Any "proper" way to grow CORN?
Question:I'm only wanting to grow it because I think it looks so nice in October :o)
Realizing it's getting a little late in the season, I don't care how big the ears of corn are, just like the grown husks along with some sunflowers on the other side by fall.
anyway, what/how is the best way to plant it?
for ex. how many rows (at the very least)?
thx
Answers:
Great idea! I love to decorate with dried corn stalks for fall get togethers. You don't tell me what your growing area is like so I'll just tell you how I grow mine. I have a 20 acres of land but it is very hilly. I use a sunny section on level land for my garden and plant the corn on the north side of it so the stalks won't shade the other veggies. If you can, run your rows east/west so all the plants get full sun all day. Dig the dirt to loosen it down about a foot. Rake out a shallow ditch about 6" wide and 6' deep. Leave the sides high. If your soil is very hard, like clay, you might want to dump some compost or potting soil in the bottom. Place the corn seeds in the ditch spacing them about 6-8 inches apart, rake enough soil in to cover them, leaving a little depth, about 2-3 inches. This is so you can keep the seeds damp until they sprout. Once they start growing keep pulling the soil up around them, leaving the top few inces sticking out. When the stalks get about 2-3 feet high you can start "hilling" them, that is piling soil up around the stalks to help support them.
The other method is to grow 5-6 seeds in a little hill. Start the same way, but rake a little hills up, make a hollow in the center and drop the seeds in. Cover and water, pulling more soil up as they grow. Hills work better in small areas.
If you are growing them for fun, let them crowd a little. It you want ears to eat, thin them when small to about 6 inces apart.
If you are growing more than one row, leave 2-3 feet between them. If you want ears to mature you need to have 2 or 3 rows so the pollen can reach all the ears. The pollen comes from the tassels on top of the stalk. It blows or falls on the silk sticking out of the ears and that pollinates the kernals. Every kernal on the ear has a strand of silk attached to it.
You can leave the stalks to dry in the field, or pull them and hang them upside down to dry, maybe from a garage rafter.
Sunflowers love growing near corn and can be planted pretty much the same way. If you have room to start a couple of pumpkin plants nearby, you have a whole garden full of Fall goodies. If you have kids, lightly carve their names on the small pumpkins and watch the names grow with the pumpkins. Have fun!
I know more than one row for the cross pollinating factor. If i had to guess a minumum of 3 rows
Erect a tall, sturdy fence because deer love corn. Even if the corn isn't ready to pick, the deer will trample the garden trying to get to it.
You need several planted rows(3-5) for cross pollination and the growing season is longer than some other vegetables.
I just plant the corn randomly about 6-8 inches apart and keep it watered and it grows. Not really a row of straight plants, but, about 1 foot wide and as long as the garden. I think it looks pretty this way. But, if you have Raccoons around, believe me, they know when the corn is ready to pick!
Some places may sell the Indian corn too so ask around.
you plant it just like anything else. put the seed in the ground and water it. you can do only one row if you want to if its just for looks. you might check into hybrids or popcorn. i live in florida, but grew up in iowa, so i know what you mean.
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