When to Plant Corn Seeds
Ready to plant the ultimate summer treat? First, make sure the weather is warming up and your soil temperatures are strutting around at a cozy 60 to 65°F. If it's too chilly, corn seeds might just throw a tantrum and rot! The prime planting months are usually May through June, depending on your zone—so grab your shades and get ready to dig!
Where to Plant Corn Seeds
Corn loves to soak up the sun like a beachgoer at high noon, so find a sunny spot with highly fertile, well-drained soil that has a pH of 6.0 to 6.8. Sweet corn is like that friend who insists on the best—give it rich soil with plenty of nitrogen and moisture. Don’t forget to spice things up with some aged manure or rich compost before planting. And hey, if you’re feeling adventurous, consider planting corn alongside beans—they’re like the best gardening buddies, sharing nutrients and good vibes!
How to Plant Corn Seeds
Corn is wind-pollinated, so it prefers to hang out in blocks rather than long, lonely rows—like a little corn party! Plant two to three seeds per hole, about one to two inches deep. Give them about 12 to 15 inches of breathing room, and keep rows about 30 to 36 inches apart. If more than one seed sprouts, don’t be shy—thin them out and let the strongest sprout take the spotlight. Shorter varieties can cuddle up a bit closer, and remember to plant sweeter ones shallower!
How to Harvest Corn
Your ears of corn will be ready to strut their stuff about three weeks after those beautiful silk strands appear and start turning brown. Want to check? Just peel back a few leaves to reveal the tip of the cob. The kernels should be firm and milky when you cut them open—like a corn kernel smoothie! To harvest, bend and pull the ear downward from the stalk with a twist—easy as pie! Consume or freeze your corn ASAP for the best flavor. Remember, the sweeter the corn, the thirstier it gets!
How to Care for Corn Plants
Water your corn well after planting and keep the soil consistently moist—think of it as giving your plants a spa day! As it gets warmer, bump up the watering. They love their moisture! Fertilize with a nitrogen-rich food when the plants hit about 12 to 18 inches high, and keep those pesky weeds in check—no freeloaders allowed! Corn has shallow roots, so be gentle when weeding—think of it as a delicate dance.
If you’ve got a sizable corn patch, your plants will be happy to pollinate themselves thanks to the wind. Just remember, each silk strand must be kissed by the pollen from the tassels above to make those glorious kernels. Most pollen shedding happens after the morning dew has dried up, around 9 to 11 am—perfect for a little corn pollination party!
If you’re working with a small patch of sweet corn, don’t expect a one-man show! Between a few plants, pollen may just blow away before it can reach the silks—oh no! So, plant your corn in blocks, never just one or two long rows.
If necessary, channel your inner gardener and hand-pollinate by snapping the tassels (the male part) from a few stalks and using them like feather dusters over the emerging silks (the female part). Do this every day for a week, and remember—don’t get too snappy with those tassels before the week’s up! Happy planting, and may your corn grow tall and proud!