How to Grow Sweet Corn in Australia

Select a sunny location far from maize and standard sweet corn if you're growing the supersweet variety. The pollen from those two plants will affect your final product. Sweet corn grows in a variety of soils, but good drainage, nutrients and a 20-inch depth for the roots are essential.

Test the soil two to five months before planting, recommends the government of New South Wales. This gives your planting bed enough time to absorb the nutrients you'll add to the soil once you receive the test results.

Amend the planting bed as indicated by the results of the soil test. Corn requires a large amount of nitrogen, in particular.

Make furrows 1 inch to 1-1/2 inches deep for the corn seed. If you live in southern Australia, wait to plant when there's no more risk of frost for the season.

Sow the seeds 7 inches apart in rows 3 feet apart. Cover the seeds with topsoil and firm the ground lightly.

Water the seed bed at planting. Keep the seeds moist until germination. Continue to water as the seedlings grow. The precise amount of water depends on the area of the country. In New South Wales, for instance, corn needs about 2 inches of water a week, or about 10 gallons.

Feed your corn a complete fertilizer containing nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous. Apply it at the rate of 1/4 pound for every 10 feet. Fertilize 21 days after germination, and 35 days after the plants sprout.

Harvest sweet corn about four weeks after the corn silk begins to appear. By then, the silk will have dried out and the kernels will be filled with milk. Cut the stalk with a corn knife 4 inches above the ground, using a downward motion.

Store corn in cribs made of wooden or metal slats to allow for air circulation. Cover the cribs with hardware cloth to prevent rodents from getting to the corn.