Corn/Maize — FarmPal
Versatile crop for sweet eating, grinding, or animal feed.
Sun
full
Water
high
Spacing
8-12 inches apart in blocks of at least 4 rows
Days to Harvest
Sweet: 60-100 days. Dent/Flour: 100-120 days.
Planting Depth
1-2 inches deep
Companion Plants
Beans
Squash (Three Sisters)
Cucumbers
Melons
Avoid Planting Near
Tomatoes (share pest)
Common Pests
Corn earworm
European corn borer
Aphids
Raccoons
Diseases to Watch
Corn smut
Northern leaf blight
Common rust
Growing Tips
- •Plant in blocks for wind pollination
- •Three Sisters: plant with beans and squash
- •Side-dress with nitrogen when knee-high
- •Needs consistent moisture during tasseling
- •Hill up soil around base for stability
Harvesting
- •Sweet corn: silk turns brown, kernels milky when pierced
- •Dent corn: kernels are hard with dent in top
- •Flour corn: kernels are hard but smooth
- •Pull ears downward and twist
Storage
Sweet corn: eat immediately or freeze. Dry corn: store years.
Varieties
Golden Bantam
Heirloom sweet corn. True corn flavor.
Silver Queen
White sweet corn. Very popular.
Bloody Butcher
Red dent corn. Historic variety. For flour.
Oaxacan Green
Heirloom flour corn. Beautiful green color.
Glass Gem
Stunning multicolored popcorn. Ornamental and edible.