Planting Corn in Your Garden Requires a Little TLC

A fool proof guide to growing corn in your backyard garden with stunning results

To have a continuous supply of corn throughout the summer and fall you should be planting corn in your vegetable garden early in the season. The time from planting your corn to maturity will vary depending on the amount of heat your garden experiences because corn doesn't really start growing well in a garden until the weather is consistently warm. Long hot summers are optimal weather conditions.

After planting your corn, it requires ongoing TLC. Seed corn needs continuous watering from the time it is planted until the time it is harvested. Rolled leaves are normal for corn plants during times of extreme heat but if the leaves roll or curl at times other than at midday, then the ears probably require more water. Ideally you should plant pumpkins and corn closely together to protect the roots, reduce weeds and help retain moisture. Planning your garden layout ahead of time can improve your chances of success.

Corn roots grow very shallow so it is important when weeding planted corn that you are careful not to damage the roots. Use mulch to keep the roots covered. The corn in your garden will be ready to harvest about 3 weeks after the silk first appears at the end of the ear. The silk will dry out and turn brown when at their peak. Pick the ears by breaking the ears from the stalk, close to the base of each ear without damaging the stalk or the corn.

Ultimately corn is pollinated by the wind and air. Planting your corn in blocks or rows will assist pollination. But remembering this, it is not a good idea to plant dent corn or different varieties of corn closer than 100 feet in proximity because corn plants in your vegetable gardens might well cross pollinate and cause a number of growth problems. This can lead to a complete lack of corn production across all varieties.

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