How to Plant & Sew Corn Seeds at Home
- 1). Find a place in your yard that receives at least eight hours of sunlight per day. Since corn is pollinated by the wind, it is important to keep in mind that it could cross pollinate with other varieties. Sweet corn grows best in easily worked soil. Sandy soils may bring an early crop since they warm up faster than heavy soils. Using a spade, plow or tiller, prepare the soil about 6 inches deep. Break up bigger chunks of soil to make sure there is good contact between the seed and soil.
- 2). Plant your corn in full sun after any risk of frost. Kernels should be planted about 1 inch deep in heavy soils. Each seed should be about eight to 10 inches apart. You can plant them closer together and thin the new sprouts later if they seem too close together. If the soil is sandy, plant a bit deeper, but no more than 2 inches. Each row should be about 2 to 3 feet apart. If space in your yard is at a premium, corn also can be planted mounds. Use five or six seeds per hill and then thin to three strong plants per hill. Each hill should be spaced about 3 feet apart.
- 3). Water and remove weeds from your corn to promote full, healthy ears. As each stalk grows, a tassel will develop at the top of the plant. This holds the key to creating the ear. For kernels to form, pollen from the tassel must be deposited on the silk of the ear, which is located lower on the plant. Once the silk appears, begin counting the days until harvest. Depending on the variety, it usually takes about three weeks for the ear to mature.
- 4). When ears begin to appear ripe for harvesting, look for fat, dark green ears with brown tassels. Some varieties have a purplish tone. Squeeze the ear to test for firmness. Feel for a rounded, not pointed tip. You can also puncture a kernel with a fingernail. If it spurts milky liquid, it's ready to head for the kitchen. The ears will be freshest if used within four days of harvest.