How to Grow Sweet Corn in Kentucky

Sweet corn thrives in Kentucky's rich soil.

Corn is one of the most cultivated crops in the world. Farmers and hobby gardeners grow several sweet corn varieties such as silver queen, saturn and legend, to name a few. Sweet corn grows fairly easy in the rich, well-draining Kentucky soil. With the proper planting and caring techniques, sweet corn can be grown on your farm or home garden.

Things You'll Need

• Plow
• Garden hoe
• Garden shovel
• Wooden rod
• Organic compost
• Corn seeds
• Watering can
• Fertilizer

Instructions

1. Plow with a garden tiller or hoe a block of land at least 4 by 4 feet after the first frost and when the soil temperature is at least 50 degrees F at planting time. Plow into the soil organic compost at a 10 to 20 percent ratio of compost to soil.

2. Gather the soil into rows of mounds approximately 1-1/2 inches tall. Space the rows of the soil mounds 2 to 3 feet apart.

3. Poke a small hole 1 inch deep into the soil mound with a finger or wooden rod. Insert two seeds into the hole. Gently cover the hole with soil. Create more holes along the row every 2 feet until the end of the row. Fill all of the holes with seeds and cover them.

4. Water the rows when the soil feels dry to the touch at a depth of 3 to 5 inches. Water enough to moisten the soil throughout..

5. Fertilize the corn every two weeks when it begins to flower. Feed the corn an organic fertilizer such as 5-10-10 or 12-12-12. Follow the label instructions for dosage details.

Tips & Warnings

• Corn can take up a lot of space in a home garden, but other vegetables can be planted between the plots of corn. Most small vegetables thrive as undercrops.

• The soil needs to be at a temperature of no less than 50 degrees F at planting time. Warmer soils produce healthier corn.

• A fertilizer designed for tomatoes works well with corn.

References

• hobbyfarms.com: Crop of Corn
• ipmcenters.org: Sweet Corn Profile

Resources

• gardenaction.co.uk: Sweet Corn