How to Fertilize Sweet Corn When the Silks Appear

Sweet corn is an easy crop to grow, but it requires a lot of room, water and fertilizer. Although there are early and late varieties, sweet corn is generally harvested 60 to 90 days after planting. Aside from adding fertilizer to the soil at planting, sweet corn requires fertilizer at different points during its development. One of these points is when the corn has five to six sets of leaves. The other is when the silks appear. The fertilizer should be side-dressed to avoid burning the plant's roots.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel or spade
• 46-0-0 fertilizer

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Dig a 2-inch deep trench, 6 inches away from the row of sweet corn plants.

   • 2

     Scatter 1/4-pound of 46-0-0 fertilizer on the bottom of the trench and fill it with soil.

   • 3

     Water the fertilizer into the top 8 inches of soil.