Sweet corn is an annual cereal that offers incredible satisfaction, even from a harvest point of view, to the people who grow it. Since it is very sensitive to frosts, it is best to proceed in spring, in a sunny and protected area from the wind; it is also necessary to water it regularly and remove the weeds, as the crop could suffer if it were deprived of water and soil nutrients. Your commitment to ensuring the best growing conditions for corn will be rewarded by the sweet, juicy cobs you pick, delicious to eat as a snack or side dish, and which are certainly fresher than what you can find in grocery stores.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Planting
Step 1. Plant sweet corn two weeks after the last frost
Since this cereal is very sensitive to low temperatures, it is recommended to plant it when the risk of further frost has passed. Check what the expected frost end dates are in your area and proceed with planting at least two weeks later.
- The date may vary depending on the region you are in. If you live in a southern area, you will be able to sow earlier than people living in the north.
- Wait until the soil reaches a temperature of about 15 ° C.
Step 2. Choose the sweet corn cultivar you prefer
There are different varieties of sweet and extra sweet corn: all ripen at different times; Generally speaking, if you live in a cool climate region, you should plant the one that blooms first.
- The varieties belonging to the "Saccharata" category (according to the subdivision proposed by E. Lewis Sturtevant) are very common, they have yellow beans with a sweet and creamy flavor; they resist cold well and grow in many types of different climates.
- In the United States, where the cultivation of sweet corn is very widespread, different varieties and hybrids can be found, such as the "How Sweet Is It", which resists well to the main diseases typical of this cereal, although it blooms later and grows better in the more temperate climates.
- Another overseas cultivar is "Divinity" corn with white and tender grains that tolerates drought well and resists various diseases.
- The "Sugar and Gold" and "Butter and Sugar" varieties are both early flowering and thrive well in cooler climates.
Step 3. Find the best rectangular area for planting corn
This cereal is pollinated with the wind, which means that the air currents move the pollen from one plant to another; for this reason, it is important to sow in blocks rather than in long rows, so that the pollen can spread better on the various stems.
- Find a square area whose sides are at least 1.2m long and that is exposed to direct sunlight.
- Also take into account the height of the corn compared to that of the other plants; know that it leaves those nearby in the shade based on where you decide to sow it.
Step 4. Free the soil from weeds
Before starting to bury the seeds, you need to clean the square or rectangle you have identified from weeds, as they can hinder the growth of the seedlings and absorb the nutrients present in the soil, which are instead necessary for the delicate cereal seedlings.
- Carefully clean up all the area you have decided to dedicate to corn; pull the weeds from the roots, so that they can no longer grow back.
- Also remove large stones or pebbles and break up large lumps of earth.
Step 5. Add compost to the soil
Before planting sweet corn, spread a 5-10 cm thick layer of compost over the entire growing area; this material provides the soil with nitrogen and other important nutrients, also allowing it to maintain the right soil moisture.
Step 6. Use a 10-10-10 fertilizer
After spreading a layer of compost, spread an additional layer of fertilizer, using about 250ml for every 3m2 of culture medium.
The fertilizer promotes the development of corn and provides the soil with an additional dose of nutrients
Step 7. Plant the seeds approximately 4cm deep
Once you have cleared and prepared the soil in which you want to grow the cereal, start with planting. Plant the seeds in at least four 1.2m long rows, inserting them about 4cm deep into the earth and spacing them from each other by at least 25-30cm.
- To insert the seed into the soil use your thumb to drill the hole at the indicated depth; drop the seed and cover it with earth to protect it.
- If you want to make more than four rows, make sure that the field is square or rectangular, always keeping the seeds at a distance of about 25-30 cm from each other.
- Varieties of sweet corn ripen at different times; if you want to have a long harvest season, plant several types.
- If you decide to grow different varieties, make sure that the seedlings that belong to the same cultivar are in at least two adjacent rows, so that they can pollinate effectively.
- If you find some young seedlings already developed at your city's nursery or garden center, this can be a great alternative.
Step 8. Water the seeds abundantly
Immediately after having buried them, you must wet them with a generous amount of water until the soil becomes well soaked and dark; this step is extremely important for the seedlings, to allow them to grow and thrive.
Part 2 of 3: Caring for Sweet Corn
Step 1. Water a few days after planting
It is important to keep the seeds well hydrated at this early stage; if three or four days after sowing it hasn't rained yet, you have to provide the water yourself.
Watering until the soil is dark and moist is enough, but you don't have to overdo it to the point of forming a puddle
Step 2. Bathe it regularly if you live in a fairly dry region
Sweet corn needs about 2.5cm of water a week to start developing, so you need to irrigate it if you live in a dry climate region where it doesn't rain much. Use a garden hose with a spray gun and spread the water as close to the ground as possible.
- Do not wet the apex of the seedlings, as this may wash away the pollen from the corn beard.
- Once a beard has formed on the top of the plant, you need to provide 2.5cm of water every 5 days.
Step 3. Regularly remove weeds from the soil
Whenever you see new weeds sprouting from the ground, tear off the roots to clear the area; remember that these weeds absorb nutrients from the soil, which are needed for corn to grow. Be careful during the procedure, so as not to tear off the shallow roots of the seedlings you are growing.
Corn often develops suckers - branches born directly from the trunk, which can easily be confused with weeds if you don't notice that they are attached to the plant. While some plants may want to remove them, detaching them from the corn could actually harm the roots, so you should leave them in place
Step 4. Use a 10-10-10 fertilizer six weeks after planting
At this stage the plant should be about 50 cm tall, stabilized and should have developed some shoots; it is therefore a good time to spread a layer of fertilizer that contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in equal parts. Distribute 250 ml for every 3 m2 of land.
Step 5. Treat the corn beard with a pesticide blend
This plant is particularly susceptible to Helicoverpa Zea, which develops when moths lay their eggs on the fuzz that forms on the surface of the cereal. To prevent this insect from growing on the upper end of the plant, feeding on it, spread a solution of water and vegetable oil in equal parts every few weeks, adding a few drops of liquid dish detergent.
Step 6. Protect the plants from animals
Small ones, such as squirrels, birds, and other rodents, can eat corn; avoid luring them into the field by clearing the soil of old corn stalks or other rotting material.
If you see rodents wandering around, consider installing an electric fence around the camp to prevent access. you can also try planting particularly tall varieties of corn, so that the animals cannot reach the cobs
Part 3 of 3: Harvest
Step 1. Check if the corn on the cob is ripe
Observe it and make a note of the day you saw the beard appear on the top. Three weeks after the appearance of such filaments, you can start testing whether the cereal is ripe; to check this, partially peel an ear of corn and try to puncture a grain with a fingernail.
- When the corn is ripe, a thick, milky liquid should splash from the grain; when it is not yet fully ripe, the substance is more aqueous. The milky stage, the first stage of corn ripening, typically lasts a week.
- You should figure out which ear to check for maturity by looking at the skin and beard. When the corn is ready for harvest, the bracts (the papery leaves that make up the shell) are tight and green instead of yellowish, while the beard is dark brown rather than golden.
- If you want to test a cob that is not yet ripe, remember to close the leaves around the kernels to protect them from weeds.
Step 2. Remove the corn by hand
If the inspection concluded that the corn is ripe, grab the stem with your non-dominant hand and use the other to push the cob down firmly and detach it from the base; afterwards, twist it on itself and separate it definitively from the stem. In this way, it should remain intact and perfectly wrapped in the bracts; on the base of it you should also notice a stump from which it developed.
Step 3. Eat corn immediately after harvest
It is best to consume the cereal as soon as it has been detached from the stems. You can store it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours or overnight, but the freshness level decreases. To enjoy the best corn possible, proceed immediately after harvest: remove the wrapper, beard and wash the cob before grilling or boiling it.
You can also freeze the kernels after shelling the cobs; store them in airtight bags and put them in the freezer. You can also store the cereal in airtight jars
Step 4. Monitor corn every two days or so after harvesting the first ripe cobs
Keep checking the plants; those belonging to the same variety all ripen in the same period (in an interval of a couple of months) and you must avoid wasting the fresh cereal!
If you are growing several varieties, remember that they have different ripening times; label them correctly to know when the right time for harvest has come
Advice
- Corn suffers when transplanted, so it's best to start growing outdoors right away.
- Even if you only want to grow a small number of stems, it's best to have a grid formation to encourage pollination.
- Almost all types of corn develop two or three cobs per stem.
