AboutMike Mascio Expertise I have been an avid gardener since 1985 and an AllExpert volunteer since
1998. I specialize in soil preparation, seed starting and plant
propagation, flowers, vegetables, and general landscaping. I am a strong
advocate of the square foot method of gardening and the use of organic
controls for pests and diseases.
Question Hello, we moved to a rural area over 2 yrs. ago in Southeastern, Ontario, Canada and are on an acre. We would like to grow a small patch of corn (just for fun) and see if we can yield any corn. What would be the smallest patch to not crowd them and what would be the hardiest corn to grow (least pest/etc. problems)?
There is a lot of sun around here but the back part of our property can get pretty mushy in the spring and wet weather. I suppose because it's low lying, that wouldn't be a great place to grow corn? I do have other areas that are drier.
Thanks for any info. Also what kind of soil does corn grow best in? Would I be able to add our duck manure to the soil or would that be too "hot"?
Paula
Answer Paula, corn is actually very easy to grow, but it does require some knowledge and quite a bit of room.
Corn can be planted as closely as 8" apart. You must plant at least 16 stalks at a time in a 4X4 arrangement. The reason you need this much corn in such a close proximity is to ensure pollination. Corn is pollinated by the tassels onto the silks. If the silks are not completely pollinated, the end result is incomplete ears that never mature.
Next, you must be aware of the nutritional requirements of corn. Corn is a very heavy feeder. You need to side dress the corn with a high nitrogen fertilizer when it is 8" tall, and again when it is 2'. In the interim, you must apply a water soluble fertilizer once every two weeks. Corn also requires quite a bit of water. You should supplement the rainfall to a depth of 2" per week.
The soil needs to be loamy and fertile. To achieve the right ph and nutritional levels, you will need to supplement the soil with organic amendments such as aged manure, peat, and compost. Duck compost will work fine, but it must be aged at least 6 months to prevent it from burning the roots of the plants.
Finally, be sure to only plant similar cultivars in a given area. There are 3 types of corn commonly sold today. One is the standard sweet corn (Su); another is the enhanced sweets (se); and the third is the super sweet (sh2). You cannot interplant the different varieties within 200' of one another or they can cross-pollinate. The end result would be tough, starchy ears with little or no flavor.
If you plant standard sweet corn, you should prepare it the day it is picked. The sugar in sweet corn immediately begins turning to starch the minute it is picked. The sooner it is prepared, the better the taste. Enhanced and supersweets tend to retain their sugars much longer, and can be stored several days prior to cooking.
The primary pest of corn is the earworm. It burrows in the silks and eats the tips of the corn. They can be controlled by simply adding a couple of drops of mineral oil to the silks once they form. Apply every three days until harvest.
I hope this answered your question. Please write again if I can ever be of assistance.
