McKenzie's Archives

CORN

How To Grow

Direct seed a week or more after your last average frost date. Corn does not transplant especially well, but if your growing season is very short, you can start seeds in peat pots and then very carefully transplant to garden without disturbing the roots.
You may want to use a plastic mulch to warm the soil as corn does not like soil temperatures below 50 degrees F.
Corn must self-pollinate in order to produce ears. Plant at least 16 plants to insure this or plan to hand pollinate. Also, plant so crop is at least four rows deep. Plants should be 3 inches apart with rows 24-30 inches apart. Dwarf varieties may be somewhat closer. An excellent method is to plant in hills, six seeds per hill and then thin to four strongest plants. Hills should be placed 6 feet apart.

Varieties

There are basically three types of corn; standard sweet, supersweet and sugary enhanced. The supersweets are sweeter than standard or sugary enhanced varieties, having up to three times the sugar content. They also preserve their sweetness for a longer time than standard varieties.
However, Supersweets have crispier kernels and are less creamy than the other types.
Within the three basic varieties you will then find varieties of yellow, white and bicolor corn. Just a few popular types are; Standard Varieties- Northern Vee and Earlivee (very early), Early Sunglow (early).
Supersweets- Norther Super Sweet and Early Extra Sweet (early).
Sugary-enhanced (SE) - Silver Choice (early) and Kandy Corn (main).

Location

Sun, sun and more sun!

Fertilizer

Corn is a very heavy feeder requiring lots of nitrogen. Because of this it is an especially good idea to rotate your crop plantings to avoid depleting soil. Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer when plants are knee high and again when silks start showing.

Pests and Disease

Corn earworms may cause damaged ears and stunt growth of the plant. You may control larvae by spraying BTK on the tips of the ears every 4-5 days after the silks begin to dry. Or a drop or two of mineral oil on the tips of ears after the silks wilt will help.
Aphids may be a pest to most any plant and the damage usually appears as curled or yellow leaves. Spray plants with insecticidal soap to control.
If you notice a sawdust like trail around your plants and plants wilting, your problem is likely European corn borers. Spray with ryania to kill adult moths and larvae as they hatch. BTK granules many stop the pest from even getting started. As a last resort, spray with pyrethrum.
A dry leaf skeleton look may indicate Japanese beetles. They feed on stalks, tassels and leaves. Hand pick and destroy beetles or spray with rotenone.
Adult flea beetles will chew many tiny holes in the leaves of the plant. But the greatest danger is this pest spreading bacterial wilts to the crop. Treat plants with rotenone or pyrethrum.
Fungal smut appears as a gray-white growth on the plants and then burst open. Destroy infected crop. To prevent keep plants evenly and well watered and clean up garden debris well. You may also buy treated seed to avoid smut.
Rust is a fungus that appears on the leaves of the crop. It is usually spread by damp, hot weather. Water in the morning to avoid plants standing wet overnight. Garlic or sulfur fungicide spray will also help.

Harvest

Usual harvest is about 3 weeks after the plant silks, but can vary depending on weather. The ears should feel full out to the tips. The silk should also have turned brown and dried by then. Corn does not keep well for more than 4 to 5 days so plan to use soon after harvest.

Favorite Recipes

BROWN RICE, CORN AND GRILLED VEGETABLE SALAD

1 1/2 cups brown rice	4 zucchini halved lengthwise
1 large red onion cut crosswise into 3 thick slices	1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup olive oil
5 tablespoons soy sauce	3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 cups mesquite wood chips soaked in cold water 1 hour (optional)	2 cups fresh corn kernels
2/3 cup fresh orange juice	1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup chopped Italian parsley

Add rice to large pot of boiling salted water. Cover partially and cook until just tender, about 30 minutes. Drain well. Transfer to large bowl and cool to room temperature, stirring occasionally.
Place zucchini and onion slices in shallow dish. Mix 1/4 cup oil, 2 tablespoons soy sauce and 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce in small bowl. Pour over vegetables. Let stand 30 minutes, turning once.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). When coals turn white, drain chips, if using, and scatter over coals. When chips begin to smoke, season onion and zucchini with salt and pepper and place on grill. Cover and cook until tender and brown, occasionally turning and basting with marinade, about 8 minutes. Transfer to platter. Cut onion slices into quarters. Cut zucchini crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Add onion and zucchini to rice. Mix in corn.
Whisk orange juice, lemon juice, 1/3 cup oil, 3 tablespoons soy sauce and 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce in medium bowl. Pour 1 cup dressing over salad and toss to coat. Stir in parsley. Season with salt and pepper. Serve salad, passing remaining dressing separately.

leafline

CORN FRITTERS

4 cups fresh cooked yellow corn kernels	1 large egg
1/2 cup flour	1/2 cup fine corn meal
1 cup water	1 cup lightly packed Greek oregano chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil	salt and pepper to taste
enough vegetable oil for frying

Mix all ingredients together, except vegetable oil. Let stand, refrigerated, for 1/2 hour. In skillet, on medium heat, add oil and fry corn mixture by dropping one large tablespoonful into the vegetable oil. When golden on one side (approximately 3 minutes), turn and fry for another 3 minutes until golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

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