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19 Feb 25 Pamela White (USA - Zone 8a climate)

Any tips for insect control or fertilizing corn?

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03 Mar 25 Faith Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)

Corn needs BORON -- similar to sunflowers. Water once with the following: 4 liters (1 gal.) of water mixed with 2.5 mL (1⁄2 tsp.) of borax. This is your typical laundry borax - I use MULE Borax (The only ingredient in Borax is a naturally occurring mineral called sodium tetraborate. It's free of phosphates, chlorine and other chemicals.-- this is a salt - so only apply once or twice in a year). IF POSSIBLE - and this is not always possible -- plant a few teosintes plants nearby -- these are WILD corn and for some reason domesticated corn grows much better with a few teosintes around (there can be 3 teosintes for an acre of corn). The teosintes are know as corn coaches/grandparents and corn is much more productive when there grandparents are present -- yes this sounds folklore like -- but it has been proven - and does seem to work really well. Also corn benefits from rich soil/compost and lots of nitrogen to help them grow, followed by more potassium once they get to the stage when they are developing cobs. ‘Sweetcorn is a grass and so it loves nitrogen, especially in the early stages. However, applying too much once the cobs form will promote more vegetative growth rather than ripening the cobs. Hope this helps - good luck.

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