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Seasons
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Sweet corn, fresh-on-the-cob, straight from
the garden is a true summer delight. I remember as a child the
unfortunate mishap of having a loose tooth at corn time. What a
sad time that was!!
Corn is easy to grow, however, it does can take up a lot of
space in the garden. You must have four rows minimum for optimal
pollination. You will give an average of 2 ears per stalk. So
quick math shows that if you want plenty to eat and freeze, you need a
fair size patch.
Through the years, the genetic makeup of super-sweet varieties have
improved the flavor making them twice as sweet as the older varieties
as it prevents the sugar from being converted to starch as quickly
as standard corn. They do not "get old" in the garden as
quickly and can be stored in the refrigerator for 7-10 days and still
maintain very good flavor and quality. However, these older
varieties of Golden/Silver Queen, Iochief, Golden Bantam, etc. are still
popular and produce a bountiful crop.
Because of the high sugar to starch ratio in the kernels, germination
conditions must be optimal as they tend not to be as vigorous as other
varieties. You will notice the seed kernels are smaller and more shriveled.
I like to plant 2 kernels at each hill to ensure a good stand.
My first experience with planting the super-sweet varieties
happened a number of years ago. I always planted Iochief or Golden
Bantam as we preferred the yellow varieties. One of our customers,
a vegetable grower in Bermuda, asked me to send him about 10 varieties
of corn, my choice; white and yellow. He wanted to try a number of
different varieties to see which he liked. Later that summer he
called and asked me if I had ever planted "Incredible".
I hadn't. He said that corn truly lives up to its name. It made
beautiful, uniform ears of delicious, sweet corn that held well.
He had customers coming back to ask for that corn. He also
discovered it held its flavor when kept in cold storage. The
following year I tried it and I have been "hooked" ever
since. If you like white corn, its white sister is
"Argent".
When customers ask me for my recommendation, I always
suggest "Incredible". Often I have customers come back
and say, I can't remember what I planted last year, but you
recommended.... and I know--- they planted "Incredible"!!!
Planting:
Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun after the expected
frost date the middle of April. For optimal pollination, plant in
a block of rows at least 10-15 feet long with the rows spaced 2-4 feet
apart. Plant 2 seeds at each spot, 6-8 inches apart. Cover
with 1-1 1/2 inches of soil.
Rule of thumb: A 100 ft. row will yield 100-125 ears of
corn. It will take 5-6 ears of well-filled out corn to yield one
pint of frozen corn.
Do not cultivate after the plants are 24 inches tall as you will
damage their roots, causing the plants to be stunted.
If you plant different types of corn (open-pollinated, standard,
sugar enhancer, cornmeal, popcorn or super sweet) don't allow them to
cross-pollinate by planting in separate blocks at least 250 feet apart
or you will have tough and starchy corn. Different varieties of
the same type can be planted close together. To keep them
from cross pollinating, plant in separate blocks with a week in between
plantings. This spreads out the season and you will have fresh corn for
a longer period of time. Example: if you plant Incredible
(yellow) and Argent (white) on the same day, side by side, the result
will be a mixture of delicious yellow and white kernels on the same
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Fertilizing:
Corn, unlike the legumes in your garden, thrives on nitrogen.
Sprinkle 3-4 lbs. of 5-10-10 or preferably 10-10-10 per 100 ft.
row. When the plants are 8-10 inches tall side dress with 2 lbs.
of 46% urea or 34% ammonium nitrate per 100 ft row. Manure worked
into the soil in the fall gives corn a wonderful boost. Corn is very
sensitive to fluctuation in soil moisture should have 1 inch of water
per week. When it is hot and and the plants are lacking in enough
water, the leaves will curl tightly to prevent moisture from
escaping. You will know your corn is under extreme stress and
needs more water.
Harvest:
Harvest when kernels are completely filled out and a pierced kernel
reveals a white milky liquid. If the liquid is clear, it is not
ripe yet. Go fishing for several days! With experience you
will be able to tell just by looking at the ear or feeling the
well-rounded full ears. The ear drops slightly away from its tight
position next to the stalk. The silk should be brown, but not
brittle. It is preferable to harvest in the morning before the hot
sun causes wilt-stress to the plant. They used to say "run from the
garden with the corn." With the newer varieties that is no
longer necessary, however, faster is always better.
Pests:
Not only do you like corn and it's mouth-watering sweetness, but so
do raccoons, corn earworm, birds, Japanese Beetles, European Corn
borers, deer, corn maggots and wireworms. Some of these are easy
to control and some like raccoons and deer are maddening, unrelenting,
sneaky thieves!
Birds: Quite often I hear people complain that their corn did
not come up. I can almost guarantee you had a sneaky,
feathered thief called crows! Crows sit in the treetops and watch
you plant all those kernels of corn---just for them. They crow
with delight after you have gone to the house and invite the whole clan
for corn and tea! They will dig up kernels or if they can wait,
will patiently watch until the corn has sprouted and is 1-3 inches
tall. They will literally go down the row with glee at the
delightful treat you have provided just for them and pull every
stalk, eating the kernel and leaving the stalk lie on the ground. They
will then sit in the tree and crow their annoying gratitude for
all your hard work.
The solution: Mix Kernel Guard (available at your
seed dealer) with the seed when you plant. Some people use scarecrows,
fake owls, or tin plates on a string. I have found that if I
put 4 posts, one at each corner of my patch and string twine around the
top of the post and then crisscross to form an X, the birds will think
it is a trap and will not come into the patch.
It is the only thing I have found to really work. After
the corn is 12 inches tall, I remove the post and twine.
Also see Garden Pests for additional
ideas.
Worms and Beetles: spray with an approved pesticide such as
Sevin or Malathion when need arises.
Deer and Coons: This is a call for HELP! People
have tried many different tactics, some with more success than others
such as; radios blaring, hair clippings from barber shop, electric
fences, bloodmeal, traps, dogs, etc. The most successful is an barrier
fence such 2 x 4 welded wire. Any successful suggestions?
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®
Hertzler
Farm
and Feed Inc.
June 26, 2004
Incredible Sweet Corn patch.
June 26, 2004:
Close up of Incredible Sweet Corn
