Sinking your teeth into a perfectly ripened ear of sweet corn is one of the finest pleasures of summer.
Corn needs plenty of space for two reasons — it takes up a lot of nutrition from the soil, and it is primarily pollinated by wind. As grains of pollen are shed by the tassels that grow from the plants’ tops, they must find their way to the delicate strands of silk that emerge from newly formed ears. To make sure silks are nicely showered with pollen, grow corn in blocks of short rows rather than in a long, single row. In a small garden, 15 plants set 1 foot apart can be grown in a 3 x 5-foot bed. Growing corn on this tiny scale is a good way to introduce yourself to the crop if you’ve never grown it. After the first year you will probably want to increase the size of the planting to at least 4 rows 10 feet long.
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Bonnie Plants Peaches & Cream Corn is sweet & delicious bursting with a combination of tender white & yellow kernels. Plants mature early; consider multiple plantings one to two weeks apart to keep the harvest coming. Space plants 12 inches apart in rows 2 feet apart with a minimum of 4 rows for good pollination.
- Light Full sun
- Matures 70 days after planting
- Ear size 8½ inches long
- Plant spacing 12 inches apart
- Plant size 6 feet tall
Corn plants are not like tomatoes or most other vegetables, which bear over a long period of time. Instead, they form a few ears per stalk and they are finished. Most gardeners make 2 or 3 plantings 2 weeks apart to keep the harvest coming.
Quick Guide to Growing Corn
- Hold off on planting corn in spring until after the last frost.
- Space seedlings 8 to 12 inches apart in an area with full sun and fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
- Improve native soil conditions by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.
- Corn will grow quickly when it is watered well. Check soil moisture often and consider using a soaker hose if you have a small plot.
- Corn has a big appetite, so it’s important to feed plants with a water-soluble plant food regularly.
- Add a 3-inch layer of mulch to keep soil moist and prevent weeds.
- Harvest corn when the ear feels plump and the silks are brown and dry.