Corn rows - tips?

[flowerbug]

To show what I'm trying this year in the raised bed. Pretty sure I'll change it next year but this is how I learn. And yes, Seed, I'm fertilizing heavily.

These are the succession plantings. The top corner is Northeast. The next bit was planted about 3 weeks later to make sure the earliest planted had a head start in the cooler spring temps. The next bit top right in the bed, was about 2-1/2 weeks after that. Today I planted the next section, exactly 2 weeks. I have two more sections to plant.

I'm not planning on freezing or canning any, just get some fresh corn a good part of the summer.

View attachment 31417

looks healthy.

 

[seedcorn]

@seedcorn , is it possible to grow corn in one of those black tree plastic containers? I'd like to try it some day but I don't know what kind would do well in our cool summer weather. Any advise?

Mary

Yes on plastic container.
I’d go with an F1. I’d be happy to send you a few Aces to try. It handles cool well and is so sweet.

 

[ninnymary]

Yes on plastic container.
I’d go with an F1. I’d be happy to send you a few Aces to try. It handles cool well and is so sweet.

That woud be great! I'll pm you my address. Wonder if it's too late to plant?

Mary

 

[ducks4you]

nope, not too late

 

[catjac1975]

So we're going to try growing some corn this year. We've never done this before, so I'm looking to avoid any mistakes any of you might ha e previously done.

One thing I have taken in:
Don't plant two different varieties within close (400') proximity unless you stagger their plantings so the blooming doesn't occur at the same time. Also, planting 4 or 5 rows of tall sunflowers between corn sections can help protect from cross pollination.

Future lessons:

1. How far apart should I make rows? 36"? 42"?
2. Do they like or not like any particular types of mulching?

I don't know what else to ask, just figured I'd shoot a "help ke not screw this up" post out there

We do 3-4 rows in a group about 12-14 inches apart. And then a wide row about 36 inches apart from the next group. At both ends of the rows we leave a few plants in a cluster to aid in pollination. I plant 2 types or corn one block and then the next. I plant the same day, but types that mature about 10 days apart. Over plant and then thin to stand 12-14 inches apart. We soak the seed overnight to aid germination. We normally do not have a problem with birds pulling up seedlings. If you do you sting fishing line in a haphazzard way across the rows to confuse the birds. We only had to do this 2 times or so. I hope you can figure out what the heck I just said. We weed it perfectly one time. Then we just till the rows a couple times to know down the weeds. Once they are fairly tall they are on their own concerning weeds.

 

[ducks4you]

Plant beans and squash to help suppress the weeds.

 

[dickiebird]

Man oh man, I thought this thread was about a new hair do!!!!

THANX RICH

 

[Pulsegleaner]

It was originally a grass with a handful of seeds to harvest and was developed into the large ears that we are used to seeding. As I understand it, left on it's on to set seed, it will de evolve back into the original plant, which is unusual for us to see.

Actually, if left on it's own, modern corn simply DIES. It's lost the shattering gene teosinte has that allows the kernels to actually separate themselves from the cob and each other. Unless an outside force shells them they will remain stuck to the cob and simply rot. That's why, unlike smaller grains like wheat oats etc you don't normally see feral corn plants sprouting up on the sides of the roads where tucks have spilled seed, or corn patches left in the middle of nowhere marking old farms.

I haven't had much luck with corn (the animals tend to eat 90% of the seed as soon as it is sown, and then pick of the remainder as it sprouts. But I usually go with blocks of mounds, each mound having 5-10 corn kernels. I usually plant SOMETHING along the lines of the Three Sisters though the legume isn't always a bean and the cucurbit isn't always a squash (since no one in my house likes squash enough to make it worth planting).

If you are looking for East coast corns, check the seed guides. There aren't as many remaining Native east coast corns as there are Midwest or Southwest (probably due to the earlier colonization) but there are some. Seneca Blue Bear Dance comes to mind, and Seneca Red Stalker. There was someone who was doing native crops of cape cod who had found some stuff too.

 

[ducks4you]

I was going to suggest planting herbs, especially oregano, at the base of each corn plant. Oregano spreads like a weed, but is super easy to pull out if you don't like where it is. Other herbs and flowers like nasturtiums work well too to suppress weeds.

 

[catjac1975]

I was going to suggest planting herbs, especially oregano, at the base of each corn plant. Oregano spreads like a weed, but is super easy to pull out if you don't like where it is. Other herbs and flowers like nasturtiums work well too to suppress weeds.

Oregano in a veggie garden would be a big invasive mistake.