Planting and Harvesting corn

Planting and harvesting corn

Justin D. Robinson
Sunnyvale High school

Planting Corn:
When planting corn, it is very important you plant it in soil that it will prosper and grow
in because con is very picky about the ground it is placed in. The corn needs to be planted in rich
soil that drains exceptionally well. The corn should also be planted in a very warm climate where
it is sunny most of the year because it will not thrive during the cold months.

Some more notes to take in consideration when planting

Seeds should be planted approximately 10-12 inches apart. The corn needs lots of
space because it is a heavy feeder and is pollinated primarily by the wind.

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Plan to fertilize at least 2 times during the process of growth because corn is a
very hungry plant that desires a lot of nutrients.
When dropping the seeds into the ground make sure you plant them 1-2 inches
deep into the soil
It is ESSENTIAL to till the ground before planting the crop in order to yield the
maximum from your crop. Tilling the dirt will break down the previous residue from the
past crops and help nutrient the soil for the next round of crops.

Harvesting corn:

The prime harvest time for sweet corn passes quickly for most varieties except
the super sweets, so gardeners need to know how to judge when to harvest to get the
most from their crop.
Signs to know when corn is ready to harvest:
When the corn is ready to be picked when you see that all the ears have
completely filled out. ( you can tell when they are full by feeling the ear of corn itself)
Corn is ready to harvest when you see that the corn is rounded and blunt rather
than pointed.
When the silks are all dried up, then that is another sign that is ready to be
harvested.

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If you don't trust your judgment then just slightly pull back the husk, and if you
see it is filled out, then the corn is ready. (try to not do this because once the husk is
pulled back, the corn is exposed to insects and birds who are scavenging)

How to pick the corn from the stalk:

To harvest the corn ear from the stalk is actually quite easy. You simply need to pull the ear and
slightly twist from the stalk and it will come off. The hardest part of harvesting the corn is
actually just reaching it because the stalk can grow as tall as 8- 15 feet tall.

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Carroll, J. (2016). Corn Harvesting Info When And How To Pick Sweet Corn.
Retrieved October 11, 2016, from
http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/corn/tips-for-harvesting-corn.htm

H. (2015). How Do Farmers Harvest Corn? - The Farmer's Life. Retrieved October 11,
2016, from http://thefarmerslife.com/farmers-harvest-corn/

Corn: Planting Basics. (n.d.). Retrieved October 11, 2016, from

http://garden.org/learn/articles/view/401/

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Discovery Education, (2015). Harvest and Tillage. [Video Segment]. Available
from http://www.discoveryeducation.com
Latifmanesh H, Zheng C, Zhang W, et al. Integrative impacts of soil tillage on crop yield, N use efficiency
and greenhouse gas emission in wheat-corn cropping system. International Journal Of Plant Production [serial
online]. July 2016;10(3):317-333. Available from: Academic Search Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed October 11,
2016