Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard - A Planting Guide

Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Hello gardeners, we are back with an interesting topic that is called growing sweet corn in the backyard. Do you want to know how to grow sweet corn in the backyard? Well, then you will need to follow this complete article. In this article, we will also mention all the requirements for growing sweet corn in the backyard.

Introduction to Growing Sweet corn in Backyard

Sweet corn is an annual plant with yellow, white, or bi-colored ears. A long, cold-frame growing season is essential. Here’s how to sweet corn plant, grow, and harvest sweet corn in your garden. Sweet corn is blow-pollinated, so it should be planted in blocks, slightly than in single rows. Early, mid, and late-season varieties increased the harvest but are mindful if you miss the normal harvest time, the sweet corn’s flavor will go downhill fast, like sugar, and its convert into starch.

A Step-By-Step Planting Guide for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Sweet corn is one of the very most popular vegetables to grow and eat, and it’s all the more flavourful when freshly harvested. It’s also especially and it’s easy to grow your own. sweet Corn grows from tall, straight stems that supply husked ears of tender kernels tufted with silks. Most sweet corn varieties look-alike in the outdoors but lower the husks, sweet corn can be white, yellow, bicolor, or even red. Many modern sweet corn varieties have been bred to grow up early in the season, but later-maturing types tend to be very sweeter.

Sweet corn is planted in spring and grows through the summer season. It is ready to harvest about two to three months after planting, but early different types of varieties can be ready in as little as two months. That grass family is a member of sweet corn. In smaller gardens, sweet corn should be planted in square blocks absolutely of very long rows to improve cross-pollination between corn stems. Like most vegetables, sweet corn will grow best in areas with plenty of sunlight.

Overview Table of the Sweet Corn Plant is Given Below

Botanical Name	Zea mays
Common Name	Sweet corn
Plant Type	Annual
Mature Size	6 to 8 feet tall and 1to2 feet wide
Sun Exposure	Full sun
Soil Type	Loamy
Soil pH	Acidic to Neutral (6.0 to 7.0)
Bloom Time	Summer
Flower color	Yellow

Varieties/Types for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

There are hundreds of sweet corn varieties are there, effectively all falling under seven major categories: sweet corn, popcorn, corn for animal feed, dwarf corn, decorative corn, and multi-colored Indian corn. Some of the most popular for growing sweet corn include

Early Sunglow – Early and sweet and good for short time seasons and very small gardens

Silver Queen – Another early supply with pale white kernels; highly disease-resistant
Golden Bantam – An open-pollinated heirloom variety, frequently called the original sweet corn
Tuxedo – A super sweet variety with extra-long ears
Iochief – midseason, optimal-sugar variety
Sweet Sunshine – super sweet variety, disease resistant, high yield. Yellow.
Argent – sugar-increase variety, good taste

Suitable Soil for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

The soil should be loose and loamy, with a neutral pH of 6.0 to 7.0 and it is acidic to neutral. Heavy soils restrain sweet corn’s long taproots. The shallow sweet corn roots that form on the soil surface for most of their anchor the tall plants.

Sunlight for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Always pick a garden location that sprawls in full, all-day sunlight when growing sweet corn. A full sun location collects direct sun rays for no less than 8 to 10 hours daily. Sweet corn plants may still grow, even though a little shorter and slower, in partial shade sun, but less than eight hours of sun is not imparted for plants to show and form cobs. The heat from sunlight warms the soil in spring sufficiently to allow seeds to germinate. Sunlight also encourages the very best growth and photosynthesis in the limited number of leaves on each corn stem. To grow well and have the ears fill out, your sweet corn will need a sunny spot that gets full sun.

Temperature and Humidity for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Soil temperature should range between 15°C and 18°C. Or else, sweet corn seeds will not germinate accurately. In colder climates, you can balance the soil with black plastic beforehand to help warm the soil more fastly.

Planting Procedure for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Sweet corn is very vulnerable to frosts. Look out for signs of black frost to know if a cold snap does away with your plant. Sweet corn doesn’t transplant well, either, so if you garden in a short- time season area and want to start sweet corn inside, use biodegradable containers to avoid disturbing the root structure at transplanting time. It’s better to wait until all danger of frost is past and the soil warms up to the 15°C needed for seed germination. If the weather stays very cool, develop black plastic on the planting area to warm the loamy soil more fastly.

If you want sweet corn only for garden-fresh eating, plant a minimum of 10 to 15 plants per person. To increase your harvest, sow an early-grown up type every 2 weeks for 6 weeks, or plant early mid-season, and behind schedule types at the same time. To avoid cross-pollination, keep different sweet corn growing especially super sweets 400 or more yards apart, or plant them so they topknot 2 weeks apart.

Site your sweet corn patch in a sunny spot, wind-prevented area. Sweet corn is an extraordinarily heavy feeder, especially on nitrogen, so it survives in a place where soil-improves plants like beans, hairy vetch, or clover grew the overhasty season and adds 20 to 30 pounds from the fertilizer pile per 100 square feet to the loamy soil as you prepare it for planting.

The best way to encourage complete pollination is to plant sweet corn in blocks alternately long individual rows a block should be at least three rows wide. If you sweet corn plant only one or two rows, hand pollinate to improve kernel formation.

For early plantings, sow seeds only 1 or 2 inches deep in the hot weather of the afternoon, plant them up to 2 inches deep. The average seed germination rate for sweet corn is about 75%, so plant three seeds simultaneously every 7 to 15 inches. They should be seed germinate in 7 to 10 days. Thin to one plant every 15 inches. To avoid disturbing remaining plants and to reduce undesired seedlings by cutting them off at soil level.

How to Plant Sweet Corn?

Sweet corn doesn’t transplant well from seedlings without you are using a biodegradable container. The very best way to plant sweet corn is to direct-seed after any danger of black frost has passed. Because sweet corn is pollinated by the wind, it does best when planted in blocks alternately rows. Pollen grains from the male tassels require making contact with the female silks, and close planting means more exposure. Breeze pollination also results in easy cross-pollination, so keep different types of sweet corn separated by at least 25 feet or plant varieties that grown up at different times. Plant the seeds 1/2 to 2 inches deep with a spacing of 4 to 6 inches, and give the sweet corn seeds a good watering.

The size of your sweet corn plants will differ with the type of sweet corn you are growing and the growing very conditions, but most sweet corn plants average between 6 and 8 feet tall. There are shorter varieties for gardens with small spaces.

Although it is very easy sufficient to grow sweet corn in any warm, sunny spot garden, it is frequently difficult to effectively bring the fruit to harvest because of the competition from crows, raccoons, squirrels, and other pests who find sweet corn as flavourful as you do. Conventional wisdom says harvest your sweet corn the day before the raccoons do.

Water Requirement for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Water young sweet corn plants routinely so that the soil stays loamy, and spread mulch to help and keep soil moisture. Water sweet corn at any moment the soil surface dries out, but do not saturate the loamy soil. The surface should feel just moist to the touch and water should drain away from throughout the plants within 10 to 20 seconds. Better water the plant in the mornings so that any soil moisture that gets on the leaves has a short time to dry during the day.

Thinning and Mulching Requirement for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Thin sweet corn seedlings when three or four leaves appear, reducing the weaker seedlings to leave about 8 inches between plants in their rows. Increase mulch such as eight layers of newspaper, 2 inches of garden compost, or 4 inches of straw between the plants. Don’t increase mulch near the plant stems where it could cause rotting. Weigh newspaper down with stones or increased organic mulch over it.

Tips for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Sweet corn can’t take part with weeds, so kill plants around the stem for the first month of growth. After that, sweet corn’s shallow root structure will be increased out as much as 1 foot from the stem be careful not to disturb these root structures, because it’s easy to damage them. Instead, apply mulch to protect plants from sprouting.

Sweet corn requires about 1 to 2 inches of water a week, extremely when the stem begins to feather. Water pressures during pollination will result in ears with lots of missing kernels, so don’t skip watering your sweet corn spot. Apply water at the loamy soil surface by using a soaker hose or tubing hosiery. Avoid spraying plants from above, which could wash pollen grains off the flowering tops.

When the stems are 6 inches tall, side-margin them with a blood meal and diluted fish-based fertilizer and regular feeding when they are about knee-high. Don’t reduce any side shoots or suckers that appear; they won’t harm production, and cutting them might destruction roots.

Fertilizers Requirement for Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Sweet corn is a heavy feeder, requiring rich and well-drained soil. Nitrogen is most important since sweet corn is grass. An inch one or two of compost or rotted dung will also work, as will feeding with the fish mix. Apply nitrogen fertilizer and nutrients once the plants are about 8 inches tall and again when they start producing feathers.

Aged dung or compost absorb the fall before planting will supply nutrients and increase water-holding capacity. Generally, sweet corn requires the equivalent of about 25 lbs of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 1,000 square feet. Equivalent rates of other man-made or organic fertilizers can be used instead of 10-10-10. Fertilizers should be thoroughly absorbed into the soil before planting. When sweet corn is 15 to 18 high, it may well be from side-dressing with a nitrogen fertilizer at a rate of roughly 2.5 lbs. of a 10% nitrogen fertilizer or the alternative per 100 feet of row. Increased the fertilizer between the rows or on either side of a single row and lightly absorb it into the soil.

Common Pests and Diseases for Growing Sweet Corn in the Backyard

Animals will be the major pest problem. Sweet corn borers can be kept in check with an organic pesticide such as Bt Bacillus thuringiensis, and by destroying the stems at the end of the season. Flea beetles increased bacterial sag. Combat them by planting resistant varieties.

You need to beware of a greyish-black fungus called smut. Although some cultures find it a flavor treat, it can kill your sweet corn harvest. Reduce and damage the fungus while young, before the mass bursts and emit the spores everywhere.

Harvesting Sweet Corn in Backyard

In case if you miss this: How To Grow Spinach In Beds.

Each stem of sweet corn should put together at least one ear of sweet corn. Choose sweet corn when you see fat, dark green ears with a brown feather. Compress to test for firmness and a rounded, not cutting tip. Finally, pierce a kernel with a thumbnail. If it germinates milky liquid, it is ready. Pull the ears downward and turn to take the cob off the stem. Be prepared to eat or protect sweet corn immediately after choosing sweetness fades soon after harvesting. Sweet corn freezes well, though, whether or not you reduce the kernels from the covering before freezing.

Three weeks after sweet corn silks appear, start to inspect ears for top ripeness. Pull back part of the cover and pierce a kernel with your thumbnail. If milky liquid germinates out, the ears are at prime ripeness hurry those ears to the table, refrigerator, or freezer. Ears on the same stem essential ripen a few days apart. Thoroughly dry silk or a yellow or shaded-green sheath means the ear is past its best.

Leaves are attractive of sweet corn and popcorn on the stems to dry until the first hard frost. If the weather is cloudy and wet, cut and stack stems in a cool, dry place until the sweet corn dries.

Commonly Asked Questions about Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard

Where does sweet corn grow in the garden?

Grow sweet corn in a warm, shield, sunny position, prevented from strong winds, and infertile soil. Plants are less fortunate on dry or heavy loamy soil. Put together the ground by digging in lots of garden compost or well-rotted dung.

How does long it take for sweet corn to grow?

Sweet corn needs from 60 to 100 days to extend harvest providing variety and warm weather. Sweet corn is ready for harvest when ears change into dark green, silks turn brown, and kernels are very soft and plump crush a kernel, and the juice will be milky, not clear.

Should you water corn every day?

Sweet corn requires about 1 to 2 inches of water a week, extremely when the stems begin to feather. Water pressure during pollination will affect ears with lots of missing kernels, so don’t skip watering your sweet corn patch. Apply water at the loamy soil surface by using a soaker hose or tubing hosiery.

Does corn need sunlight?

Sweet corn is quick and is very easy to grow, but it does need ample growing space and plenty of sunlight. Sweet corn won’t grow well at all if it is planted in a sunny spot that required less than six hours of full sun each day. Plant the sweet corn seeds of early sweet corn varieties an inch deep and about six inches apart in good rich and well-drained soil.

Can you overwater corn?

If planted sweet corn and added too little water is applied per session, it won’t extend the roots and your attempt will be wasted. Remember to take into report any rain that falls. Too much watering may also stunt the growth of sweet corn plants. To keep soil moisture and temperature, a layer of mulch can be applied.

Does corn reseed itself?

One way in which sweet corn differs from all other grasses is in its power to produce itself. The kernels are covered so tightly by the shell that they can’t be separated over the ground to seed. Sweet corn must be planted with space throughout each seed. It is dependent on a man to propagate.

Should I remove side shoots from sweet corn?

Some gardeners reduce the suckers think that the side shoots reduce sweet corn plants by diverting energy from the main stem and grow ear. Their removal, however, is not essential and may remove yields. High nitrogen and ample moisture will also encourage sucker formation.

Can you put too much nitrogen on corn?

Nitrogen is the very most expensive nutrient and fertilizer used in sweet corn production. If applied correctly, it makes single plants stronger and spreads plants. Far away some level of applied nitrogen, grain plants stop increasing with more additions, said co-author Bob Nielsen, the Extension corn specialist.

Growing Sweet Corn in Backyard – A Planting Guide

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