How to Plant Winter Corn

Corn is an important and popular staple crop in both home gardens and commercial growing situations, and grows throughout the country during summertime. Corn requires a particularly long growing season of 85 to 90 days and only grows in bright, warm and frost-free conditions. If you want to grow corn during winter, do so in container or potted foundations, with the right level of indoor temperatures and lighting.

5- to 10-gallon containers
Quick-draining soil
Organic compost
Artificial lights
Fans

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare large, heavy containers with drainage holes for corn. The plants grow tall and heavy, so make sure the containers can balance the weight. Use containers that are 6 to 8 inches deep to give the corn room to grow and prepare enough containers for at least 15 to 20 corn stalks.
- 2
  Fill the containers three-quarters full of a mixture of half quick-draining soil and half organic compost. Corn requires loose, quick-draining soil and good nutrition and will fail in poor soil.
- 3
  Choose small corn cultivars to make indoor growing easier and more space efficient. Dwarf varieties like Miniature Hybrid, Golden Midget and Early Sunglow produce standard ears of corn but take up less space.
- 4
  Plant corn seeds 1 inch deep and 4 to 5 inches apart. If you're using long flower beds or containers, plant several seeds per bed. If you're using individual pots, plant one seed per pot.
- 5
  Water the corn with 2 to 3 inches of water and set it in a greenhouse or garage where you can maintain temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Make sure that the corn gets six to eight hours of full or artificial light every day for growing and blooming.

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