CAN I GROW CORN?
Corn is extremely easy to grow provided you have enough space. You will need a minimum
10-foot by 10-foot area to ensure proper pollination. The larger your garden, the better and
more uniform your corn harvest will be.
Corn is one of the oldest known cultivated vegetables dating back almost 10,000 years. We
are all familiar with the American Indians reliance on corn known as maize. Thomas Jefferson
experimented with many types of corn at Monticello.
CORN SEEDS OR PLANTS?
Corn is best planted as seed directly in the garden after all danger of frost has passed and
after the spring soil has warmed.
Corn needs plenty of water and is helped by a dressing of mulch to keep roots from drying
CORN GROWING TIPS
Sow corn seed 5 to 6 inches apart in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. When seedlings are healthy, thin to 1-foot apart. Corn is a rapid growing vegetable and needs to be fed and watered to reach its full size. 1 to 2 inches a water weekly is required.
INSECTS & DISEASES
Pests and diseases are rarely a problem in a corn patch. Bugs and worms which enter the
husks through the silk are usually only present at the upper kernels and can be cut off when
CORN HARVEST TIPS
The ears are ready to harvest about 20 days after the silks appear. The corn kernels should be firm and milky when cut open.
RECIPES & STORAGE
Standard corn can be stored for up to 3 days in your refrigerator. Newer hybrids will keep
their full flavor for up to 2 weeks. Fresh corn is delicious eaten right off the cob in the
garden. Try it grilled, boiled, or steamed.
See all our corn