How To Grow Corn in Your Backyard Garden

Growing corn in a small backyard plot is totally doable if you plan carefully and give the plants what they need to thrive. Corn loves full sun, fertile soil and regular watering, but is also dependent on pollination to produce a crop. “Each kernel is a fruit, botanically speaking, and so must be fertilized. This happens when pollen from the tassels blows onto the silk,” Susan Schuefele, Production Agriculture Leader at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension says. Because of this, the spacing and layout of corn is more important than you might think. But, with a little effort and the right setup, even a small backyard garden can produce sweet, juicy ears of corn.

When I was a kid, I asked my dad why he didn’t grow sweet corn in his garden. He answered that you need a big garden to grow corn. Later, when I had my own garden, I proved you can grow corn in a smaller garden once you understand some basic requirements.

How to Plant Corn

All corn varieties, including sweet and ornamental corn, need the same things to thrive.

• Choose a location in full sun. Corn is a heavy feeder. If you can, plant sweet corn in a spot where you grew beans or other legume vegetables the year before.
• Wait until your garden is frost-free. Corn does not tolerate frost and prefers warmer soils to germinate.
• Before sowing seeds, remove weeds and add compost to enrich the soil. “Test your soil before planting to determine your soil pH, and if your soil is deficient in any particular plant nutrients,” Schuefele says.
• Plant the corn in blocks at least three rows wide, with a minimum row length of eight feet. Space rows about 18 inches apart in the block. Within each row, sow four or five seeds one inch deep in “hills” (small mounds of soil) spaced about one foot apart. Once seedlings germinate, thin to two seedlings per hill. “Planting corns in blocks instead of long rows can help ensure adequate pollination and production of full ears,” Schuefele says.
• When planting later in the season, bury seeds two inches deep to ensure it doesn’t dry out during germination.

How to Grow and Care for Corn

Follow these steps for the best results with your corn harvest:

Watering

Corn needs about one inch of rain a week, especially when ears are forming. If your garden doesn’t get that amount of rain, plan to water the corn patch.

Weeding

Weeds compete with the corn for soil nutrients. Lightly cultivate around the corn to remove any weeds, being careful not to disturb the corn roots.

Fertilizing

In many gardens, extra fertilizer may be needed. Test your soil to determine which nutrients are lacking and apply the appropriate fertilizer based on that information. You can also safely use an organic fertilizer labeled for vegetable gardens. Choose a balanced fertilizer with equal parts nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK).

Pollinating

Wind pollinates corn. When the corn begins to show tassels (the sprouts at the top), wind blows the pollen from the tassels to the silks of the just-forming ears. That’s why it’s best to plant the corn in blocks instead of one long row, increasing the chances of adequate pollination.

Corn that isn’t well-pollinated will produce ears with gaps in the kernels. Also, avoid different varieties from cross-pollinating each other. “Cross-pollination can be prevented by distance and windbreaks, or by time, so that they are not flowering at the same time. This can be accomplished by planting varieties of very different maturity dates or by planting in successions, with 14 days or more between plantings,” Schuefele says.

Controlling pests

Corn earworms are common pests. They’re more of a problem later in the summer, so most home gardeners can avoid them by planting earlier in the season. The corn earworm is generally only in the tip of the ear, so cutting off that tip is also a good, safe option.

European corn borers are another common pest that tunnel into corn stalks and ears, weakening the plant. “Other than these insect pests corn is enjoyed by other animals including birds, raccoons and bears. Netting and electric fencing can help deter these critters.” Schuefele says.

Extending your harvest

To harvest sweet corn throughout the summer, plant a block approximately every two weeks. Check the seed packet to determine how long the corn needs to ripen to maturity, so you aren’t planting that last block too late to pick before your first frost.

How Long Does It Take to Grow Corn?

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Generally, it takes two to three months from sowing seeds to picking ripe sweet corn. The exact amount of time depends on the variety. Usually, the number of days from sowing to harvest will be noted on the seed packet.

‘Honey and Cream‘ hybrid sweet corn takes approximately 84 days to mature after the seed germinates. ‘Inferno‘ hybrid sweet corn takes approximately 73 days, and ‘Silver N Gold‘ hybrid sweet corn approximately 65 days .

How to Harvest Corn

“Corn is ready to be harvested 16 to 22 days after you see the first silks developing,” Schuefele says. Another sign is when the silks are brown but not dried; the husks will still be dark green and not dried.

To verify ripeness, carefully pull back the husk and gently squeeze a kernel to see if the corn is at the “milk stage.” If it’s ripe, the liquid that comes out will be milky white. To harvest, grab the ear, pull it down and twist. Once a stand of corn shows ripe ears, most ears will ripen within a week or so. “Harvesting at the proper stage (milk stage) is critical in maintaining quality,” Schuefele says. “Under warm summer growing conditions, mature sweet corn will only remain at the optimum harvest stage for one to two days and should be picked daily.”

To ensure the sweetest corn, cook and eat as soon as possible. The sugars in stored sweet corn quickly turn to starch, which will affect the taste and texture.

FAQ

What type of corn should I grow?

For a small backyard garden, choose a short, early-maturing variety of sweet corn. Look for varieties labeled as “sugar-enhanced (SE)” or “supersweet (SH2)” if you want extra sweetness and longer shelf life. If you’re interested in popcorn or ornamental corn, those can grow in small plots too.

Can I grow corn in containers?

Yes, you can grow corn in large containers that support its root systems and watering needs. Plan for a space at least 12 inches deep and 12 inches wide for each plant, but provide an 18-in. depth if possible.

About the Expert

Susan Schuefele is Production Agriculture Leader at the University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension.