How to grow Corn

Follow me

Corn plant (maize)

Learn How to grow corn, Growing corn in containers, Maize care, Corn plant pollination, and more about this grain. Maize, also known as corn, is a large grain plant first domesticated by indigenous people in Mexico about 10,000 years ago. There are six major types as flint corn, pod corn, popcorn, flour, and sweet.

Sweet corn is a type of maize; sweet corn is harvested before it is fully matured and dried. It tastes delightful. Mature corn is used for animal feed. Maize seeds are wrinkled when ripe and are used for flour and popcorn.

Overview

Scientific name Zea mays

Common name corn. maize

Plant type Vegetable/food

Sun requires Full sun

Soil Rich well-drained, loamy soil

Soil pH 5.8 -6.8

Zones 4-8

Dwarf species of corns

Many dwarf species of Maize plants such as Primarily “motivational”, “candy corn” and “golden bantam” species are used in abundance. These dwarf varieties of Maize grow up to 5 to 6 feet. These small corns are of a maximum of 7 inches, which produce good and are suitable for container gardening.

Growing Corn in containers

You can easily grow Maize plants in the container. For this, you can use terra cotta containers, wooden boxes, containers made of plastic, etc. But keep in mind that the extraction of water should be appropriate in the container. In the summer there is fun to eat fresh and sweet corn, so we grow it in our garden. Choose the dwarf species maize to grow in the container, but proper care requires in the container.

Container selection

The maize needs a large container, the plants are tall, because of strong trees or fear of bending, this tree has a long break. For this, you can take the help of bamboo sticks. You produce maize in containers larger than 20 inches. In small containers, you can not plant three plants (in a triangle). The combination of a large container and extra soil will help to strengthen and produce the Maize plants. Read more.

In order to ensure the need for pollination of corn, at least 3 seeds should be planted in the container.
For planting corn plants, choose a large container that has enough water to get out.
Before filling this mixture in the container, make the surface of fragments of gravel or broken pottery pieces on the surface.
Make the mixture with high nitrogen mixed with potting soil. Use 10-10-10 fertilizers. Please read the instructions written in packets before using any other fertilizer.
The plant gets damaged in the condition of water, logging in the container.

Soil and Location

For this choose loamy soil with rich drainage. Soil has the ability to retain moisture. These plants require to thrive lots of frequent water and fertile soil. Maize needs full sunlight, Therefore, select a place where direct sunlight is there.

Planting seeds

The seed is a suitable medium for developing corn, it cannot be properly transplanted. Sowing requires a depth of 2 inches. The soil should always be moist, but it should not be wet, or otherwise, the seeds can rot. Seeds germinate within a week or two.

Spacing

Plants should be a difference between 12 inches apart and space at least 30 -36 inches between the rows. If you grow many varieties of plants together then this prevents cross-pollination.

Temperature

Best germination should wait until a temperature of 70 degrees F.

Watering

For this, use compost with potting soil, when the plant started to grow once it should be kept in regular water and complete drying soils. The roots of this plant are shallow, so be sure to give the water corn in warm conditions. Plants are very thirsty, so they must give water once or twice a day. You can use the tube or drip irrigation to give the water on the surface of the plant. By giving water from above it can wash flowers and pollen.

Maize care

Maize plant needs moisture, use wood chips or grass to maintain moisture.
For this, use compost with potting soil, the soil should be completely well-drained, the plant gets damaged in the condition of water stopping in the container.
Since its plant needs moisture, the corn plant needs water every other day. The sweet and soft corn is the rolling roll of water.
Once the plant is taller than 2 feet, then give it a 10-10-10 fertilizer. Find it more.
Maize plants grow in length, they can be damaged by high wind, so use the cage.
It takes about 75 days to reach maturity. The plant gets damaged in the condition of water, logging in the container.
Once the stalks of maize begin to grow, make sure to protect them from wetting its leaves and stalks.

Corn plant pollination

If you do not have bees or other types of pollinating insects in your garden, you can give it a better development by pollinating it by hand. When tassels mature, you can collect it by your hands and keep the collected pollen at the end of each ear.

Harvesting

Maize plants mature in about 60 to 100 days, but it depends on the conditions and the environment there. You can also pull the upper part of the corn out and check it with your thumbnails if the milky liquid fluid comes out, then it is in progress to ripeness. And when its silky fibers become completely dry yellow or fade-green, it means the corn matured.

Problems with maize plants

Cutworms sometimes attack the corn plant. The flea beetles also invade its plant. When corn on the plant comes, then it has to be saved from the birds, as doves like it very much. To avoid this you spread the netting over the plant. Slugs and Snails also trouble young plants. Take a look at our previous post to get rid of this.

Read also: 8 Best Frugal gardening tips. Know how to grow Pansy flowers. Colchicum growing in your garden. Jade Plant growing indoors. Growing Basil in containers. Cantaloupe growing in containers. Kohlrabi growing and care guide. Spring onion growing in containers. Sabudana Vada recipe easy recipe. Growing and care about Rose cactus. Peachtree growing and care tips. Basil easy growing in containers. 8 Perennial vegetables you can plant once and savor forever.