While corn, in a traditional sense, is actually a grain, when it’s still in on the ear, it’s considered a vegetable. Corn is an incredibly popular vegetable, and seems to be a staple of backyard barbeques as summer roles around. Growing corn in a home garden is not very difficult, despite the size that corn grows to. Where most home gardeners run into issues with their corn crops is fending off critters like squirrels, birds, raccoons and other pests who also enjoy the taste of fresh corn.

So you’ve decided to plant corn in your fantasitc garden, nice! According to our research on corn, we don’t recommend planting tomato nearby.

When planting corn, directly place the seeds into the ground. Unlike most other vegetables that are planted in rows, corn should be planted in squares. The reason for this is that corn is pollinated when a male plant contacts a female, so planting corn close together allows for more contact and better pollination rates. Corn has a very long tap root system, and requires loose soil to grow to its full height of 6 to 8 feet. The Native American’s used to bury a fish head with each batch of corn seeds to supply the necessary nitrogen needed for corn to flourish. Compost, rotted manure, or fish emulsion will work just as well, if not better. Apply this nitrogen-rich fertilizer once the corn is about 8 inches tall, and again when the corn tassels begin to develop.

Once the corn silks start to appear, the corn is nearing its peak ripeness and is almost ready to be harvested. The best way to test if your corn is ready to be picked is by peeling back one of the ears of corn and piercing a kernel with your fingernail. If a milky-clear liquid comes out, the ears of corn are ready to be picked and eaten!