Growing Sweet corn, also corn,maize

Zea mays, var. rugosa : Poaceae / the grass family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P P            

(Best months for growing Sweet corn in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): All beans, cucumber, melons, peas, pumpkin, squash, amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Celery.

Your comments and tips

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13 Nov 11, Jeannette (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I read that the flower should be cut when cobs are ripening. Is this correct? And do they mean the male flower at the top?
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30 Oct 11, Leo H (Australia - temperate climate)
How can I grow corn seedlings? This spring is so cool and wet that my potting mix remains too wet and the seeds get waterlogged and my germination rate is around 2%.
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29 Nov 11, JOSEPH (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Dear Leo, Corn require a soil temperature of at least 15deg to germinate, as added point interest last year I placed my corn seeds in a tray of toilet roll holders fill with pottting mix and water them with a small amount of epsom salts at the recommend rate of a dessert spoon to 4:5 litres of water. The results were suprising to say the least, try it and let me know. The plants tillered quite amazingly with three plants from each seed and tasty cobs when havested. Hope you as much success as I had.
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07 Nov 11, Macka (Australia - temperate climate)
I have always found if planting seedlings for corn, it is best to use a seedling tray therefore when you transplant the seeds the soil which they are planted in will hold in the roots for a more successful corn growth post transplanting. its best not to use a sandy soil for growing the seedlings and also i recomend trying to use mature chook manure as a fertilizer particularty the manure from the side of the road, as i have had nothing but trouble using poultry manure from a nursery. Hope this helps you leo
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08 Oct 11, Vanese (Australia - temperate climate)
When it says avoid growing with say tomatoes....how far away do you have to be? I have a small garden. Thank you
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12 May 11, Barbara Campbell (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just pulled my sweet corn plants out, and I am wondering what would be the best vegetable to plant in that spot.
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19 Oct 12, Ferry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
corn sucks minerals from the soil so beans, peas or a green manure crop would be good for the soil.
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11 Apr 11, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The silk goes brown when it is ready to be picked and for the small corn, there are two possible reasons and one of them could be to much water but I think something might be eating the roots if the plant
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13 Jan 11, FRANK (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The best advice about sweetcorn and its growth is to plant seeds,add plenty of compost,well aged manure and or blood/bone and be generous with these, water well if rain is limited. Also add grass clippings or lucerne as a mulch.
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11 Jan 11, Charis (Australia - temperate climate)
I'm a first time grower, our corn plants were growing so well, but once the actual corn started growing it stayed small, the silk went brown and everything seems to be dying, we have had a lot of rain this summer, could that be a problem? We were really looking forward to harvest and the kids and hubby are so disapointed. Is it too late to try again? or wait till next time? Is corn meant to be easy to take care of?
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Ants can be a problem in the garden. You don't say in your note how many plants you have but if it is only a few you could smear a band of petroleum jelly around each stalk to trap them. Ants are also deterred by pepper. Buy some cheap pepper and sprinkle it liberally around the plants. this works well to stop ants stealing carrot seed, which they love. Regarding the ones that are nesting I don't have any suggestions. Maybe a small amount of kitchen washing up liquid mixed with water and sprayed onto the affected plants will suffocate them. Regarding chewing pests on your capsicums. Yates 'Natures Way' is a very saafe spray to use for caterpillars. I don't use synthetic sprays or chemicals in my garden. Trust this helps.

- John

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