Corn is an annual vegetable and a member of the grass family that can flourish anywhere 4 and 12 feet in height. On the side of each tall, bright green, grass-like stalk develop one to two ears of corn. At the top of each stalk, flowing tassels form; pollen falls from the tassels onto silky threads, which grow from each ear below. Each silk connects to an unfertilized kernel. Each corn ear forms as many kernels as the amount of the pollinated silks. Tassels are corn plant male flowers. The female flowers are the kernels and the ears. Sweet corn kernels may be yellow, white, black, red, or any color combination. A great variety of corn on each stalk can form one or two harvestable ears. A variety of dwarfs can shape two to three harvestable ears per stalk. If there is no pollination, the stalk will only yield a cob.
Corn
Annual
Full Sun
60 to 100 frost-free days
Zea mays
4 to 12 feet
Loose and well-draining soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.8.
Does Not Apply To Annuals
Corn seed germinates at 75 ° F within 10 to 14 days, but germination levels will only exceed 75%. Start the corn seeds indoors roughly 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost of the spring. Then transplanting the corn seedlings into the garden 2 to 3 weeks after the last frost. When your season is long enough, seed every two to three weeks.
Corn is best grown in loose, fertile, drained soil with a pH of 5.8 to 6.8. Apply aged compost to the garden location before seeding in corn. In autumn add compost garden. Plant the corn in full sun.
Plant corn 1 to 1½ inches deep and 2 to 4 inches apart into shorter side by side rows to create a square box instead of a long row. Planting a square of many shorter rows can contribute successful pollination.
Small plants of 12 to 18 inches apart for dwarf varieties and between 18 and 24 inches separately for significant variations are 4 to 6 inches long after plants have been grown.
Too tightly planted corn may need more water and fertilizer and can deliver less performance. For a continuous harvest, sequestration of maize every two weeks or grow at the same time early, mid-season, and late varieties.
Keep corn adequately moist and watered consistently. Corn proliferates in hot weather and requires an even moisture supply to avoid wilting. Avoid overhead watering, mainly when tassels appear; when pollinating, the water may decrease the number of kernels in the cob. During autumn before planting, add aged compost and old manure to planting areas. Corn is a heavy user of nitrogen.
Wireworms, Cutworms, Flea Beetles ,and Corn Earworms may invade corn. Find pests and pick them and kill them.
Corn earworms lay eggs on silks, and then the tiny caterpillars fold the silks down to the legs, where they feed on the tips. At the tip of each ear, put a drop of mineral oil to cover and suffocate earworms.
Corn borers are tunneling into stalks and ears to feed. The best control is handpicking. Keep the garden free from debris and borers and earworms. Maize would also be targeted by raccoons and other rodents. To avoid such pests, using traps or fences.
Corn requires 60 to 100 days, depending on the variety and the warm weather.
Corn is ready for harvest if the ears are dark green, silks are brown, and the kernels are smooth, plump; the kernel is pinched, and the juice is milky, not transparent.
Take corn from the ear and give it a quick downward twist. Every stalk of corn produces one or maybe two harvestable ore of corn.
Currently, harvest comes about twenty days after silk comes out. In the morning, harvest corn and plunge ears into icy water immediately to preserve sweetness.
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