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Growing Sweet corn, also maize

(Zea mays, var. rugosa)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P	P	P					P	P	P	P	P

(Best months for planting Sweet corn in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

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: All beans, cucumber, melons, peas, pumpkin, squash, amaranth
Avoid growing with: Celery.

A seedling
A young corn plant
Feathery cobs on side of stem. Male flowers at top.

Frost tender Plant in 4 by 4 blocks to encourage germination Pick when the silky threads on the cobs turn brown or black. Part the top of the leaves and test for ripeness by pressing a grain with your fingernail. If it is milky, it is ready.

Early varieties ripen quickly and are sweeter when just picked.

Avoid planting coloured maize ( for drying) near sweetcorn as they will cross-pollinate and spoil the cobs on both.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Sweet corn

Pick and cook within an hour. Remove the silks and outer leaves.
Best flavour if microwave about 4 minutes per cob.
Can be barbequed wrapped in foil
Cook large amounts in a stock pot until test soft.
Sprinkle with black pepper and dip in butter.

Your comments and tips

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
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13 Dec 11, susan mbacho (Australia - tropical climate): questions; what are factors for growing maize?
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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
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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?
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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%.
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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.
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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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08 Oct 11, Vanese (Australia - temperate climate): When it says avoid growing with say tomatoes....how far away do you have to be? I have a small garden. Thank you
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12 May 11, Barbara Campbell (Australia - sub-tropical climate): I have just pulled my sweet corn plants out, and I am wondering what would be the best vegetable to plant in that spot.
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13 Jan 11, FRANK (Australia - sub-tropical climate): The best advice about sweetcorn and its growth is to plant seeds,add plenty of compost,well aged manure and or blood/bone and be generous with these, water well if rain is limited. Also add grass clippings or lucerne as a mulch.
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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