#34247
April 27th, 2005 at 02:35 PM
|
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Apr 2005
|
Most of my garden does good but I can never do any good with sweetcorn its weird because years ago my Dad grew bushels of it in the same garden I always put stuff on my ground to replenish the soil I,ve tryed different varities of corn does anyone have any ideas?
|
|
|
#34248
April 27th, 2005 at 03:32 PM
|
Compost Queen!
|
Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
|
Hi Katb, Can you tell us what you do to grow them>> ie: Mostly.....How you plant, like amount of rows?? What you do to the soil when the corns' growing.. How close you plant the corn? Weezie
|
|
|
#34249
April 27th, 2005 at 03:34 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
|
Green Giant makes some good little nibblers! Seriously, though, we have the same problem with our sweet corn. I am looking forward to reading any answers to see if I can help ours, too! Dianna
|
|
|
#34250
April 27th, 2005 at 03:44 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
|
You need to plant corn in multiple rows. Preferably at least 4 rows side by side. You need to plant them in blocks rather than in one or two long rows, because with long rows you get poor pollination. I space my rows 30 inches apart, but have seen recommendations for as little as 18 inches. I like to be able to walk down my rows easilly. I space my corn about 12 inches apart in the rows and there's usually 2 stalks per hill.
|
|
|
#34251
April 27th, 2005 at 03:47 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
|
P.S. Corn is a heavy feeder and you should work in sufficient fertlizer before you plant. I use 8 pounds of Harmony organic fertilizer per 100 square feet. In the past I used less at the start and then side-dressed fertilizer on either side of the row later in the season, but the one time application is easier and I have good results with it.
|
|
|
#34252
April 27th, 2005 at 04:27 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
|
Obyawan does as i do. I'm assuming the problem is with the number of cobs your getting and the lack of vigour in the growth???? The best i've had is 5 cobs from 1 plant but the average would be 2-3. I still side dress once the secondary root system gets going. That's those big ones that come out from the base. They will take the extra feeding if you supply it. I usually wait until they are forming, then mulch the corn heavily with compost and hay and water well and regular. They'll take plenty of water once the cobs start to form. Check your soil Ph. It may be a little low.
|
|
|
#34253
April 27th, 2005 at 04:33 PM
|
Compost Queen!
|
Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
|
Hey guys, Check your soil Ph. It may be a little low. What is the Ph for growing corn?? Inquiring minds would like to know!!! Weezie
|
|
|
#34254
April 27th, 2005 at 04:53 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
|
G'day Weezie, it's actually pretty tolerant of a range but if it got below about 6 it may be affected. 5.5 or less would definitely be a problem. Up to about 7.5 absolute maximum i'd say. So that's a pretty fair range eh??? It may not be the problem, just ALWAYS worth checking first i reckon.
|
|
|
#34255
April 27th, 2005 at 05:00 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
|
Oops, just re-read my post. Where I said "poor germination" I meant poor pollination. I'll see if I can still edit it.
|
|
|
#34256
April 27th, 2005 at 05:40 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
|
Hope those answers will help Kat as much as I think they will help me! Dianna
|
|
|
#34257
April 27th, 2005 at 06:44 PM
|
Compost Queen!
|
Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
|
I just had one area of my veggie garden tested, and it was 7.2... I guess good for corn, which it did good for corn last year, but not so great for tomatoes...
That's the tough part of rotating crops...UGH!!
Weezie
|
|
|
#34258
April 28th, 2005 at 12:57 PM
|
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Apr 2005
|
I plant my corn a few inchs apart with several rolls the corn always grows very good with lots of tossles but when it comes to haveing corn on the stalks I always lose out I use plenty of fertlizer liquid & pelleted also someone said I may lack nitrton.I,m trying it 1 more time this year I havent tryed the last 2 years if it doesent grow this time I,m giveing up.
|
|
|
#34259
April 28th, 2005 at 01:47 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Nov 2004
|
That is our problem, too, Kat. We had four rows planted about 10 inches apart. We just never seemed to have a lot of ears and some of the ones we did have were undeveloped. We will try the nitrogen boost and hope for a better crop this year. We must not have had enough of it in the garden last year.
We've planted another four rows this year and are hoping for better results. The weather here has been weird lately, too, though and don't know if these cold temperatures will affect it. Couldn't wait to get the garden planted and then we have temps in the 30's. Sheesh!
Dianna
|
|
|
#34260
April 29th, 2005 at 08:23 PM
|
Compost Queen!
|
Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
|
I haven't planted corn too many times, but the first time I didnt' get much ... but last year I planted some edible peas at the base of my corn, I let the corn get a good start on growing, then did the peas.. I did seem to get a ear or two more than usual.. ***Peas put nitrogen back into the soil as they are growing, any legume will do that..*** The only problem is the one's on the side that got more shade were a bit leggie... And I planted radishes to the sides of them too. Weezie
|
|
|
#34261
April 30th, 2005 at 10:07 AM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2004
|
Katb and Dixie Angel, that seems like an awfully close spacing for corn. If you have room, maybe you should try 12 inches apart in rows that are 2-3 feet apart or in a bed 18 inches apart each way.
|
|
|
#34262
April 30th, 2005 at 12:17 PM
|
Official Blabber Mouth
|
Official Blabber Mouth
Joined: Mar 2005
|
I am probably way wrong. But isn't there something about temperatures over 80 degrees at certain times in the corns growing cycle that can mess up the harvest? I'm thinking I heard something years back about the midwest being very concerned because of late summer high temperatures in that region. I could be completely out there in la la land. It seems I have been laboring under a lot of incorrect information when it comes to plants. No wonder my thumb is black.
|
|
|
#34263
May 1st, 2005 at 10:04 AM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
|
Temperature has a big effect on sweet corn all through its growth cycle. It won't germinate if the soil is too cool, say leass than 50-55 deg F, it won't grow well in the same situation. High temperatures can reduce pollination rates and high night time temps can increase respiration and water loss. Almost makes it sound hard to grow. But we know that aint true.
|
|
|
#34264
May 3rd, 2005 at 05:04 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2003
|
From a farm boy who grew corn and still does on 160 acres . . . don't plant sweet corn on ground where it grew last year don't plant rows closer than 20" apart don't cultivate closer than 6-8" to the stalks . . . you are cutting off brace roots if you do corn needs LOTS of nitrogen- side dress after knee high plant corn in blocks of at least 4 rows wide for good pollination sweet corn is not veggie of choice for a small garden . . . it likes lots of itself they are NOT called "cobs" - plants pollinate from the tassels to the silks on the developing "ears" of corn . . . cobs are what you have left after you eat the corn kernals off the ears . . . if you are eating cobs, you are a darn hungry! City slickers! Sheesh!
|
|
|
#34265
May 3rd, 2005 at 07:09 PM
|
Compost Queen!
|
Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
|
|
|
|
#34266
May 3rd, 2005 at 07:50 PM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Jun 2004
|
So, Bigboy, are you telling me I'm a bit since I bought 2 packs of sweet corn seeds, and my house sits in town, on a .14 acre lot? Meg
|
|
|
#34267
May 3rd, 2005 at 08:14 PM
|
Compost Queen!
|
Compost Queen!
Joined: Apr 2003
|
|
|
|
#34268
May 4th, 2005 at 05:33 AM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2005
|
,Hi everyone, Big boy is right,they are not called cob. Meg i wish you success with your corn hey! maybe you ll have it anyway. me, it s the first yr. i plant corn,i tried something first without knowing if i ll even get growing,because the weather here for the past 2 or 3 weeks has been very cold and always rain so herse s what i ve tried(keep in mind i m crazy franny): i planted my corn in a (dont know the english word for it) a kind of square seedling thingamajig...well up to now i saw a something grow...a little....don t know if it ll last...so can someone tell me if my way works and wath s my next step cornwise. hi Longy,hope you re doing well(pun), yah,i just saw what you do for a living,so it s a little pun. so thank you in advance everyone...and to everyone a good night!!
|
|
|
#34269
May 4th, 2005 at 05:43 AM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Apr 2005
|
hey gangn it me again,
if you have read my message before,and chance are that you did cause you re here now,i only have 1 thing to say after having reread myself and it is :I SWEAR I WKNO WOH TO WTERI AND SPELTS...i swear.
oh yah,another thing,,I M XTATIC....I M A GARDEN HELPER( yap! me not touch garden and me helping it!!!)
tata!!
|
|
|
#34270
May 4th, 2005 at 08:32 AM
|
Member
|
Member
Joined: Sep 2004
|
kind of square seedling thingamajig...well up to now i saw a something grow...a little....don t know if it ll last...so can someone tell me if my way works and wath s my next step cornwise. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Hi appropriatly named lady;) The square seedling thingamajig is the proper name. Unless it's round. Good guess:) Big Boy pretty much covered everything you need to do. Just make sure you have good drainage where you're gonna plant them and that the soil is warmed sufficiently. The reason corn likes lots of nitrogen is that it is in the grass family. Grasses love nitrogen. Started preparing the vege bed yet Franny? Go on. Get out there:)
|
|
|
#34271
May 4th, 2005 at 01:55 PM
|
Member
|
OP
Member
Joined: Apr 2005
|
Thanks for all the info I,ll try my luck again this year I,ll let you all know how it turns out.
|
|
|
|
|