Growing Sweet corn, also corn,maize

Zea mays, var. rugosa : Poaceae / the grass family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
P                 P P P

(Best months for growing Sweet corn in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Sow seed

October: After risk of frost

  • Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 11-14 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): All beans, cucumber, melons, peas, pumpkin, squash, amaranth
  • Avoid growing close to: Celery.

Your comments and tips

20 Oct 10, pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i only take the one main cob off the corn then pull the plant and compost it. any subsequent cobs are usually small and spindly, and in my opinion not worth the bother. cheers
13 Oct 10, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Corn is grown in the same bed as pumpkin in a rotation system and it is this which grows up the corn stems.
20 Sep 10, Jay (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
traditionally corn has been used as a climbing post for peas as the peas put nitrogen back into the soil that the corn has taken out. My question is that corn and peas are opposite planting times so how does this work? Anyone?
01 Oct 10, grace (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
beans not peas, they are a summer crop.
20 Sep 10, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Perhaps growing climbing beans with corn would work?
11 Apr 10, chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i grew my first bunch of corn last season but was not very succesful i grew them from a punnet that i brought.... this year i will plant by seed would it be better to plant direct or sow in seed trays? :) x
18 May 10, dave (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
i have found it best to plant your corn from seed the seedlings dont seem to like to be transplanted they are almost sertain to die.plus i always soak my seeds in tepid water overnight to encourige germination.
19 May 10, Wayne (Australia - temperate climate)
I found exactly the same - corn seedlings from the garden shop invariably die or do poorly. Much better to start from seed.
30 May 10, Diana (Australia - temperate climate)
Corn don't transplant well. Direct sowing is much better.
20 Oct 10, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i have grown corn by both methods, never lost a plant when transplanting. i usually start my first lot off in a cold frame and then after that lot gets going and the soil has warmed a bit i plant them straight into the ground planting half a dozen more than i want to put in place of any that fail to germinate. i plant about 25 seeds a time every couple of weeks over the summer
Showing 341 - 350 of 417 comments

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