Corn is a warm season crop that requires warm soils and full sun all day. For an early crop, although frost can injure seedlings, a small number of seeds can be planted early.
Corn is considered a warm-weather crop. In the Corn Belt, average summer temperatures range from 70° to 80°F daytime and exceed 58°F at night. The average frost-free growing period is over 140 days.
Greatest yields are obtained where 30 or more inches of rain occur during the growing season. In areas where rainfall is less than 20 inches, yields are much reduced unless irrigation is used.
Corn grows well in almost any soil type but a loose friable soil always gives better results. A soil pH of 5.5 – 6.5 is ideal. A field with good soil moisture will enhance early, uniform emergence, good growth, and increase yields and improve quality. Irrigation should be provided before the soil becomes dry. Young sweet corn plants have a rather coarse, shallow root system, but as the plant approaches maturity, the root system becomes more fibrous and penetrate to a depth of 3 ft or more.
The corn plant requires all the elements for optimum growth and production. These are usually provided by the growing medium. However, nitrogen and potassium are needed in larger amounts.
Maturity of corn hybrids is a genetic characteristic and is generally deļ¬ned as the period from germination to when the kernel ceases to increase in weight. In the northern Corn Belt, early hybrids often reach physiological maturity in less than 100 days; whereas in the extreme south, 150 or more days may be needed,
Corn is ready for harvest when the ear is full size for the variety, has a tight husk, and has somewhat dried silks.
Growing corn
