How do you plant corn for planting?

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How to Plant Corn
  1. Starting corn seeds indoors is not recommended.
  2. Plant seeds 1.5 to 2 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart.
  3. Rows should be spaced 30 to 36 inches apart.
  4. You may choose to fertilize at planting time; corn is meant to grow rapidly.
  5. Water well at planting time.



Also know, how long does it take to grow corn?

60 to 100 days

Also, how much corn do I need to plant? Garden Size Each plant requires 3 square feet of space to produce from one to two ears of corn. Crowded corn will only produce one ear, while two ears will grow on stalks under optimum growing conditions. A 10-by-15-foot garden space is enough for 50 stalks of corn or about 75 ears of corn.

Also Know, can you plant corn kernels?

It is possible to grow plants from the kernels you get for making popcorn, but remember this is a corn that isn't any good as sweet corn. The kernels that have germinated should then be planted out into the ground in blocks of at least 3 x 3 (as corn is wind pollinated) and spaced at roughly 1' apart.

How often should you water corn?

A rule of thumb for watering is to water every 7-10 days or when no moisture is felt when a finger is placed about an inch inside of the soil. Water Corn Plant until the soil becomes moist but be careful not to water excessively as over watering may result in leaf drop, wilting, or possibly death of the plant.

39 Related Question Answers Found

How do you plant corn in a small garden?

That means even small gardens can squeeze in a corn crop. Arrange corn in at least four rows side-by-side, spacing rows 12-24 inches apart. Wind will blow the pollen from one corn stalk to another.

How much sunlight does corn need?

Sweet corn is quite easy to grow, but it does require ample growing space and plenty of sunlight. Corn won't grow well at all if it is planted in a spot that receives less than six hours of full sun each day.

What type of soil does corn grow best in?

The ideal soil for growing corn is well-drained, preferably a sandy loam. Organic matter such as compost, leaves and grass clippings can be added to soil to improve its overall quality and improve drainage, particularly for heavy clay soil. Like most vegetables, corn grows best in soil with a pH between 5.8 and 6.8.

Does corn grow back every year?

Annual to Perennial: Corn. Perennial plants are plants that are planted once and grow many times through many seasons thus saving time and money. They have long roots that add organic matter to the soil and keep the soil healthy.

How many gallons of water does a plant need?


According to the Press Democrat, “Researchers estimate each plant consumes 6 gallons of water a day. At that rate, the plants were siphoning off 180,000 gallons of water per day in each watershed—all together more than 160 Olympic-sized swimming pools over the average 150-day growing cycle for outdoor plants.”

Is corn a fruit?

To complicate things a little more, many grains including popcorn are considered to be a fruit. This is because they come from the seed or flower part of the plant. In contrast, vegetables are from the leaves, stems, and other parts of a plant. So, corn is actually a vegetable, a whole grain, and a fruit.

Do you have to Detassel corn in garden?

Detassel the female plants as soon as the tassels emerge completely and before the tiny pollen-bearing anthers cover them. You have to complete the detasseling before silks appear. Once anthers and silks arrive, you're too late -- pollination has begun. If you detassel too early, the yield will be reduced.

How much corn do you get from one plant?

General Quantities. One corn plant, given adequate growing conditions, will produce between two and four ears of corn. Early varieties produce fewer, while later-maturing types produce slightly more.

What is the best fertilizer for sweet corn?

A side-dressing of fertilizer containing nitrogen -- such as a 46-0-0 ratio fertilizer -- will help corn continue to grow well after it sprouts and uses up some of the soil's nitrogen. To side-dress sweet corn, sprinkle the fertilizer on the surface of the soil 6 inches to the side of the rows of corn and water it in.

What month is corn ready to harvest?


When to Pick Corn
Corn is ready for harvest about 20 days after the silk first appears. At harvest time, the silk turns brown, but the husks are still green. Each stalk should have at least one ear near the top. When conditions are right, you may get another ear lower down on the stalk.

Do you have to soak corn seeds before planting?

Soak Corn Seeds
Sweet corn seeds can appear shrunken and shriveled; before they can germinate, they must slowly plump up with water. To help them along, soak dry seeds in water at room temperature overnight before planting.

How many ears of corn are on a stalk?

Ear number and size can vary greatly from cultivar to cultivar. Most sweet corn varieties will have one to two ears per plant because they are mature rapidly and are generally short statured plants. Early maturing sweet corn will have one ear while those that mature later have two harvestable ears.

What does corn look like when it starts growing?

After the seed sprouts, it sends down a taproot and starts to develop its first leaves. These leaves resemble blades of grass when they sprout. As it grows, corn develops a thick, fibrous stalk and many flat, pointed leaves. The stalk can grow as tall as 15 feet, depending on the climate and variety.

How do you save corn kernels to plant?


  1. Leave your seed corn in place when you harvest your eating corn.
  2. Watch for the seed corn's ear husks to begin to dry and turn brown.
  3. Pull back the husks of each ear to expose the kernels.
  4. Check the dried ears three months later for off-color kernels that could indicate bad or cross-pollinated corn.

How deep should corn seeds be planted?

It's best to start them directly in the garden so that their roots aren't disturbed due to transplanting. Plant seeds 1.5 to 2 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart. Rows should be spaced 30 to 36 inches apart. You may choose to fertilize at planting time; corn is meant to grow rapidly.

How long does it take to grow potatoes?

It is tempting to harvest potatoes as soon as possible to enjoy them in meals but different varieties can take anything from 70 to 120 days to grow.