planting corn 101

Freds · Mar 9, 2005

Does anyone have a good link that would take someone that knows nothing about corn except how to cook and eat it (me), to what one needs to do in order to grow it?
I want to plant just a small patch for myself, family and friends, maybe a few critters, and have no idea what implements I need or could at least get by with.
My field used to have corn planted in it, so I know it will grow there, but I have no real gardening experience... obviously. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Thanks for any help!

Golfgar4 · Mar 9, 2005

Just did a Google (actually a Dogpile /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif) and found this site... Planting Sweet Corn .

Make sure you send me a couple dozen ears when you harvest it this summer! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Freds · Mar 9, 2005

Thanks, that will give me a start once I convert everything into "American" /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
Nothing about soil preparation, though. Do I need to weed out the existing field growth or will the corn overcome it, do I disc, roto-till or can I just drag my BB over the patch a few times with the scarifiers down to break up the soil (if that needs done)? ....basic stuff I have no idea about. How far in advance to planting do I prep the area, how do I ensure the corn grows and the grasses don't come back and crowd it out (if that can happen)?

I could gp to Borders and buy a "Gardening for Dummies" type book, but it would probably have a lot of stuff not pertaining to, "I have a tractor and a little land, how do I plant a little crop". /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

My searches always yield too much info and don't get to what I am specifically looking for. Maybe I need a "Searches for Dummies" book, too. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Nasty135 · Mar 9, 2005

Freds, I would turn the ground and disc or till 5"-7" deep. Rows about 16"-20" apart. Seeds from 4"-8" apart in a row about 1 1/2"-2" deep. Lime and fertilizer 5-10-5 or 10-10-10. First year will be great til everything especially bugs(corn beetles) find out what youv'e got there /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
Plant after last frost, Do Not plant different varieties together must be at least 30ft or more apart(cross pollenation in corn is an UGLY thing). Plant as much as you can handle work wise or space wise, but stagger plantings so you don't have to pick it all at once unless your giving it away. Plant about two or three 30' foot rows every week-end til you get tired of planting /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Good Luck and have fun, I LOVE CORN!!
Nothern Xtra sweet bi-color hybrid(early 66day)
silver queen (88 day)

Get a gurney's or burpee catalog and order what you want now so you'll have it ,otherwise they will substitute another type if they run out of your choice... Argent is supposed to be Great all though I haven't tried it yet. Maybe this year /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

coachgrd · Mar 9, 2005

Fred:
Did I read in some thread you are in North East, PA? I have a friend in Waterford who plants the finest sweet corn you'll ever have. The specific variety is called "Bodacious." Oh my, is it something to behold.

Good luck,
coachgrd

fishman · Mar 9, 2005

In my experience, it is important to plant your sweet corn in a "block" rather than in one or two long rows. It helps with pollination and ensures that your corn ears are all filled out. This approach is also more efficient when watering, and seems to reduce weeds.

I also like to "hill" my corn once it is about a foot tall. This keeps it from wind-throwing in high winds and seems to act as a mulch on the roots.

If you don't like surprises in your sweet corn (i.e. grubs), you'll need to spray at the appropriate time. I don't know anything about it other than you need to do it before the silks turn brown.

fishman · Mar 9, 2005

Oh, one other important thing. You see people running through corn fields all the time in the movies. DON'T do that unless you want to get cut up pretty bad. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Think lots of nasty paper cuts.

Once you get it tilled up, all you need is a good garden hoe.

gsganzer · Mar 9, 2005

<font color="blue"> "If you don't like surprises in your sweet corn (i.e. grubs), you'll need to spray at the appropriate time. I don't know anything about it other than you need to do it before the silks turn brown." </font>

We used to spray sevin when the silk began to show. We'd just walk down the rows with a backpack sprayer and get the spray to hit the silk on the ears.

To elaborate on some of the other responses. You should plant at least 5 rows, or plant your corn in "mounds" to help pollination. You also need to be careful about what types you plant eg: SH, SE etc. Some will cross pollinate if you're not careful.

Freds · Mar 10, 2005

Thanks for the replies. I think I'm learning something here. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
Bodacious sounds pretty good, but so does 66 days. I think I'll stop by the co-op and see what they have and get a catalog if they don't come through with something. It's not like it's spring where I'm at yet. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
So, I can borrow a disc and run it over the ground a few times and I'm all set, maybe fertilize a little. Do I want to disc before things start to grow so the field grass doesn't get a jump start? What is "hilling" and what implement does this? I don't want to buy anything too expensive for a small plot, but want to do as much as I can from the seat of my tractor with maybe the exception of poking the seeds in the ground. It's one seed per hole, right? Do they all germinate? Not counting losing some to animals or bugs... how many seeds actually produce corn that are planted?
It's only going to be a little patch of corn (starting out anyway), but I hadn't intended on watering it, just depending on the weather like a farmer would. Is that a bad idea?

Thanks again and oh, I've found myself in a corn field before. I have no intention of running through one. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

Nasty135 · Mar 10, 2005

Farmer Fred /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif, A catalog will familiarize you with whats available seed wise, a disc by itself probably won't get deep enough on virgin soil,unless you spend all day riding back and forth. I think you will need to first break the surface of the ground not scratch it, recommend plow or tiller. As said by another poster 3 rows at a time minimum . One seed per hole will yeild 2 ears of corn ,If you get good seed(not old) you get a hi percentage of germination. All plants that grow should produce if pollinated. Also if your only planting corn in this particular patch then make it square to have the optimum setting for pollination and wind break protection. Don't forget to buy the book planting by the MOON. I know people who swear by it ,certain phases of the moon affect crops on a positive aspect.
As for hilling I think that means covering the base of the corn plant when it puts out its top feeders with a little extra topsoil, Not sure about that one because I have never heard of it so maybe I'm learning a new trick myself. I'm certainly not a pro but have had a couple of bumper crops ,conversely I've had a couple wasted crops where I got nothing at all /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif