Can I plant corn without prep?

[inchworm]

This year's project was supposed to be to put in a corn patch. I want it to go into an area not worked before -- it's a weedy grass patch right now. Of course, the tiller was broken and I bought the part it needed. But dh hasn't had time to fix the tiller. I know how busy he has been and now both our cars have broken on top of his busy schedule. SOoo..... I was wondering if I could just hand dig little holes and plant my corn seeds without "The BIg Till". Will the weeds just choke them out in a few weeks? Should I mix a little something into each hole (like compost or fertilizer?)? Or should I just toss the seeds into the fridge for a year?

Inchworm

 

[vfem]

Corn needs serious nitrogen. I would really try to get those weeds out and some fertilizer tilled in first.

Maybe create a small raised bed for it and just fill it up with ready soil!?

I also found I've had great germination rate and a much faster sprouting of corn by soaking the seeds for 24 hours before planting them! I had sprouts in 2-3 days!

Good luck

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Um, you aren't going to like my suggestion, but you could always get a pick axe (or shovel if you have good soil) and rip out the grass/weeds and loosen the soil down at least 8-10", and then mix in some compost or whatever you prefer. Well, that is what I would do anyway. :/ My corn patch was about 4' x 4' last year because that was all I could muster in time. As long as you shake the corn stalks when they are silking, you can still get some corn.

If you would rather have a large patch or no patch at all, then store your corn seeds in the fridge.

 

[digitS']

If our ancestors had to wait for the rototiller to be fixed before planting their corn . . . .

There's little hope for corn seedlings in a field of weeds.

Steve

 

[obsessed]

I am going to agree with everybody else on the weeding. Also corn is such a heavy feeder that you will have to mix some thing.


Thanks for telling me how to get the other smile faces. I thought I was the only one who could not do it. Now I can Yay

 

[seedcorn]

Buy some generic glysophate, spray the area you want to plant. Wait 2 days, then dig your hole and plant the seed. I'm assuming this is virgin ground so strong possibility there is enough nutrients in soil for first crop. If it turns yellow (nitrogen defiencey) go buy some 28% nitrogen and spray on the sweet corn. Or make up your own folair feed.

 

[lupinfarm]

This is the exact question I was going to ask! Except my situation is a little different. The portion of a field I wanted to plant in had some grass hay in it last year and was actually put into rows by a farmer... I was planning on planting my corn between the rows, would that work out? We have great soil

 

[seedcorn]

This is the exact question I was going to ask! Except my situation is a little different. The portion of a field I wanted to plant in had some grass hay in it last year and was actually put into rows by a farmer... I was planning on planting my corn between the rows, would that work out? We have great soil

How did he put hay into rows?

 

[lupinfarm]

This is the exact question I was going to ask! Except my situation is a little different. The portion of a field I wanted to plant in had some grass hay in it last year and was actually put into rows by a farmer... I was planning on planting my corn between the rows, would that work out? We have great soil

How did he put hay into rows?

i don't know but its in rows, and its definitely hay because he cut it last year and it had too many weeds in it so we didnt use it. anyhow iv'e now decided to put it in the bottom of the actual garden

 

[seedcorn]

This is the exact question I was going to ask! Except my situation is a little different. The portion of a field I wanted to plant in had some grass hay in it last year and was actually put into rows by a farmer... I was planning on planting my corn between the rows, would that work out? We have great soil

How did he put hay into rows?

i don't know but its in rows, and its definitely hay because he cut it last year and it had too many weeds in it so we didnt use it. anyhow iv'e now decided to put it in the bottom of the actual garden

I don't understand. what is between rows? Did he cut it, wind row it and not bale it?