Since it overwinters in the edible corn stalking , transfer old stalks from the garden after harvest . The corn whisky earworm , which typically feeds on kernels near the wind of the ear , may have three propagation per twelvemonth . Turning the grunge in the fall helps forbid infestation the following year .
Parasitic wasps help ascertain both the bore bit and the earworm , and they do n’t sting or bite humans . Attract parasitic wasp by planting flowering works nearby , or buy them online or at some garden substance .
Credit: Janet Mesic-Mackie
Serious diseases are not common with unfermented corn . However , a fungous disease sleep together as smut fungus occasionally infects ear and leaves , causing gray - black galls to work . polish off these if you see them to prevent them from spreading . Resistant corn diverseness are available .
Harvesting Sweet Corn
capitulum of perfumed clavus are ready to harvestwhen the silks turn browned , but the chaff are still immature . Test a kernel for ripeness by puncturing it with your fingernail . The juice should be milky - looking , not clear . If it ’s clear , waitress another few Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to harvest the capitulum .
Freshcorn on the cob , corn salad , andcorn puddingare quintessential side for summer dinner , breeze , and parties . There ’s nothing like fresh - pick corn that you send packing into a pot of boiling water within minutes of harvest .
Types of Sweet Corn
‘Early Sunglow’
Zea mays‘Early Sunglow ’ is an fantabulous extra - former form to grow where raise season are scant and coolheaded . Stalks only grow about 4 foot tall , but they produce full - sized 7 - in auricle with xanthous kernels and good smack in about 63 days .
‘Kandy Korn’
Maturing in 89 days , ‘ Kandy Korn ’ is a late - time of year loanblend whose golden yellowish marrow on 8 - inch ear asseverate their sweet for 10 to 14 day after harvest time . It has outstanding look . The stalks grow to 7 to 7 ½ groundwork tall .
‘Silver Choice’
quick to harvest in about 75 days , Zea mays‘Silver Choice ’ is a loan-blend that matures about two weeks before than the popular ‘ Silver Queen ’ . Its white kernels are affectionate and sweet on 8 - column inch ears . The stalks grow to 7 feet .
‘Nirvana’
Zea mays‘Nirvana ’ is a luxuriously - yield mixed bag with supersweet bicolored kernels . The ears of this home garden favourite are uniformly 7 to 8 inches foresighted and are ready for harvest in about 75 day .
Companion Plants for Corn
Corn is one of the “ Three Sisters ” crop — corn , mounting bean , and crush — that Native Americans traditionally grow together in hills . The attic climb the cornstalks and supplying nitrogen to the soil through a process called nitrogen infantile fixation . The large parting of squash shade the stain , reducing weewee vapor . This combination is an former example ofcompanion planting .
Beans
Dana Gallagher
Several type ofgreen beansare climbers that profit from having support supplied by a pole , treillage , or edible corn stalk . fleeceable bean plant are among the easiest veg to grow at home . you’re able to even choose bean types that are purple or yellowish instead of green for extra color in your garden and kitchen . Green edible bean share a need for passel of sunshine and warmth with Indian corn , so they are excellent companion plants .
Summer Squash
summertime squashis another warm - weather crop that is best planted after balmy spring weather arrives . It requires fertile , well - drain soil to thrive . The squash racquets go forth suppress weeds that would otherwise grow around nearby flora .
Marigolds
Peter Krumhardt
Marigoldsrepel an assortment of garden pestilence , including Zea mays earworms andaphids . They also attract beneficial insects that prey on corn whiskey pests . Several types and size of marigold are available . These plants are heat - fan , but they flower to ice whenthey are kept deadheaded .
Nasturtiums
Like marigold , nasturtiumsprovide natural pest ascendancy . Nasturtiums keep the populations of aphid , whitefly , andflea beetlesin halt , and they draw beneficial dirt ball . This happen upon comestible plant also adds a pretty splash of color .
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes , but select a gnome salmagundi and a big container . utilize a wet - retentive pot stain and space the seed 4 to 6 inches apart with at least four flora per pot . Since sweet corn is wind - pollinated and must be pollinated to explicate kernels , it ’s safe to implant several containers with odorous corn and position them tight together in full Dominicus .
Popcorn and fresh Indian corn are dissimilar type of clavus . While sweet corn make diffused , sweet kernels with more lettuce than other types , popcorn is a eccentric of flinty corn with kernels that have hard outer case that are dried for storage . The kernels protrude when heated because the moisture inside the severe out kernel expands , induce it to explode .
Yes . Sometimes called Mexican earth-ball or huitlacoche , the unripe rancour of corn whisky smut are considered a delicacy in Mexico and other section of Latin America . They have an crude savor similar to mushrooms and are used as fillings for quesadillas and tamale .
Credit:Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
