![]() The basin was about 4 inches deep and 2 to 3 feet wide with a raised ridge made from the excavated soil around it. Native Americans in arid climates planted corn in basins to catch spring rainwater and help keep the corn roots down where water would be available longer. However, for a large planting, soaker hoses may not be practical. Soaker hoses will insure that your corn gets the water it needs. It also has shallow roots that make it susceptible to drought. If so, feed again.Ĭorn grows fast and needs lots of water to grow properly. Corn will tell you if it is hungry by turning very light green. Normal plants should grow fast with dark green healthy leaves. (Be sure to follow rates given on the label of any fertilizer you are using.) Water your corn once or twice weekly, more if the weather is hot and dry. In addition to setting out young plants in the kind of nutrient-rich soil mentioned above, you'll want to feed corn regularly with a continuous-release fertilizer like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules that nourishes both the soil and your plants. ![]() ![]() Plan to fertilize regularly because corn is a hungry plant. If possible, lay the plastic a week or so before planting. In cold climates you can plant in a raised bed covered with black or IRT plastic (infrared transmitting plastic) that will warm the soil. In case of a surprise late frost, be prepared to cover seedlings with a fabric row cover. Seedlings can be set out as soon as the last spring frost has passed. It's a good idea to improve the soil to improve nutrition and texture by mixing aged compost-enriched Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose In-Ground Soil in with the top few inches of native soil. Harvest corn when the ear feels plump and the silks are brown and dry.Ĭorn needs a spot with that gets full sun and has fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8.Add a 3-inch layer of mulch to keep soil moist and prevent weeds.Corn has a big appetite, so it's important to feed plants with a water-soluble plant food regularly.Check soil moisture often and consider using a soaker hose if you have a small plot. Corn will grow quickly when it is watered well.Improve native soil conditions by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter.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. ![]() Hold off on planting corn in spring until after the last frost.Because of this, gardeners who have the space often make 2 or 3 plantings 2 weeks apart to keep the harvest coming. Instead, they form a few ears per stalk and they are finished. After the first year you will probably want to increase the size of the planting to at least 4 rows 10 feet long.Ĭorn plants are not like tomatoes or most other vegetables, which bear over a long period of time. Growing corn on this tiny scale is a good way to introduce yourself to the crop if you've never grown it. ![]() In a small garden, 15 plants set 1 foot apart can be grown in a 3 x 5-foot bed. To make sure silks are nicely showered with pollen, grow corn in blocks of short rows rather than in a long, single row. 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. Strong and vigorous, they will give you a great start on a big harvest.Ĭorn needs plenty of space for two reasons - it takes up a lot of nutrition from the soil, and it is primarily pollinated by wind. Be sure to start with young corn plants from Bonnie Plants®. Sinking your teeth into a perfectly ripened ear of sweet corn is one of the finest pleasures of summer. ![]()
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