It’s also surprisingly easy to grow in the home garden.
Corn grows from tall, straight stalks that produce husked ears of tender kernels tufted with silks.
Most corn varieties look alike on the outside.
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But under the husks, sweet corn can be white, yellow, red, or even bicolor.
Sweet corn is a fast-growing annual that is planted in spring and grows through the summer.
The soil temperature should be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Starting seeds indoors is not recommended, as the seedlings dont take well to transplanting.
Container growth is also an option for the smaller varieties.
Rows should be 30 to 36 inches apart.
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Plant in blocks of at least 4 rows rather than a single row to allow proper pollination.
That means at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days.
Soil
The soil should be loose and loamy with a slightly acidic to neutralsoil pH.
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Heavy soils can inhibit corn’s fibrous root system.
The shallow roots that form on the soil surface are predominantly there to anchor the tall plants.
It’s always a good idea to get a soil test before planting.
Take a sample to your local university extension office for analysis.
Improve soil as needed with well-rotted manure or compost in the spring or fall.
Around an inch of water per week should suffice.
And it is ideal towater deeplyonce a week, rather than provide a little water daily.
Also, keep the area free of weeds that will compete for food and water.
Temperature and Humidity
Sweet corn prefers temperatures between 60 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
It wont germinate in cold soil.
you could also find varieties available for shorter seasons.
Humidity typically isnt an issue as long as adequate soil moisture is maintained.
Fertilizer
Corn is a heavy feeder, requiring rich soil.
Nitrogen is especially important for robust growth.
Wind pollination also results in easy cross-pollination.
Some of the most popular cultivars for growing sweet corn include:
Sweet Corn vs.
Popcorn
Sweet corn andpopcorn varietiesmay look similar at first glance.
But they have some key differences that dictate how theyre eaten.
Sweet corn is harvested at peak tenderness when its kernels are juicy and sweet.
Popcorn is harvested once the kernels dry out.
Harvesting Sweet Corn
Each stalk of sweet corn should produce at least one ear of corn.
Pick corn when you see fat, dark green ears with brown tassels.
Squeeze to test for firmness and a rounded, not pointed, tip.
Finally, pierce a kernel with a fingernail.
If it spurts milky liquid, it is ready.
Pull the ears downward, and twist to take the cob off the stalk.
Plan to eat or preserve sweet corn immediately after picking, as the sweetness fades soon after harvesting.
you could freeze sweet corn by removing the kernels from the ears and storing them in an airtight container.
For best results, blanch the corn and then cool it in ice water prior to freezing.
It should keep in the freezer for around six months.
And just like when growing corn in the ground, plant your containers in a block for pollination.
Youll need at least three rows with three or more plants per row.
Using a 5-gallon bucket with drainage holes for each plant should work fine.
Pruning
Pruning is not necessary for sweet corn plants.
Propagating Sweet Corn
Sweet corn can be propagated by saving seeds to plant the following season.
Youll harvest seeds to save at the end of the growing season.
Heres how:
Overwintering
Sweet corn is an annual, so no overwintering is necessary.
you could leave the stalks in place to dry out and then cut them down to use forfall decor.
Also, be on the lookout for a grayish-black fungus called smut.
Remove and destroy affected plants as soon as possibleideally before the spores spread.
Sweet corn is fairly easy to grow as long as you have the space for multiple plants.
Sweet corn varieties generally take between two and three months to mature.
Sweet corn is an annual, completing its life cycle in one growing season.
