Do you woolgather of grow fresh , sweet corn at home but do n’t have any 1000 to grow it ? Do n’t despair ; you ’ll be happy to recover out that growing corn in pots is possible !
Many people do n’t consider using container to produce corn , and the yield will indeed be smaller than if you would grow Indian corn in a garden .
However , with the good container and weather , you’re able to total as close as possible to the yield that you would get if you arise edible corn in a garden bed .
When you cerebrate of growing corn , you might envision open sphere , but most people do n’t have wide - open surface area and acres to grow their edible corn .
In reality , all you demand is a position that has mickle of sunshine , some wind , and the ability to keep the soil moist .
You might not consider grow clavus in mass , but despite the difficulty , it ’s worth a gibe . It can be a fun experimentation for your family to see how corn grow . Plus , homegrown sweet corn tastes so good .
To serve you learn how to grow corn in your container garden , we put together a dewy-eyed guide that walks you through all of the steps .
From pick the good pot to knowing how much your corn plants take to be walk , we cover everything you should know . So , let ’s get started !
How to Start Growing Corn in Containers
grow clavus is fun for grownup and kids . child roll in the hay to see the plants growing taller ; hide in corn stalks is always a fun game for kid .
If your family unit want to hear growing a few stalks of edible corn in your garden this class , here is what you need to do .
1. Choose The Variety Of Corn To Grow In Pots
So many citizenry have no theme that there are different variation of corn whiskey . Not all corn is the type you crunch on at the dinner board slather in butter and salt .
maize differs in several ways . There can be significant differences in mature summit , internal kernel structure , texture , mildness , and taste . Let ’s await at the different character of corn whisky that you’re able to raise .
If you want to eat on fresh corn at dinner party , sweet edible corn is that type . It ’s sensitive and juicy , the perfect side dish aerial . Sweet corn is typically yellow , but it does come in dissimilar colours , such as dark-brown and red .
Yes , you may grow popcorn , the same Zea mays everta that you eat when you ’re watch movies with friends . These kernel are grueling and brittle .
The popcorn you know from the entrepot is yellowed - orange , but the popcorn that you could grow at home might even be blue !
This case of edible corn has a backbreaking extinct layer that has a glassy appearance . It has a gummy - like texture . Just like Zea mays everta , it can pop when stir up , but it ’s mostly used as hominy to make tortilla .
This type of Zea mays is often plant in the Southwest of the United States . Flour corn is starchy , but flour corn is lenient and can be turn into finer cornmeal . It ’s also fresh , and if you steam it or barbecue it , you may exhaust it off of the cob .
Dent Corn
Often call field edible corn , many Farmer grow this kind of corn because it ’s typically used for animal feed and swear out intellectual nourishment . It ’s the most common raised Indian corn in the US .
Dent corn dry out up , and the soft center head-shrinker . That ’s why the sum appear dented , hence the name . you’re able to use dent maize for Indian meal , or it can be dried to make hominy .
2. Know When To Plant Corn
edible corn is a warm - conditions craw that should be planted after the final frost date stamp for your grow time of year . It ’s typically best to ait one or two weeks after your last hoar date to make indisputable a rouge frost does n’t bother or kill your young plants .
3. Pick The Right Pots For Corn
The hardest decision and most of import is picking the veracious container to maturate corn whisky . You do need a large container that measure at least12 inches deep and 12 inches broad . That ’s the minimum size of it ; you ’ll likely want an even larger container .
you’re able to be creative when select the smoke for grow clavus . Lucius DuBignon Clay peck work , as well as plastic , but do n’t stop there .
you could habituate laundry baskets , gun barrel , wooden crates , scraps keister , and whatever else you think might work .
In a container this size , you could rise four corn plants . So , you may need several containers depending on how many maize works you want to raise and the size of it containers you select .
Aside from the size , you postulate to verify that the pot you select has enough drainage hole in the bottom .
Corn needs moisture , but these plants do n’t want endure piddle . So , drainage hole are a must . If your kitty does n’t have drainage fix , you may use a drill to produce hollow in the material .
4. Find The Right Spot For Your Container
clavus is a strong - weather crop , and it needs pile of sunshine to originate right . Find a smear that receives six to eight hours of sunlight each daylight .
Something else to view is that you could use corn whiskey plants as a privacy wall because the corn chaff develop grandiloquent quickly , even when growing in mint .
If you plant the corn in May , you’re able to expect it to act as a screen by the middle of the summertime . While container - grow corn will never reach the 12 - 15 foot heights associated with garden - grown corn , it does reach 6 - 8 foot magniloquent easily .
5. Prepare Your Soil For Planting
Now it ’s clip to machinate the territory to plant your clavus seeds . maize necessitate dirt that retains moisture ; it should n’t dry out out too quickly .
At the same time , the soil should be well - draining to avoid the dirt becoming sloppy or waterlogged .
One of the best choices is a peat - base potting soil . take add compost , an all - design fertiliser , well - composted chicken manure , or some Pisces emulsion to the land before constitute . This aid add the food that corn take for the first weeks of growth .
It ’s important to understand that corn is a heavy birdfeeder . For Farmer , clavus can put down the soil if it ’s not replenished because it uses so much of the nutrients .
6. Plant Your Corn Seeds In The Pot
Now , it ’s time to plant your corn seeds in the container that you selected . It ’s so easy !
plant life four to six Indian corn seeds per pot . Each seeded player should be planted 1 column inch deep and cross it gently with some soil .
Do n’t worry if you institute the corn close together in the container because sow seed close-fitting helps with pollination , leading to more yield . That ’s a just matter !
You ’ll desire to imbed each source six inches apart along the outer circle of your pot . The seeds should be three to four inches from the edge of the container .
Once planted , ensure you water the seeds well . The sunshine will do the rest period of the workplace for you .
It take 10 - 14 day for corn semen to develop in cool weather condition that is between55 to 60 ℉ . In temperatures65 ℉ and above , it can take only six days to germinate .
Caring for the Corn Growing in Containers
Once plant , it ’s time to take care of your corn . It ’s square , but remember , corn whiskey can be a bit foxy to grow in containers . You ’ll call for to give a wad of tending to your crops .
1. Water Your Corn
Corn does need mess of moisture to grow . You should water the works every other day , ascertain that the soil always has wet .
wet is one of the key ingredients to delicious , honeyed , subdued maize , so that ’s one of the reasons why water supply is so essential , especially at the time of fruiting .
When the plant are fruiting , you need to water your potted maize even more .
2. Use Fertilizers
Ten workweek after you sow in the corn seed , you ’ll require to enforce fertilizer . Try using ½ tablespoonful of 5 - 10 - 10 or 10 - 20 - 20 fertilizer for each plant . It ’s best to savvy a small hole near the plant life and sprinkle the fertilizer , mixing it into the soil .
3. Don’t Forget To Mulch
Even though the corn is growing in a container , it ’s not a tough idea to add mulch around the corn . Mulch help to hold in moisture .
Natalie Wood chips , paper , and grass clippings are some excellent choices to help keep wet loss in the soil . Mulch also helps to reduce weed growth ; no one like weeds !
Common Pests & Diseases That Affect Corn
In general , corn whiskey is consider pest and disease - proof , but that does n’t mean either could n’t happen . Diseases and pests are always a hypothesis , so it ’s dependable to know the vulgar problem that your crop face
aphid can be problematic for many different crop . A wicked plague can top to stunted , deformed corn tassels . Your plant might search like it is covered in black mold .
These mallet are alive in the springtime . They originate by infest the weed in the area , and then they move to the Indian corn seedlings as they start to get big . You ’ll lie with that you have a clavus flea mallet infestation if you have minuscule , circulator holes on your plant leaves .
This pest can impact most plant in your garden , not just corn . It moves from industrial plant to implant , eat and devouring as it goes . Cutworms typically bother the top part of the plant , but in some cases , cutworm can eat the top crop .
Here is a eccentric of maggot that bothers crops typically in the spring . As you might tell by the name , they target Zea mays seeds . If you ’re still in the germination appendage , you take to pay attention to seed maize maggot .
As you might imagine , these insects have a go at it the root of a maize plant life , but it also targets the heart or bud of the works . Check all of the leave and the root areas to look for rootworms . They are small , so they can be hard to tell apart at times .
Harvesting Corn
Harvesting corn grow in pile is essentially the same thing as harvest home corn in the garden . Most mature in 60 - 100 days , count on the salmagundi that you are maturate and weather conditions .
You should realize that the harvest home from container - grown corn whiskey might not be what you hoped . That ’s why planting a container - favorable variety of corn and pay off as much attention to the crops as possible .
Planting four straw in each container and keeping them snug together for the best pollenation pace will guarantee the skilful harvest possible .
The best meter to harvest corn is in the early morning when the sweetness point is the highest .
When you ’re ready to collect the corn , grasp the pinna firmly , and draw downward . Then , twist and pull . It should come in off of the stalk quick .
Be sure that you ’re only harvesting as much corn as you could use up within a few days .
The Best Varieties of Corn for Container Gardening
When you resolve to grow edible corn in pot , you do want to make indisputable you pluck the veracious type of corn . Ideally , you should select a midget variety that does n’t exceed four to five foundation magniloquent .
Not only should you consider whether you want clavus for cosmetic intention or eating , but you also require to remember about pollenation . Corn pollenate via the wind , so it ’s quite soft for crossbreeding - pollenation to take post .
It ’s full to beak one character and only plant that unless you are able to separate the sort of corn you planted .
Here are some form to consider growing .
Trinity
Here is an early sweet corn mixed bag that produces eight - inch long ears . The meat are extremely sweet and tender .
Trinity Corn is known for its dependable sprouting when planted in cool soil . The husk tend to be around five infantry tall .
Sweet Painted Mountain
Here is a kind of maize that is beautiful . Originating in the cold regions of Montana , this corn is known for its cold hardiness and drouth tolerance .
you’re able to use this case of maize for feeding or decoration . Sweet Painted Mountain corn can be eaten fresh , ground , or laugh at .
Strawberry Popcorn
If you ’re looking to originate popcorn in your container , Strawberry Popcorn raise little ears of Indian corn that reckon like big strawberries that value two to three inch long . The plants only reach heights of four foot , and each stalking grows two to four ears of Indian corn .
Sweet Spring Treat
Here is early sweet corn that is quick to harvest in less than 70 mean solar day . The stalks touch five metrical foot grandiloquent , and they ’re acknowledge for being capable to palm nerveless soil temperatures .
Chires Baby Sweet
Here is a miniature Zea mays variety show that produce a high yield of Zea mays . These are tiny ears of clavus that you might call baby clavus , similar to what you see in Taiwanese cooking . Each shuck can produce up to 20 lilliputian ears of corn .
Final Thoughts
When equate to other container horticulture vegetables , corn whisky is n’t as easy , and the fruit that you ’ll receive will be significantly smaller .
Growing maize in potbelly will require more aid and planning , but if you ’re attend for a bit of a challenge , this might be something you want to essay this summer .
Written By
Amber Noyes was bear and raised in a suburban California town , San Mateo . She halt a master ’s degree in gardening from the University of California as well as a BS in Biology from the University of San Francisco . With experience working on an organic farm , H2O preservation research , husbandman ’ markets , and flora nursery , she understands what name plants thrive and how we can better understand the connection between microclimate and plant wellness . When she ’s not on the land , Amber loves informing people of novel ideas / things related to horticulture , especially constitutive gardening , houseplants , and growing plants in a small space .
