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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05 Jan 23, Anonymous (USA - Zone 5a climate)
More about finding a variety you like. Some corns are starchy and some really sweet.
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30 Dec 22, Mark (New Zealand - temperate climate)
We were hit with terrible and unexpected hail last week and because of this some corn plants have tassels early due to the stress. I keep reading everywhere why it’s happened, but NOT what to do next. Anyone experienced this before? Should I leave, pull them up etc?
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05 Jan 23, Anonymous (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Depends whether they can pollinate the corn ear.
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20 Nov 22, Pam Thies (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Zone 9b can corn be started in ghse. and transplanted into outside raised bed?
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04 Dec 22, (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Transfer when about 6' high.
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10 Sep 22, Wayne McClelland (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Q1. Is Corn a Vegetable or Fruit ? To confuse the issue further, Berries have their seeds on the outside, Fruit has the seed on the inside. Q2. I ask this question for the distribution of NPK in the plots. I have Roots (N), Fruit (K), and Leaf (P), the garden has been farrow now for about 3 years so should be pretty good Kind regards Wayne McClelland
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14 Sep 22, Anonymous (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Q1 Botanist call it a fruit. - Q 2 Very basically - N is for leaf production/plant growth - P is for root development and K is for flowering and fruit. Each of these help the plant grow in many ways. Google and learn more about how plants grow. Leaving soil fallow for 3 years does not make it fertile. You need to add manures compost fertilisers etc to make soil fertile and do this 1-2 mths before planting crops.
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19 May 22, Mike (USA - Zone 9a climate)
How much 33-0-0 Nitrate should I use on my sweet corn per 100 ft of row? My rows are pretty big, so I would say the corn is at least 2 feet apart from row to row. That said should I plant at the bottom of the rows, or closer to the plants? Thanks.
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24 May 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is the 33-0-0 the NPK of the fertiliser? If so I would use a more balanced fertiliser 12-15N, 3-6P, 8-15K. Grow your corn to about 1.5 feet and then run a handfull down each side covering about 4-5' with each handfull. Then hill the soil up around the plants - new roots will grow and help stabilise the plants. If you want to fertilise before planting don't use 33N - it will burn the roots of new germinating plants. Spread the fertiliser over about 1' of the row width and rake/dig it into the soil before planting seeds.
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18 Mar 22, Elise Blanchard (USA - Zone 7b climate)
Is it too late to plant corn here in zone 7b?
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Showing 21 - 30 of 413 comments
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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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