Cant grow corn to save my life.

[dj1701]

Moved into a new house a few years ago. Tried to grow some corn like I always did, but no luck.

It only grows about 12 inches and turns yellow. I have tilled the clay soil real well and used fertilizer, but still nothing?

Wondering what you all do for successful corn crops?

Thanks
Dave

 

[jeff9366]

Have you had your soil tested by a lab?

If your soil pH not in corn range you have to amend soil before fertilizer can be used by corn and other plants. Hybrid corn is especially sensitive to pH.

Tried to grow corn but no luck. It only grows 12 inches then turns yellow. I have tilled the clay soil real well and used fertilizer, but nothing.

An $8.00 soil test may solve your problem. Follow directions that come with soil bag carefully. There will be a box on the form asking for the crop. Enter corn.

 

[Big Barn]

^^^Before you do anything else take Jeff’s advice^^^

 

[oosik]

My soil is very acidic. Had to add lime( limestone ). Bring it down to near neutral. First year our corn did EXACTLY like the OP. Next year we couldn't give it all away. We froze 65 quarts of kernel corn. Third year - more lime - planted less corn.

 

[Threepoint]

dj1701, that sounds very frustrating. A routine soil analysis may solve your mystery, but possibly not. By any chance, to you have any black walnut trees within 50 feet of your gardern? Here in No. Va 25 years ago, I planted three 30-foot rows of sweet corn, each variety maturing at different times. Our property had been part of a dairy farm many decades earlier, so we had 30 inches of fertile top soil, which I amended and balanced further. Could not grow corn to maturity for the life of me. After two disappointing seasons of stunted growth, I finally figured out that even though the nearest black walnut tree was over 50 feet from the corn, the juglone produced naturally in the roots was enough to do it in!

Vegetables further away, especially lettuce, squash and okra, even some tomatoes, managed to grow fairly well. :confused3: Since I love black walnut trees despite their messiness, I decided to just buy my sweet corn from the local grocery store or farmer's market.

 

[dj1701]

No black walnut trees on the property. The soil is most likely acidic because pines and blueberries grow well here, not much else.

When I moved in the neighbors said I would have to put in raised beds. I laughed at that. I now have raised beds.

 

[ruffdog]

Check around for a simple soil test kit. I use to put ashes in my garden but I found out I needed more acidity instead. Without knowing what you have you are planting blind. In the old days, farmers would actually taste the dirt and remark if it was sweet or sour.

Antler King Instant pH Soil Test Kit - AKPH | Blain's Farm & Fleet

 

[jasonzee]

PH has to be 6.0 or higher for corn.

 

[/pine]

Does it get full sun all day?

 

[Wagtail]

Failing all else... you could apply for a government subsidy to not grow corn. :scratchchin: