Maize, or corn, has both female and male reproductive parts, making it a monoecious plant. The the corn silk is the female part and the tassels are the male part. The pollen from the tassels is carried by the wind to adjacent corn stalks. Each strand of silk is responsible for generating one kernel on the ear. If the strand does not get pollinated, then that kernel is not formed. The space between corn stalks makes the difference between a full ear of corn and those ears that have kernels missing. If the mature corn is too close together, the pollen can not penetrate the mass of leaves and stalks. If the distance between corn stalks is too far, the wind may not carry the pollen to the next stalk.
Choose a well-drained area of the garden that receives at least six to eight hours of sunlight each day. Till the soil to a depth of about 12 inches and mix in well-rotted manure as you turn the soil. Work in a layer of peat moss or other organic matter while you are tilling to aerate the soil and keep it loose.
Plant the seed corn at a depth of about 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep when the soil temperature reaches at least 55 degrees Fahrenheit; cooler temperatures keep the kernels from germinating and the seed will rot in the ground. Space the seeds at least 6 inches apart in both directions in 3-by-5-foot sections. Cover the seed with loose soil and water the garden site thoroughly. Expect the seeds to germinate in about five to twelve days, depending on the variety.
Thin the corn sprouts to at least 12 inches apart. Transplant thriving seedlings to bare sections of the planting area to fill in the gaps. Water the seedlings to a depth of about 6 inches. Allow the soil to dry slightly between watering. Sprinkle a nitrogen-based fertilizer as a side-dressing to the corn when the stalks are about 12 inches tall.
Wait about two weeks and plant another block of corn to extend the crop harvest farther into the year. Harvest the corn when the ears are full, the silk has turned brown and a pierced kernel produces a transparent but milky liquid.
Things You Will Need
- Garden tiller or shovel
- Well-rotted manure
- Peat moss or other organic matter
- Viable seed corn
- Fertilizer high in nitrogen
- Corn roots grow about 1 foot across and 3 to 5 feet into the soil. The roots you see above ground are called anchor roots that hold the stalk upright as it grows.
- Corn is a heavy feeder and needs nitrogen to produce a good crop.
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