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 16°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm 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

19 Aug 12, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
In reply to your question,yes i soak all my bean seeds,as it tends to speed up there germination.I live in Nth NSW
25 Mar 12, arabella (Australia - temperate climate)
how many ears of corn grow per stalk?
03 Jan 12, eva (Australia - temperate climate)
why is my cobs goin brown, is it a insect or not incorrect watering this is my second year of goin corn, they grow well but when its time to eat they are brown and rotten parts inside the corn, please help as its a waste of time and water
02 Jan 12, Shane Sowerby (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Is there anywhere in New Zealand where I can buy Purple Corn seed?
13 Dec 11, susan mbacho (Australia - tropical climate)
questions; what are factors for growing maize?
15 Nov 11, jeanette neumann (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
All the leaves are coming away from the corn befori iit is formed properly and i have never seen this before do you know what this might be from . thankyou Jeanette
13 Nov 11, Jeannette (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I read that the flower should be cut when cobs are ripening. Is this correct? And do they mean the male flower at the top?
30 Oct 11, Leo H (Australia - temperate climate)
How can I grow corn seedlings? This spring is so cool and wet that my potting mix remains too wet and the seeds get waterlogged and my germination rate is around 2%.
29 Nov 11, JOSEPH (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Dear Leo, Corn require a soil temperature of at least 15deg to germinate, as added point interest last year I placed my corn seeds in a tray of toilet roll holders fill with pottting mix and water them with a small amount of epsom salts at the recommend rate of a dessert spoon to 4:5 litres of water. The results were suprising to say the least, try it and let me know. The plants tillered quite amazingly with three plants from each seed and tasty cobs when havested. Hope you as much success as I had.
07 Nov 11, Macka (Australia - temperate climate)
I have always found if planting seedlings for corn, it is best to use a seedling tray therefore when you transplant the seeds the soil which they are planted in will hold in the roots for a more successful corn growth post transplanting. its best not to use a sandy soil for growing the seedlings and also i recomend trying to use mature chook manure as a fertilizer particularty the manure from the side of the road, as i have had nothing but trouble using poultry manure from a nursery. Hope this helps you leo
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