Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Corn (
Zea mays
)
Corn is actually a grass on steroids. It's an improved grain and there are a couple different types.
Field or dent corn is often grown for grinding to use as corn meals; sweet corn is what you usually
think of as summer eating corn; and popcorn is a relative of the field corn and fabulous for snack-
ing. Corn needs lots of water so its shallow roots don't dry out.
Sow your seeds directly into the garden and watch out for crows and other hungry birds. We've
seen them go down the row pulling just-sprouted seedlings up by the leaves to get to the seed
below. Sow seeds at least an inch deep when the soil is warm because late frosts will kill the leaves.
Plant corn in wider rows to help with pollination, because if you don't have enough corn the fruit
won't form as well. Space plants at least 18 inches apart.
Corn is shallow rooted and feeds heavily so it benefits from added compost throughout the season.
The extra soil built up around the corn stalk helps stabilize the corn plant and the added nutrients
help feed it. This means corn also doesn't compete well with weeds, so mulch deeply to help
smother out weeds. In windy regions be sure to plant your corn rows where they will have some
shelter from prevailing winds.
Corn is pollinated by wind, which is why planting in blocks is so helpful. You can also shake the
corn stalks to loosen pollen and increase pollination. When the corn silk turns brown at the end,
it's a good sign that the corn is ripe.
Sweet corn begins to turn starchy as soon as it is picked, so for fresh eating there is nothing better
than garden-to-table in a single day. Super-sweets will also not produce as sweet as possible if they
cross-pollinate with anything other than super-sweet corn. Allow plenty of room between the dif-
ferent varieties if you grow more than one kind of corn.
Corn pests include large animals such as mice, crows, and raccoons. There are also plenty of insect
pests such as earworms and corn borers, which will eat their way into the corn and destroy the
harvest.
Bacillus thuringiensis
var.
kurstaki
or BTK can be applied to the leaves or tips of the ears
where these pests are a big problem. Gardeners who are trying to avoid chemicals can use a drop of
mineral oil on the silk to stop corn borers.
Blue Hopi.
An ancient blue corn that was used for flour and corn meal. Matures in 110 days with
9-inch-long ears.
Country Gentleman.
A sweet corn with pale yellow, 8-inch-long ears. Good for fresh eating and
also freezes and cans well. Reputed to have high germination and pollination rates.
Golden Bantam.
An early maturing corn that produces yellow, sweet corn in 75 days. The bantam
corn only grows about 6 inches long on 6-foot stalks.
Painted Hill Sweet.
Developed for cooler weather, this corn matures in 75 days and has multicol-
ored kernels of red, blue, yellow, and more.
