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Sweet Corn
Zea mays
Nothing beats an ear picked minutes before it hits the pot.
Sun
Full sun
Water
3 cm / week
Soil
Rich, warm, pH 6.0–6.8
Spacing
30 cm apart in blocks
Days to harvest
60–100 days
Hardiness
Zones 4–10 (annual)
Seasonal Calendar
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Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Plant in a block
Corn is wind-pollinated — plant in a 4×4 grid or bigger, not a long row.
- 2
Feed generously
Corn is a heavy feeder. Work compost in and mulch.
- 3
Support if windy
Earth up stem bases to steady tall plants.
- 4
Harvest at 'milk stage'
Silks brown, kernel liquid milky (not clear, not doughy). Eat as fast as possible.
Common problems
Poor pollination
Grow in a block. Shake stalks on a still day to help pollen fall.
Corn earworm
Drop a few drops of vegetable oil on the silks after pollination.
Good neighbors
BeanSquashCucumber
Field tips
- “The 'Three Sisters' — corn, beans, squash — is a classic and works.”
- “Sugars turn to starch within hours of picking. Cook immediately.”