Growing Sweet corn, also corn,maize

Zea mays, var. rugosa : Poaceae / the grass family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
        P P            

(Best months for growing Sweet corn in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Sow seed
  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): All beans, cucumber, melons, peas, pumpkin, squash, amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Celery.

Your comments and tips

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22 Mar 16, Victoria (Australia - temperate climate)
you can use the stalks to grow your peas up.
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20 Mar 16, Eryn (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
How long can a one sweet corn plant produce for? We have just harvest corn from the plants, are they now useless and need to be replaced?
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16 Apr 16, Bob Dobbs (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Yes, they need to be replaced as they will not crop again. They will die off. All the best, Bob
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15 Jan 16, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
why can't you plant corn and celery together thanks
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09 Jan 16, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I have had an excellent first crop of sweet corn harvested in December. Each plant gave me one good corn kernel, even though two and sometimes three cobs were growing. Can you harvest two or three good corn cobs per plant or is it a myth? If so what is the secret?
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20 Jun 17, Maurice (Australia - temperate climate)
It depends on the variety, some are far more productive than others. This year I grew Immali corn, it was pink/purple and white sweet corn. I got 3 cobs per plant.
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25 Jan 17, Mark (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Got about 8-10 stalks of black chewey corn - been flowering for last week and have a few tassels also , however I was trying to manually pollinate them but when shake the flowers over a white pot don't seem to be any pollen just the small flower pieces fall off and lots lots small ants , also plants covered in small ants ? - some plants also have leaves dried up and crispy looking , they get watered daily had also plenty rain recently and they have been fed with organic pellets as well as compost . They also covered in mulch and have peanuts surrounding them .. Why no pollen and what to do if anything about the ants ? Thanks
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12 Jan 16, AnnonRabbit (Australia - temperate climate)
Although I am by far not an expert, you can defiantly harvest 2 good ones. I have sweet corn and Wumpum with multiple good ears. I have seen 3 good ears (though not on mine) and I have even heard of numbers reaching to 4 but that may be a myth ;) As to how to obtain those numbers i am unsure!
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05 Jan 16, (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can you buy zea mays corn plants in Melbourne?
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06 Jan 16, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Eden Seeds online store have various maize seed varieties.
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Showing 141 - 150 of 328 comments
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Perth: This impressive crop does take up a bit of room but it's well worth it; the sweetness of fresh picked home-grown sweet corn is hard to beat. Plant from September through to January. Preparing the site Choose a sunny site that’s protected from strong winds. Sweet corn is a hungry crop so it’s important to enrich your soil before planting. Add a plenty of aged manure and a handful of blood & bone per square metre and fork it in well. Sweet corn will do well in a bed that’s previously grown healthy peas or beans. In the right conditions, each plant will usually produce 2 ears of corn. Planting Plant seedlings or seeds (ensure seeds are fresh). Space 30cm apart and plant in blocks rather than a single long row. Planting in blocks assists pollination which is essential for the development of kernels. Plant early and late varieties in separate blocks for a longer season. Water seeds well after planting then sparingly until germination occurs as the seeds can rot easily. When the stalks are about 20cm high, mound the soil up against the stalks. This process, called hilling, encourages more roots to grow which will help stabilise the plant during windy conditions. You can also achieve the same result by planting the seeds in a furrow and backfilling as the plants grow. Watering and fertilising Once the plants are well underway it’s important to ensure an adequate moisture level, especially since the plants will be at their peak of fruit production over the hot months. Drip irrigate if possible and mulch well to retain moisture. As soon as the tassel appears at the top of the plant, give the soil a boost with a granular fertiliser that’s high in nitrogen. Insufficient pollination results in ears of corn with lots of missing kernels. Planting sweet corn in one long single row can result in most of the pollen being blown away, which is why gardeners plant corn in blocks instead.Can be hand pollinated by cutting off a pollen-laden tassel each day and gently brushing over the silks . Sweet corn is ready to pick 2-3 weeks after pollination and it's important to keep up the water during this time.

- Mike

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