Holly's Homestead — Grain & Staple
Corn
Zea mays · Grass family
DIFFICULTY Easy–moderate
TYPE Annual, warm season, direct sown
MATURITY 60–100 days
TYPE Annual, warm season, direct sown
MATURITY 60–100 days
Sun
Full sun
Water
Regular, especially at tasselling
Soil pH
6.0–6.8
Spacing
25–30cm in blocks
Depth
3–4cm
01Plant in blocks, not rows
Corn is wind-pollinated, so a single long row often pollinates poorly. Plant in a block of at least 4x4 plants so pollen reliably reaches neighbouring silks.
02Planting
Method
Direct sow in a block for reliable pollination.
Soil
Rich, well-drained, heavy feeder.
Timing
Sow after frost risk passes and soil has warmed.
03Growing care
- Water deeply and consistently, especially while tasselling and filling cobs.
- Feed generously — corn is a heavy nitrogen feeder.
- Hill soil slightly at the base for stability in wind.
- Hand-pollinate by shaking tassels over silks if pollination looks poor.
04Problems
- Corn earworm — larvae in developing cobs; check tips regularly.
- Poor pollination — planted in a single row; always plant in blocks.
- Lodging (falling over) — wind damage; hill soil and shelter if exposed.
- Birds and possums — net or fence ripening cobs.
05Harvest & storage
Signs
Silks have browned and dried, kernels release a milky liquid when pressed.
Method
Twist and pull the cob downward from the stalk.
Curing
None needed for sweet corn — eat promptly, sugars convert to starch quickly after picking.
Storage
Fridge only a day or two; best eaten the day it's picked.
06Companions & rotation
Plant nearby
BeansPumpkinSquashAvoid nearby
TomatoRotation note
Heavy feeder — follow with a nitrogen-fixing legume crop.