Critical Corn Care

After the rainstorm the other night, I walked out into the garden to quite a devestating surprise.  Half of my corn crop was down on the ground.  I consider every square inch of my garden precious.  And to put a full quarter of my garden into growing corn on the cob only to have it wasted by one little storm is frustrating, to say the least.  I even considered, if only for a minute, not planting corn next year.  But even as we were feasting on the delicious harvest of corn tonight at dinner, Mike said, "This is totally worth it."  Obviously something's got to change or get better, so that this valuable garden space is not wasted again.

So I did some research and found out there are some things I can do to improve not only the durability of the corn stalks, but also the ear size and corn taste.  I will start from the very beginning.

Before we even start planting our garden, there is much we should be doing to improve our soil, thereby improving the year's quality of harvest.  Putting compost into the garden soil each year is the best thing we can do to improve soil condition, making it the ultimate place for growing delicious vegetables.  In the spring before we plant, use a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen (16-16-8) and work it into the soil as we till the garden.  This step is necessary to growing large, full ears of corn, and is also good for the rest of the garden.  Also, as we rotate our crops, reducing threats of diseases and pest problems, plant corn in areas where previously was grown beans or peas, which actually put nitrogen back into the soil as they grow, thereby benefiting the corn planted in the same spot the next year.

Corn grows quite tall and therefore should be planted on the north side of our garden so as not to shade the rest of the things we have planted.  I have even heard that rows should be planted going from the east to the west so as to maximize the sunlight, but I have not tried out that theory. 

Corn can be planted as soon as the threat of frost is gone, which for this area is around Mother's Day, or the middle of May.  We must plant at least three rows of the same variety together so that they have good pollination.  After the plants come up, they should be thinned to about eight inches apart, taking out the smaller or weaker plants. 

This year I have planted my corn more compactly, following after the pattern of the Square Foot Gardening method, that says that we have learned to space things so far apart in rows because of the traditions that farmers have passed down to us.  However, most home gardeners do not have a horse or a tractor or any other farm equipment that needs to get in between these rows.  So we place rows closer together, or, as I have done this year, we double plant our rows, thus maximizing our gardening space.

This is the new thing I have learned:  When planting, prepare the row like normal, spacing it 30 to 36 inches apart.  Then make a four inch deep planting furrow.  Plant the seeds 3 or 4 inches apart and cover them with about one inch of soil.  Because the planting furrow was four inches deep, you still have a small furrow down your row.  When the plants have come up, thin them to until they are about eight inches apart.  When plants are about 6 inches tall you then pull in dirt from the surrounding furrow to fill in around the corn stalks.  The plant will then put out extra roots in the mounded area called 'prop roots' or 'brace roots'.  These will strengthen the stalk of corn so that it will not blow over in the wind. 

Another important step when planting corn has to do with pest control.  Now I do not like to put any kind of poison in my garden if I can help it.  But I also do not like bugs in my corn.  When the corn plants are around eight inches tall, sprinkle Sevin dust down into the tops of the plant.  This eliminates pest problems before the ears of corn ever start growing.  Also spraying the corn silk with Bt helps control the earwigs and other bugs that get down inside the ears of corn. 

I tell people NOT to plant corn in their home garden, because once you do, you can never eat corn from the store or even the stand again.  You will never be satisfied with the lesser quality.  The reason is this:  The sooner you get the corn from the garden into the pot of boiling water the better it tastes.  The kernels are so sweet and tender, they literally pop with juicy flavor as you bite into them.  The longer the corn has been picked, the sweet sugars found in the corn turn into starch, and the kernels get tougher too.  I've heard someone say if you have your water boiling as you are picking your corn, but you happen to stumble on your way into the kitchen, turn around and pick it fresh again.  The fresher the better.  It is mouth-watering and sumptious.  And IT IS totally worth it.