When to Water Sweet Corn

When to Water Sweet Corn

To produce large ears full of plump kernels, sweet corn (Zea mays) needs constantly moist soil. Corn is an annual plant that grows best in deep, fertile soil and does not tolerate drought. In dry conditions, plants grow and their ears comprise kernels that are shriveled or blank. To present moisture that is continuous about sweet corn roots, water the earth and water plants from sowing to harvest or whenever the soil surface is dry. Fantastic weed control and mulches disperse around the plants help retain moisture from the soil.

Sowing Sweet Corn

Watering and amending the soil prior to sowing sweet corn offers conditions such as the sprouting seeds. Squeeze two inches of mulch or well-rotted manure to the top 8 inches of dirt, and rake the surface until it is nice and crumbly. Draw a hoe 1 inch deep through the soil to make rows or spaced based on the directions on the seed packet. Water the rows thoroughly and permit the water. Sow three or two seeds every 4 inches, and then rake the loose soil over the seeds. Sow sweet corn in blocks for the very best harvest from this plant that is wind-pollinated.

Watering Young Plants

Water youthful sweet corn plants and distribute mulch to help retain soil moisture. Water sweet corn the soil surface dries out, but do not saturate the soil. The surface should feel just moist to the touch and water should drain away from around the plants within 10 to 20 seconds. Water very first thing in the morning that gets on the leaves has the time to dry throughout the day. When four or three leaves thin corn seedlings seem, removing the weaker seedlings to depart about 8 inches between plants within their rows. Spread two inches of garden compost, a mulch such as eight layers of newspaper or 4 inches of straw between the plants. Do not spread mulch close to the plant stalks where it might cause rotting. Weigh down newspaper with rocks or distribute an organic mulch.

Irrigating Maturing Plants

Corn requires lots of water in warm summer weather as plants mature and routine weeding to remove weeds. Water sweet corn in the morning when there aren’t any heavy downpours, providing 1 to 2 1 1/2 inches of water to every plant. Water a place 2 feet in diameter around the base of each plant, and then apply the water slowly to stop it running off if the floor is dry. Weeds compete with corn to get water, so remove when the earth is moist and they’re easy to pull up. Alternatively, cut off the weeds at their bases with a hoe before watering the sweet corn, taking care to not disturb the sweet corn roots.

Fertilizing Sweet Corn

Best in soil that is moist grows, but in addition, it needs feeding. If sowing sweet corn, like a 12-4-8 product at a rate of 4 tablespoons a 4 square feet, Distribute a fertilizer over the soil surface. When the plants are 30 inches tall and 15 inches, employ a fertilizer diluted at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 1 gallon of water. Apply 1 gallon of fertilizer alternative to four sweet corn plants every week, or dilute and use the product based on the directions on the tag.

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