How to Plant Corn for Food Plots

Corn grows tall, taking up a significant amount of garden space.

Corn, or maize, provides a useful and tasty addition to large food plots. Corn originated in the Americas, and native Americans grew the crop as one of their main staples, along with beans and squash. Today, corn remains a staple in the American diet, mostly in highly processed forms. Grow corn in your own personal food plot so that you may eat it fresh in its unprocessed state. Plan to use at least 40 square feet of space for a corn patch and stagger planting times to produce a steady corn harvest for your family the entire growing season.

Things You'll Need

• Compost
• Rototiller
• Corn seeds
• Hoe
• Mulch
• Fish emulsion or other high-nitrogen fertilizer

Instructions

1. Spread compost 2 to 4 inches thick on the ground to be planted after risk of the last spring frost or when the ground reaches at least 60 degrees F.

2. Till the ground to be planted to loosen the soil and integrate the compost.

3. Plant corn seeds 12 to 15 inches apart in a square or rectangular plot. If each plant is far from the others, pollination may not be successful. Plant a new patch every two weeks to stagger harvesting.

4. Water the ground thoroughly and keep moist but well-drained. Corn requires significant irrigation, particularly when developing reproductive parts and fruits.

5. Hoe the ground free of weeds when plants reach 2 inches high, taking care not to hoe in the baby corn plants.

6. Mulch around the baby corn plants with wood chips or dry leaves.

7. Spread diluted fish emulsion or other nitrogen-rich fertilizer at the base of the plants when they are 1 foot in height. Follow the instructions listed on the fertilizer package for application details.

Tips & Warnings

• Grow legumes prior to or around the corn to ensure ample nitrogen in the soil.

References

• Colorado State University: Growing Sweet Corn
• Utah State University: Sweet Corn in the Garden