Planting Corn

Planting Corn

Sweet Corn is adapted to a wide range ofclimatic conditions and, consequently, isgrown in all sections of the U.S. It is grown forthe fresh market in both the southern andnorthern regions, but by far the largest acreagein the North is grown for processing andfreezing. This crop grows best during hotweather and is frost-tender.

Varieties

Each seed company lists many varieties,therefore it is difficult to suggest varieties thatare available in all sections. Most of the oldervarieties such as 'Golden Bantam' and 'CountryGentleman' have been replaced by hybrids suchas 'Sugar and Gold', 'Golden Beauty', Earlibelle', 'Butter and Sugar', 'Gold Cup', 'GoldenCross Bantam', 'Jubilee' and gochier, listed inorder of maturity. 'Country Gentleman' and`Stowell Evergreen Hybrids' are popular whitevarieties. There are many other varieties thatare excellent and therefore it is recommendedthat seed catalogues be checked for those thatare listed for a particular region.

Soils and Fertilizers

Sweet Corn is grown on all types of soil. Awell-drained sandy loam to a silt loam ispreferred. This plant has a very deep andextensive root system. Deep and thorough soilpreparation is therefore important. Three to4 bu. of well-rotted manure per too ft. ofrow worked into the soil will improve the water-holding capacity of the soil and provide someplant food. In addition 6-8 lbs. of a 5-to-tofertilizer per too ft. of row should be broadcastprior to planting. If no manure is used increasethe fertilizer by 2-3 lbs. Several top dressings,3-4 lbs. per too ft. of row, of nitrate of sodamay be beneficial when plants are 18" high.

Planting

Sweet Corn is injured by frost and the seedgerminates poorly in cold wet soil. Plantingshould be delayed until these conditions aresatisfactory. Some gardeners start the seed inpaper bands or pots in the hotbed and thentransplant into the garden to get corn a week ortwo earlier than by direct planting out of doors.Sweet Corn can be planted in hills or in drills.Hills should be spaced t8 to 24 in. apart in therow and the rows spaced at 36 in. Three plantsare adequate per hill. In drills the rows arespaced at 36 in. and the plants thinned to stand6-8 in. apart. Crows and starlings may scratchout the seed just prior to its germination. Theseed should be treated with a crow repellentwhich can be purchased at a garden center.

Cultivation

Cultivation of Sweet Corn is similar to that ofother garden crops, namely shallow and sufficientto control weeds. Where corn is planted in hills,black plastic 18 in. wide may be placed over therow with holes for each hill.. This not onlycontrols weeds but also tends to conserve soilmoisture. Herbicides are widely used in com-mercial corn plantings for the control of weeds.The most satisfactory material is Atrazine, butagain this is very selective and cannot berecommended for the home gardener with afew short rows of Sweet Corn.

The removal of suckers and hilling of cornplants is not necessary or recommended Harvesting

Highest quality, sweetness and tenderness ofthe kernel is reached when harvested in the milkstage of maturity. At this stage the kernel is softand succulent. As the kernel content changes toa doughy consistency it loses its sweetness andincreases in toughness. Flavor and succulenceare quickly lost after picking if exposed to hightemperatures, say 75° to 8o° F. At thesetemperatures 30-5o% of the sugar may revert tostarch in 4-5 hours. At temperatures of 32°-38°F. the original quality may be retained forseveral days.

Insects and Pests

More than zo insects are recognized pests ofcorn. The more important are: Corn earworm,a stout striped worm, which feeds in the silk andkernels near tip of ear. Although they do notsurvive freezing, they migrate northward andare destructive when the ears are maturing.Spraying or dusting the silk at 2- or 3-dayintervals with insecticide # 37 is safe andeffective. European corn borer and southerncorn borer tunnel stalks and eat kernels. Spray-ing with insecticide # 37 when the stalks arefirst visible in the whorl and repeating in 7-10days should give good control. White grubs andwireworms eat the seed and roots and soiltreatment with insecticide # 3 is desirablefollowing sod. Corn flea beetle spreads bacterial(Stewart's) wilt disease and, following mildwinters when the beetle survives, a carefulspraying program with insecticide # 5 on earlycorn is recommended. Army worm can stripthe leaves from corn in a short time. They aremost destructive in late summer and a thoroughtreatment of corn and surrounding vegetationwith insecticide # 37 is advised. Chinch bug isdestructive in midwestern corn fields but seldomneeds special control in home gardens. SeeLAWNS. Stalk borer bores into stalks when theyare small and ruins them. Spraying is seldompractical. Japanese beetles eat the silk but can behandpicked successfully if sprays for otherinsect pests are not used.

Diseases

Bacterial wilt is described under flea beetle.Corn smut produces large, grayish-white gallscalled "boils" which usually ruin the ear. The"boils" contain a mass of spores. Fungicides areimpractical, and cutting and burning before thespores mature is suggested for home gardens.Treated corn seed is recommended for plantingusing fungicide # 5 on home grown seed.

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