How to Grow a Corn Seed

Check with a local gardening store or master gardener to find a corn variety that grows well in your climate. The University of Illinois provides a guide that explains that corn comes in different colors (primarily yellow and white) and different sweetnesses, though almost any homegrown corn is sweeter than what you'll find in groceries. Different varieties also mature at different times and require varied optimal conditions. A gardening store should have a variety that grows well in your area; you can also check with local farmers and online stores.

Prepare the soil for planting. Washington State University recommends adding 3 to 4 pounds of 5-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet of soil before planting corn. Add fertilizer to the soil while aerating in preparation for planting: Cover the soil with a layer of dry fertilizer or spray it with liquid fertilizer, then mix it in with a gardening fork or tiller.

Plant the corn in the spring after a frost is unlikely. The University of Illinois says corn likes warmer soil and may need later planting in colder areas. Plant corn kernels 1/2 inch deep in cooler damp soils and 1 inch deep in dryer soils in warm climates. Plant multiple seeds at least 9 inches apart.

Water the corn about 1 inch per week and more than 1 inch per week when it is very hot or very dry.

Fertilize the corn twice. The National Gardening Association (NGA) recommends a fertilization technique called side-dressing, which is placing a row of fertilizer about 4nches from the base of the corn plant on each side. This technique distributes fertilizer throughout the corn's roots. Use either a 10-10-10 fertilizer or manure to side-dress the corn. The NGA recommends side-dressing twice as the corn grows: when it is at knee height and when it develops tassels.