How to Grow Your Own Corn for Corn-Burning Stoves

Plow approximately two acres of land in preparation for planting corn. Two acres is approximately how much land you will need to grow a sufficient amount of corn to heat a medium-sized, properly insulated home for an average winter, although acreage can vary depending on the size of the house, how well-insulated the house is and the severity of the winters.

Plow rows for your corn approximately 18 inches apart. Plow approximately 6 inches deep. Plant corn in early spring, after the final frost.

Add inexpensive nitrogen-based fertilizer to the bottom of each row if economically practical, although fertilizer is not a requirement. Fill rows back in to a depth of 2 inches.

Plant cow or deer corn (not sweet corn) with seeds spaced at 10-inch intervals along the rows. Cover the seeds with 1 1/2 to 2 inches of soil, and water. The initial watering should be approximately 1 inch.

Water the corn every three days until the corn is established (3 inches tall), and then reduce the watering to once every week unless conditions are such that the soil is completely drying in a shorter time. Keep soil slightly damp, but not soggy. If there is sufficient rain, then watering can be reduced or eliminated entirely.

Harvest corn when the tassels on the ears of the corn have turned brown and the ears appear ripe when inspected. Corn should be ready for harvest in August. Harvest corn all at once. Place corn in a barn or other protected area where it can dry.

Allow corn to dry until it has approximately 15 percent moisture or slightly less. Less moisture results in hotter-burning corn. Kernels will wrinkle and turn hard when the corn is sufficiently dried.

Remove dried kernels from the cobs. This may be done by hand (rolling the ears in gloved hands while squeezing hard on the ears) or by rubbing the cobs with a metal brush. Store the loose, dried kernels where rodents cannot get to them, and use them as fuel for your corn burning stove according to the manufacturer's recommendations.