How to Plant & Harvest Corn

Select a site with full sunlight and amend the soil with two to four inches of well-rotted manure or compost for each 100 square feet of garden. Till in the amendment to six inches deep. Plant corn when the soil temperature is at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, recommends the Utah State University Extension recommends.

Plant in blocks with at least three double rows per block. In each double row, space the corn seeds 12 inches apart, with 10 to 12 inches between rows and 30 to 42 inches between each double row.

Cultivate with a hand tool between rows and with a tiller between double rows to keep weeds in check. Pull weeds when they are still small.

Irrigate corn plants with a drip irrigation system for efficient watering. Run hoses between double rows, and position one emitter at each plant. Corn requires regular watering to a depth of eight to 12 inches. Lay two inches of organic mulch after the seedlings emerge. This will conserve soil moisture.

Try to puncture a kernel with a thumbnail. If it punctures easily, the corn is ready for harvest. The ears should be plump, the silks dry and the kernels milky, according to the Utah State University Extension.