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
S           S S S S S S
T T T         T T T T T
P P           P P P P P

(Best months for growing Sweet corn in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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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07 Feb 17, flo (Australia - temperate climate)
Usually crop rotation is done so diseases don't build up in the beds, and also because each type of crop takes different nutrients from the soil. Growing the same crop in the same spot all the time would deplete the soil. Legumes fix nitrogen in the soil, so growing leafy greens to follow would have them benefitting from the nitrogen. Hope this helps...
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29 Jan 17, Sue g puttock (Australia - temperate climate)
When i pick the corn of the plants do more corn keep growing or do i just get rid of the plants when all cobs picked
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04 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
After a corn/maize plant has produced a cob or cobs it will not produce any more. You can cut the stalks off or pull them out of the ground and use them for mulch or plant climbing peas on them - free stakes! Trust this helps
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24 Jan 17, Aaron (Australia - temperate climate)
I've had a problem with every corn stalk being chewed open about where the corn would growand also at other places. Im guessing this is by possums or rodents as some stalks are bent over. Anyone else had this issue and can suggest a solution?
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05 Feb 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Sounds very much like possums or rodents as the 'budding' cob would be very sweet and nutritious. Controlling them is a challenge. There are bark chips of the Quassia tree which should be available online. They can be soaked then boiled to make a very bitter tasting concoction that you spray on. This also works for wallabies on garden shrubs. The bitterness shouldn't affect the cobs as they are inside the husks. Trust this helps.
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10 Jan 17, james (Australia - temperate climate)
How can you freeze sweetcorn if you grow a lot of them, instead of just giving it all away?
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16 Jan 17, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I also just trim each end and freeze it, leaving the husks on the cobs before i bag them.
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13 Jan 17, FRANK (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
James, I love sweetcorn and grow heaps.Used to blanch it and vacumn seal then freeze for up to 12 months, now I just freeze. Still beautiful and sweet and lasts all year.
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04 Jan 17, Phil (Australia - temperate climate)
A more general question regarding crop rotation... I chose corn because I've seen several such discussions on this board. When you plant in rotation 'following' another crop... from where does the benefit come? Must I compost any leftover foliage of the previous crop and dig it back in to gain benefit? Or is there some other reason?
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09 Dec 16, Raychelle (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, My corn only got to about 1 meter tall.. Any suggestions on why?
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Showing 111 - 120 of 328 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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