Corn

Botanical name: Zea mays

Plant type: Vegetable [2]

USDA Hardiness Zones: 4 [3], 5 [4], 6 [5], 7 [6], 8 [7]

Sun exposure: Full Sun [8]

Soil type: Loamy [9]

Soil pH: Neutral
 [10]

Sweet corn is an annual with yellow, white, and bi-colored ears. A long, frost-free growing season is necessary after planting. Sweet corn is wind-pollinated, so it should be planted in blocks, rather than in single rows. Early, mid, and late-season varieties extend the harvest. If you miss the optimal harvest time, corn will go downhill fast as sugars convert to starch.

Planting

• Corn is picky about its soil. Work in aged manure or compost the fall before planting and let over winter in the soil.
• Starting seeds indoors is not recommended.
• Plant seeds outdoors two weeks after the last spring frost date.
• Make sure soil temperature is above 60 degrees for successful germination. (Up to 65 for super sweet varieties.) In colder zones, the ground can be warmed by a black plastic cover if necessary. Plant seeds through holes.
• Plant seeds 1 inch deep, 9 to 12 inches apart.
• Leave about 3 feet between rows.
• For sufficient pollination, plan your plot right. Don’t plant two long rows, rather, plant corn blocks of at least four rows.
• You may choose to fertilize at planting time, corn is meant to grow rapidly. If you are confident that the soil is adequate, this can be skipped.
• Water well at planting time.

 

Care

• Be careful not to damage the roots when weeding.
• Soil must be well drained and able to keep consistent moisture.
• Except in very dry conditions, watering is not necessary until flowering starts.
• Then, water at a rate of 5 gallons per sq yard. Mulch helps reduce evaporation
• When the plants are 4 to 5 inches tall, thin them to stand 16 to 23 inches apart.

Pests

• Spotted Cucumber Beetles [11]
• Flea Beetles [12]
• Cutworms [13]
• Corn Rootworms
• Raccoons [14]

Harvest/Storage

• Harvest when tassels begin to turn brown and cobs start to swell. Kernels should be full and milky.
• Pull ears downward and twist to take off stalk.
• Sweet corn varieties lose their sweetness soon after harvesting.
• Prepare for eating or preserving immediately after picking.
• Sweet corn freezes well, especially if removed from ears before freezing.

Recommended Varieties

 

There are three types of sweet corn: Normal, sugar enhanced and super sweet. Each one contains a different level of sucrose, changing the flavor and texture of the corn. Sweeter varieties will stay sweeter for longer after harvest.

• ‘Iochief’ Midseason normal-sugar variety. Yellow.
• ‘Silver Queen’ normal sugar-variety. Resistant to some bacterial diseases. White.
• ‘Challenger Crisp n Sweet’ supersweet variety, resistant to some diseases, high yield. Yellow.
• ‘Pristine’ sugar enhanced variety, good taste. White.

Recipes

• Polenta with Sweet Corn and Mascarpone [15]
• Nikki Ciesluk's Sweet-Corn Salsa [16]
• Summer Corn Cakes [17]

Cooking Notes

If too much hot pepper or spice has been added to a soup or stew, adding a can of sweet corn can help.

Wit & Wisdom

Baby corn is produced from regular corn plants that are harvested early, while the ears are immature. Regular sweet corn, sugar-enhanced sweet corn, and supersweet corn varieties can be used, along with a few varieties that are specific for baby corn.

If your corn shucks harder than usual, prepare for a cold winter.