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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15 Jun 09, Goldy (Australia - temperate climate)
hers a tip 4 growing corn from seed what i do is crush about 3kg of charcoal to almost powder mix with 3-4ltr water add a cup of seaweed concerntrate and a cup of fish emulsion with 2 tblspoons of trace elements then add a1-1/12 kg of sand let soak over night then placein the bottom of the trenches and plant seed on top then cover with soil
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11 Jun 09, eli (Australia - tropical climate)
how long does it take sweet corn to grow could you also give me some general info
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30 May 09, Dean (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks David. Corn was grown from seedling. Planted 300mm apart and no neighbours had corn growing. The ears where picked and cooked straight away. Dont know what went wrong but will grow again when the seasons right. Thank's again.
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22 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Deano. Depends on the variety. If you bought heirloom / non hybrid seeds then yes. If you went to the supermarket/nursery and bought a packet of sweetcorn seeds then probably not. Also depends on how many varieties you planted and how far apart (including your neighbours). Corn is promiscuous, varieties will cross very easily.
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21 May 09, deano (Australia - tropical climate)
i live in cairns is it possible to keep the best cobs from my harvest to use the kernels for my future crops. if so what is the way of preparing and drying the kernels
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20 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Dean: did you plant seed or seedling? If the sweet corn was planted too near dent corn then a cross could have occured. How long between harvest and consumption? (sugar (sweet)starts turning to starch (flour) as soon as you harvest) What variety?
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17 May 09, Kasha (Australia - temperate climate)
Dean a friend of mine advised me that sweetcorn will taste floury when grown out of season, when it is too cold something about them not ripening properly from the cold. I find if I grow corn during Autumn/Winter my corn stalk is stunted to under 1m and produces floury corn....YUK
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17 May 09, Jared (Australia - temperate climate)
Julie ' i have grown corn in blocks for better pollination and when you think its about time to harvest open the tip of the cob and pop one of the kernals if its clear its not ready if its gluggy and thick its over harvest but if its got a creamy white texture (which is not long after the silk goes brown) its time to roast him on the BBQ.
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16 Apr 09, Thomas (Australia - tropical climate)
Hello, does anyone know where I can buy sweet corn seeds for a tropical climate? I need to do a sample in Panama, Central America. Thank you in advance for any help. [email protected]
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03 Mar 09, Dean (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi. I've grown some beautiful sweet corn before, but this new crop(different house) looks awesome but tatses very flourery.Any suggetsions.
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Hiya i got given two shoots of sweetcorn, one about1inch high & the other is double in size (height) & i have just planted them both in the ground ... Just wondering if replanted wrong or too early.. Im in Vic melbourne... Its gonna b hot tday n stsying in the 20degrees all week... Also is seasol a good enough fertiliser ? Or? Will have more questions again soon no doubt (growing my collection of 24 seeds) thankyou kindly from the newbie in outdoor gardening)

- Anishka

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