Tips for Growing Corn

Choosing to grow corn in your garden is beneficial in many ways. It cuts costs at the grocery store and It tastes better then store bought. It can be blanched, frozen and enjoyed all year round. It is not hard to grow, but there are a few things to remember when trying to grow corn.

Plants should be started from a seed and grown indoors until it is at least five to six inches tall. Corn grows better in a hot climate and should not be planted until the last frost is well over.

Because corn is a large plant, it can take up a large area in a garden. So space the plants in rows 12 inches apart from each another. The rows should be 30 inches apart. Corn should never be planted in long, thin rows. The plants have to be placed in blocks or clusters. Corn is pollinated by the wind, so the cluster has to include at least four short rows together. This ensures pollination. A triangle on either side of the back of a garden is great for clustering, while at the same time conserving space for other plants.

These plants love a warm climate. They should be planted in direct sunlight. They like rich soil and plenty of water. Corn should be placed in the back of the garden, so they do not over shade other plants. However, when the plants are small the area should be checked often for weeds. Continue doing so until the corn plants are large enough to out shade the weeds.

Ear worms are a big problem when growing corn. When the ears start to mature these insects like to feed on the tips of corn. At this time the ear worms will be clearly visible. A drop of mineral oil placed just inside the tip of the ear, can repel the ear worms. The tips can also be removed and the rest of the ear used, if the remaining corn is healthy.

Corn is ready to harvest when the husk becomes pliable and the white stringy hairs turn brown. The kernels should be big and juicy. Pinch the kernel with a knife and juice should squirt out when the corn is ready to be picked.

The best way to save corn for future use is to blanch and freeze it. Take the ears of corn and boil them for three minutes. You can ether leave the corn on the ear or remove it. Put the corn in a freezer bag. I use a vacuum food sealer to guard against freezer burn.