How to grow sweet corn
Purchased corn, whether on the cob or in a can, cannot be compared in taste! Sweet corn is easy to grow in the flower and fruit garden with just a little knowledge and a few facts about corn.
Corn needs warm soil temperatures (50° – 65° Fahrenheit) to germinate. Warm temperatures cause the sugars in corn to turn into starches, losing sweetness and creamy texture. The sugars also begin to convert to starches immediately after harvest.
Sweet corn is divided into three types based on its sweetness: (SU) regular sugared sweet corn or standard sweet corn, (SE) sugar enhanced, and (Sh2) super sweet.
Standard Sweet Corn (SU)
Regular sugar is the traditional variety of sweet corn. Less sweet than the other types, it will tolerate low temperatures at planting time.
Sugar Enhanced (SE)
(SE) corn is the preferred choice of many of today’s flower and fruit gardening guides for many home gardeners. Sugary Enhanced is sweeter than standard corn and retains sweetness longer than any of the other types. While not as sweet as super sweet, it has a creamier texture and tolerates lower soil temperatures.
very sweet
Super sweet kernels (Sh2) differ from the other two types of sweet corn by their small, wrinkled appearance. Although the sweetest of the three, (Sh2) needs a soil temperature of at least 65°F to germinate. Another drawback of (Sh2) is that its texture is drier and its sugars convert more quickly to starch after harvest.
Sow your seed in very rich garden soil and give it access to plenty of moisture. Because corn is a high-nitrogen feeder, even the best soils may need the addition of aged manure or nutrient-rich compost to produce an optimal crop.
Plant corn in two or more rows for successful pollination. Plant the beans in hills of three, spaced about a foot apart with rows three feet apart. Plant kernels one to 1 ½ inches deep or ¾ inch deep for super sweet types. After germination, keep the most robust plant from each hill, discarding any other seedlings that have sprouted.
Water the rows well after planting, especially for super sweet beans, which need to absorb more water to germinate. Keep plants well watered during the growing season. Corn needs moisture to form tassels and silk and develop healthy ears.
Cultivate frequently to control weeds, but shallowly so as not to damage stems or roots.
Corn is ready to harvest when the silk dries at the ends, the ears feel full, and a thumbnail prick produces a milky-white substance. The sap under mature corn will appear watery. Each stalk should produce a large ear of corn. Many varieties also develop a second, smaller ear. Generally, from the time the silk is visible to harvest is about 20 days.
Watch your crop closely after the first silks appear. This is the “milk stage,” which lasts only about a week. The best corn is always the freshest corn! Roast it, steam it, roast it, microwave it — enjoy!