How to Plant and Grow Corn

Although corn can be a rewarding vegetable to grow in the garden, the plants require some special care and maintenance to produce a viable crop. Proper planting and spacing, irrigation and fertilization are all essential to growing corn. Because corn requires lots of nitrogen, you'll also need to start preparing the soil in the planting site the previous fall to incorporate manure or compost.

Tiller or pitchfork

Aged manure or compost

Corn seeds

Measuring tape

Shovel or spade

Garden hose or irrigation system

Hoe

Organic mulch

Calcium nitrate or other nitrogen-rich fertilizer

Select a planting site that has soil that drains well and receives full sunlight. If you're planting the corn in your garden with other vegetables, plant the corn on the north side of the garden space to prevent the other plants from being in the corn's shade.

Prepare the soil the fall before planting the corn by loosening the soil to a depth of about 12 inches using a tiller or pitchfork. Spread a 2- to 4-inch-thick layer of aged manure or compost onto the planting site and work it into the soil.

Plant the corn seeds in spring after all chance of frost has passed. If you're planting sweet corn, wait until the top 4 inches of soil is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit but ideally 60 degrees. If you're planting extra-sweet corn types, the soil temperature should be 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plant the corn seeds about 1 inch deep into the soil and spaced 10 inches apart in rows that are three feet apart. Ideally, you should plant the corn seeds in a block with at least four rows for best production. Unless you're planting an early small variety, thin the corn seedlings so they're spaced 12 to 16 inches apart in the rows when the plants are about 4 inches tall.

Water the corn once a week when rainfall is less than 1 inch. Provide even watering so you moisten the soil down to about 6 inches below the surface. Corn plants should receive 1 inch or more of water every week, either through rainfall or irrigation.

Keep the corn free of weeds by shallowly hoeing or hand pulling the weeds until the corn plants are about knee high. Then spread a 3- to 5-inch-thick layer of organic mulch around the corn plants and in the rows to keep weeds at bay and preserve soil moisture.

Side-dress the corn plants once each month with 2 pounds of calcium nitrate per 100 square feet of row space. Corn plants are heavy nitrogen feeders and may require additional side-dressings of nitrogen-rich fertilizer if the leaves begin to turn yellow.

Harvest the corn according to the ripening schedule for the specific variety. Most corn varieties are ready for harvest in 60 to 100 days.

Look for signs that the corn is ready for picking, such as the silks turning brown and dry while the husks are still green. The corn ears should be entirely filled out, and the kernels should exude a milky liquid when pierced.

Store the harvested corn ears in your refrigerator with the thermostat set to just above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Keeping the ears cool and in a somewhat humid environment will produce the best taste, particularly for sweet corn varieties.

If your soil is especially nutrient-poor, you can also work into the garden bed 30 pounds of 5-10-10 NPK fertilizer per 1,000 square feet before planting.

Be especially attentive to watering your corn while the plants are developing the ears and while they're pollinating. If dry weather occurs during these times, you must provide at least 1 inch of water each week through irrigation or supplemental watering.

Watch out for common insect pests attacking your corn, such as aphids, flea beetles, European corn borers, corn earworms, Japanese beetles, cutworms, seed-corn maggots, wireworms, fall armyworms, corn sap beetles and Southern corn rootworms. Contact your local agricultural extension service if you detect any insect pests on your corn crop to gain proper insect identification and treatment options.