I have been able to have my first sweet corn 2 weeks before anyone else, even before the commercial growers. My method is simple, and it will work in your area, too.
This is not a method for planting all your corn. It’s only for a part of your early crop. The two most important factors in this method are the section of the garden to plant in, and when to plant.
Decide the previous fall where to grow this extra-early corn. Choose a dry section of the garden where there is no sod, no manure or other fresh organic matter in the soil, and no green manure crop growing.
Let me tell you why this is so important. Whenever you have a large amount of organic matter in the soil, there’s bound to be a lot of activity by soil micro-organisms in the spring. They’ll be working to decompose all that organic matter. Normally, this is a good thing, but because your early corn seeds may take 2 weeks to come up, they could become part of the process—the soil life might decompose the seeds along with the organic matter.
If you have an area that slopes slightly to the south or west, great! This is a good spot for extra early corn because the soil will be much warmer there in spring and usually can be worked in advance of other sections of the garden.
No Fertilizer at Planting time
Do not put any plant food in the soil at planting time—no manures, and no fertilizers of any kind. If you’ve been planting corn for many years, this may seem dumb. But fertilizing early in the year is the worst thing you can do for corn. What happens? The plants usually grow too fast. This makes them tender and a slight nip of frost kills them. The fertilizer may also cause the seed to rot in the ground.
When should you plant? Take a gamble. The first year, try planting at least 3 weeks before the average last spring frost date. If you have good success and most of your plants make it, the next season plant a few days or a week earlier. Keep pushing the date earlier and earlier until you know the absolute earliest time you can plant sweet corn and get a good crop.
I try to have some early corn planted on my birthday—April 13—which is usually about 5 or 6 weeks before the last spring frost in Vermont.
Plant your corn a little deeper than normal-1 to 2 inches deep. (Normal planting depth is about 1 inch.) It may take 2 weeks or more for the plants to emerge, so be patient. The seeds will sprout and start work on their root systems, and then the first leaves will appear.
Suppose the weather turns cold?
Corn seedlings grown this way can survive two or three frosts. I’ve seen corn lying frozen on the ground and completely brown, only to watch it spring back within a week.
Why is this so? Each corn plant has a terminal growing tip called its “growth point.” If the growth point freezes, the plant dies. Fortunately, this growth point doesn’t get above the surface until the plant is 6 to 8 inches high. It is in the base of the plant and is underground when the plant is small. That’s usually when the coldest weather hits. Although the small leaves above ground may be frozen or set back, the plant can make a comeback if its growth point is insulated in the ground.
You have to plant an early variety if you want the earliest corn. Spancross and Sugar ‘N Gold are two of the varieties that work well. It’s important to plant treated seeds. If you have a little extra space, try a mid-summer variety like Butter ‘N Sugar. With luck, you’ll have some of that before anyone else.
One last thing—you’ll need some fertilizer to get the best early corn. Side-dress your plants when they’re 6 to 10 inches tall and again when the tassels appear.
Corn planting in wet and dry soil
Planting corn on raised beds produces earlier corn in wet areas, or in climates which don’t get enough sun and heat for great corn. A raised bed is simply a row that is elevated 6 to 8 inches. It dries out and warms upearlier and captures more heatand sun through the season.
When it rains heavily, the raised bed sheds water, keeping the corn roots on the warm, dry side. I have grown all kinds of corn on raised beds with good success— even the tall, long-season Silver Queen variety. But if you live in a climate that is cool and cloudy, concentrate on early varieties such as Sugar ‘N Gold or Butter‘N Sugar.
In hot, dry climates plant corn in 3- to 6-inch deep furrows. The furrows will catch irrigation water (or any rain that falls) and channel it to the corn plants. This helps corn germinate quickly, too; there is usually more moisture at the bottom of the furrow.
Once the plants start getting tall it’s okay to spill in a little soil to help support them. As long as you keep even a shallow furrow, you’ll reap a little extra irrigation water or rain. And because the roots are deeper than corn planted on level ground, furrow- planted corn will need even less watering.
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