Corn Seed Growth

Growth Stages

• Of the two stages of corn growth, vegetative (V), and reproductive (R), it's the V stage where seed and plant growth takes place. Planting during the month of May is optimum, offering a yield potential of 100 percent if planted early, dropping to 83 percent if put off until the end of the month. Seedlings need at least 30 percent moisture for germination to begin. Even though the plant emerges between two and six days after planting, seedlings continue to develop the root system beneath the surface of the ground for the first three to four weeks.

  In order for a seedling to anchor into the dirt and obtain water and nutrients, it must grow its first radicle, or root, followed by the coleoptile (shoot). These vital initial growth stages, known as vegetative emergence (VE), are protected from frost, insects and grazing animals due to their underground environment. The numerical assignments after the "V" refer to the number of leaves which have usually formed.

Planting to 30 Days

• Vegetative stages VE through V-5:

  Completion of V-5 usually takes about one month and plant height is roughly 8 inches. Cold nighttime temperatures (frost) will damage the young stocks, but this usually results in only minor yield loss. Weed control is important during these stages as they are competing for water and nutrients.

Days 30 to 60

• Stages V-6 through V-12:

  At stage V-6, about three weeks after the plant can be seen above ground, the root system has grown down to about 18 inches deep and 2 feet in radius. These developed roots are voraciously absorbing nutrients and it is at this time that farmers fertilize for maximum growth.

Days 60 to 90

• Stages V-12 through V-16:

  These are the stages where the corn stalk fully matures and ears grow to their maximum size. Silking is about a week away. Stress during this period can delay pollen shedding. Harvesting occurs between 90 to 110 days.

Hybrids

• Whether it is field corn or sweet corn, farmers have always attempted to better their yield. In the 1930s, the farmer's unscientific efforts were to find the biggest ears with the largest kernels and use those for the following Spring's planting. Today there are hundreds of variations of hybrids, all scientifically selected in the hope of increasing yield by up to 50 percent.