Having a supply of fresh vegetables from your own garden is not only a profitable process but also very beneficial for your health. Growing corn can improve your physical and mental health, as well as your prosperity. You can start growing corn in your own garden and start reaping the rewards, with just a little knowledge and hard work.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Selecting the Type of Corn
Step 1. Do some research on the area where you intend to plant corn
This method is very important to know about climate and soil type, as is making preparations for each different type of corn. Some types of corn prefer warmer/cooler soils with different soil PH levels.
Step 2. Know how to grow sweet corn
Sweet corn is a classic variety of corn that is usually eaten as a stew or already in canned corn. Sweet corn is known to have seeds that are golden yellow and bright and sweet in taste. Sweet corn is the most popular type of corn grown in home gardens.
- Standard sweet corn or standard sweet corn (the seed packaging is labeled 'su') is the lightest of all types. More than 50% of the sugar contained in this standard sweet corn is converted into flour (starch) within 24 hours. Therefore it must be consumed or canned immediately after harvesting / picking.
- Sweet corn with high sugar content or sugar enhanced sweet corn (the seed packaging is labeled 'se') is the result of genetic modification to slow the rate of conversion of sugar to starch, thereby adding to the sweet and tender taste of corn kernels.
- Super sweet corn or super sweet corn (labeled 'sh2' on the grain package) is the sweetest variety. The seeds are smaller than other sweet corn varieties, and will shrivel when dry.
Step 3. Learn about dent corn
This type of corn is not the type that is grown to be consumed raw. Corn is mainly used as animal feed or for processed foods. Growing this type of dent corn is useful for use on agriculture or sold to other farms.
Step 4. Know the type of flint corn (pearl corn)
Flint corn or also known as Indian corn (Indian corn) has a hard character with several grain colors. Its use is similar to that of dent corn, but it doesn't grow all over the land (for example, it doesn't grow in the United States, but grows in Central and South America). This corn is usually used for decoration purposes.
Method 2 of 3: Preparing the Land/Garden
Step 1. Know when to plant
You will need different planting times depending on where you live. If you live in an area with cold winters, for example, the best time to plant is between May and June. Be careful not to plant too early, because if the soil is still too cold, the corn kernels will rot.
Step 2. Choose a planting location
Corn plants like areas that get full sun, so choose plots of land in the garden that are open. Try to choose an area that is relatively free of weeds/weeds, because corn plants will be very difficult to compete (in getting nutrients from the soil).
Step 3. Prepare the soil
Corn plants prefer soil rich in nitrogen and well fertilized.
- If possible, plant corn in soil that has been grown with chickpeas or peas, as these plants enrich the nitrogen in the soil.
- Make sure the soil has a temperature of around 16 degrees Celsius. If the area is not warm enough then you can increase the temperature by covering the soil with black plastic and making holes in it for the corn kernels to enter.
- Add compost or fertilizer to the soil two to four weeks before planting, so that there is time for the fertilizer to blend into the soil.
Method 3 of 3: Growing Corn
Step 1. Plant the prepared corn kernels
For each person who intensively eats corn, plant 10 to 15 crops. If successful 100% then each plant will produce two corn cobs.
- Corn is pollinated by the wind, so it is best to plant it in blocks (clusters) rather than in individual rows. Thus the pollen has a good chance to germinate.
- Plant the corn kernels about 2.5–5.1 cm below the soil surface, with a spacing of about 61–91.4 cm.
- To increase the chances of seeds germinating, plant 2-3 seeds together in each hole.
- If you are growing several varieties of corn, be sure to plant them in separate areas to reduce the risk of cross-pollination. Cross pollination that occurs may produce corn with starchy seeds.
Step 2. Do watering
Corn plants need about 2.5 cm of water per week. Infrequent watering can result in many cobs that are hollow and without seeds. Try to avoid watering from the top side of the plant because it has the potential to wash away pollen.
Step 3. Remove weeds around the young corn plants
Remove weeds around the corn plant until they are about knee high. After that, the corn plant should be able to fight the weed growth on its own.
Step 4. Wait for the growth
If you plant between May or June then in early July the plants will be about knee high. By then, your corn plant should be about 30.5–45.7 cm tall. Corn plants finish growing about three weeks after developing corn hairs or “tufts” on the shoots, which dry like brown silk tails.
Step 5. Pick the corn and enjoy
Corn is ready to be harvested when the seeds have fused and produce a milky liquid when pierced. To get the best taste and optimal freshness, you should consume corn immediately after picking.
Tips
- If you have enough time, it's best not to pick the corn sooner than you will eat it. In other words, consume it as soon as you pick it. The freshest corn is the best corn.
- If you want sweetcorn as a vegetable, be careful not to pick it too slowly as it may overcook the corn (mature corn is harvested as grain). But that's not a bad condition, because you can grind it into flour (maizena) or use it as seed so you can plant more corn the following season.
