Grow Sweet Corn for Great Corn on the Cob

Corn stands tall as a garden favorite. It's not hard to grow though it takes a lot of square feet to produce much of a crop. But you do remember fondly the times you enjoyed fresh corn on the cob...

Not all corn is the same. Garden corn is called sweet corn because it has sugar content than field corn which is grown by farmers to feed cattle. Sweet corn also has smaller plants and ears with thinner skins on the kernel.

Corn is usually grown in rows much like beans, but it is best to have several rows together in a block rather than have one long row. Corn is pollinated by the wind which is facilitated by the plants close together. Poor pollination can result in corn ears that are not completely filled out. It is also a good idea to keep sweet corn away from any other type of corn such as popcorn, field corn, or "Indian corn" to avoid cross pollination.

Plant corn after the last frost.

Corn is planted after the last frost of spring. Prepare the rows just as you would for beans. Plant two seeds about every six to eight inches. Thin to one plant after the corn is three inches high. As the stalks grow, rake soil up against each side of the growing plants to help support them. Keep corn watered and keep the weeds out to prevent competition.

After reaching four to five feet tall, the top of the stalk will develop a tassel, the male part of the plant that produces pollen. At the point where the long leaves grow from the stem is where the corn ears will develop. When they enlarge, the tips of the ears will develop light green fibers called corn silks. Two or three ears will develop on each plant, only one or two will eventually reach full size.

Fertilization occurs after pollen lands on silks.

The yellow pollen will land on the silks and begin the fertilization process. Each kernel has its own silk. The ear is not ready to pick until the silks start to dry and turn dark. The ear becomes plumper as each kernel grows and fills with white "milk". To check if the ear is ready to pick, gently pull the end of shucks back a few inches and see if the kernels look full. Squeeze a kernel with your fingernail to see if the kernel is still soft. A little of the corn milk will squirt. To pick, firmly grab the ear and jerk quickly downward with a slight twist of the wrist. Pull the shucks off and use a silk brush to remove the silks.