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 16°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm 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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Perth: This impressive crop does take up a bit of room but it's well worth it; the sweetness of fresh picked home-grown sweet corn is hard to beat. Plant from September through to January. Preparing the site Choose a sunny site that’s protected from strong winds. Sweet corn is a hungry crop so it’s important to enrich your soil before planting. Add a plenty of aged manure and a handful of blood & bone per square metre and fork it in well. Sweet corn will do well in a bed that’s previously grown healthy peas or beans. In the right conditions, each plant will usually produce 2 ears of corn. Planting Plant seedlings or seeds (ensure seeds are fresh). Space 30cm apart and plant in blocks rather than a single long row. Planting in blocks assists pollination which is essential for the development of kernels. Plant early and late varieties in separate blocks for a longer season. Water seeds well after planting then sparingly until germination occurs as the seeds can rot easily. When the stalks are about 20cm high, mound the soil up against the stalks. This process, called hilling, encourages more roots to grow which will help stabilise the plant during windy conditions. You can also achieve the same result by planting the seeds in a furrow and backfilling as the plants grow. Watering and fertilising Once the plants are well underway it’s important to ensure an adequate moisture level, especially since the plants will be at their peak of fruit production over the hot months. Drip irrigate if possible and mulch well to retain moisture. As soon as the tassel appears at the top of the plant, give the soil a boost with a granular fertiliser that’s high in nitrogen. Insufficient pollination results in ears of corn with lots of missing kernels. Planting sweet corn in one long single row can result in most of the pollen being blown away, which is why gardeners plant corn in blocks instead.Can be hand pollinated by cutting off a pollen-laden tassel each day and gently brushing over the silks . Sweet corn is ready to pick 2-3 weeks after pollination and it's important to keep up the water during this time.

- Mike

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