How to Plant Corn in Rye

Corn is a large, sensitive summertime crop, and grows best in loose, quick-draining and fertile soil. Some gardeners dig and amend their soil at planting, while others nourish soil between corn crops with mulch crops like rye. Rye prevents erosion and weed growth during winter, and keeps soil loose and friable. Plant rye to protect your soil through winter, then till it under as part of your corn planting process, and continue to use it as green compost in the soil.

Mower
Rototiller
Organic compost
Fertilizer
Mulch

Instructions

- 1
  Plant corn in mid-spring, when the frost rises. This crop fails in late frosts, but does well in 65- to 70-degree starts. Cut the rye down to 1 to 2 inches at this time, then till it under using a tractor or rototiller. This digging process churns the soil further and mixes rye roots and stems into the foundation as green compost. Till the soil to a depth of 6 to 10 inches.
- 2
  Lay 1 inch of organic compost on the corn plot, and add 3 to 4 lbs. of granular 12-12-12 fertilizer per every 100 square feet. Turn this mixture into your tilled soil to add more nutrition and moisture retention for the corn crop.
- 3
  Plant corn kernels in north- to south-facing rows to take advantage of wind for pollination. Push the seeds 1 to 2 inches deep at every 8 to 10 inches in the row. Leave 2 to 3 feet between rows for growing and gardening.
- 4
  Water the plot with 2 to 3 inches of water, and put the corn on a schedule of 2 inches of water every week. Lay 2 inches of organic mulch over the soil to keep it moist, warm and weed free.

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