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

25 Jan 19, Amanda (Australia - temperate climate)
I’m not from WA but this lady has blogged about her experiments with different vegetables in Perth, including corn. I can’t post the link because of the spam filter, but search for “belle’s veggie garden WA now and then” and click on the veggie link. Basically she only really had success in December.
24 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
All year probably - summer may require a lot of watering though.
07 Jan 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted sweet corn from commercial seed in Melbourne and the stems are growing well, but instead of corn heads of corn i have a grain sprig which I think is maize sprouts. What is happening?
10 Jan 19, Jamie Graham (Australia - temperate climate)
It's all good. Sweet corn have male and female parts. The female parts become the cob of corn. The male parts grow from the head of the plant (the tassel) that bear pollen grains on the anthers. The pollen grains fall and fertilize the female 'silks'. You may help pollination by giving the stalks a bit of a shake to release the pollen grains. If you have never grown corn before you are in for a treat,
08 Jan 19, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Don't really get what you are on about. Sweet corn is maize just it is sweet and not starchy. Sometimes you have little side cobs form that don't have much husk and the corn cob comes out with kernels showing. Probably a bit deformed. I suggest you buy seed from a internet seller or nursery/Bunnings.
01 Jan 19, Rita Sciacca (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have corn plants growing but at the side of the plants is another shoot. Am I supposed to cut away this extra shoot. My mum says that you need to remove this extra shoot as it takes away energy from the main plant. Your advice appreciated.
05 Jan 19, Mike Logan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You could do either - leave it or cut it off. If you had/have good pollination, fertiliser and watering it will produce a good size cob. I don't bother and I had 9-10
02 Dec 18, Wayne cronin (Australia - temperate climate)
In the past I have grown sweet corn but the cobs get attacked by an orange beetle with black spots, (pumpkin beetle)? They attack through the silks. How do I deter these beetles before they start please?
06 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I think you may have
07 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I think you have lady bug/bird/beetles. They are good.
Showing 61 - 70 of 328 comments

Zone 9b can corn be started in ghse. and transplanted into outside raised bed?

- Pam Thies

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