Steps in Planting Corn Seed

Prepare the Soil

• Sweet corn grows easily in most well-drained soils. The soil should be worked to a depth of about 6 inches with a tiller, plow or spade. It should be free of large clumps. After the soil is worked, smooth it to a level surface with a garden rake.

Fertilize the Soil

• Amend the soil with a 12-12-12 fertilizer. For a 10-by-10-foot corn patch, add 3 to 4 pounds of fertilizer.

Plan the Rows

• Corn is pollinated by the wind. It is better to plant short rows side-by-side than one long row, since the pollen will spread easier in a clump than in a row.

Planting the Seeds

• Wait until after the final frost of the year and make sure the soil temperature is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Plant the seeds no deeper than 2 inches in a row, leaving 8 to 10 inches of space between each seed. Keep rows 2 to 3 feet apart.

Growing the Plants

• Once the seeds begin to germinate and grow, thin plants that are growing too close together and keep the corn patch as weed-free as possible. The time between planting and harvesting mature, edible ears varies with each variety, but generally takes from 75 to 90 days.