How to Grow Dwarf Corn

Select an area to grow the corn, either in the ground or in a large container, such as a 5-gallon planter. The space where you grow the dwarf corn should receive at least six hours of full sunlight per day.

Prepare the soil by layering at least 24 inches of a 1-to-1 mixture of potting soil and compost. This provides the soil richness that dwarf corn needs to grow. If you are growing the corn in a planter, layer 2 inches of gravel in the bottom for proper drainage before adding the soil mixture. Do not prepare the soil until all danger of frost has passed and low temperatures are regularly above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Plant the dwarf corn seeds a half-inch deep in the prepared soil, about 18 to 24 inches apart. Poke holes into the soil with your finger and drop three corn seeds into each. Soak the soil with cool water. If you are using containers, continue until water begins draining from the bottom. Keep the soil moist, but not soggy, while you wait for the corn to sprout.

Allow seven to 10 days for the dwarf corn sprouts to emerge. When the seedlings are approximately 1 week old, pluck away any weak plants, leaving only one dwarf corn plant every 18 to 24 inches, or one per 5-gallon container. Keep the corn watered as it matures. If the leaves begin to turn yellow, apply a fish-based fertilizer from your local gardening store.

Harvest the dwarf corn when it is mature, or between 60 and 80 days depending on your chosen variety. Two weeks after silk appears on the ears of corn, begin checking to see if they are ripe every other day. Peel back a small amount of the husk to reveal the corn and puncture a kernel with your fingernail. The corn is ripe when the punctured kernel excretes a milky liquid. If you are growing a popcorn or decorative variety, do not harvest the corn until late fall.