Maize Planting Methods

Planting Time

• The best time to plant corn is when the soil temperature is anywhere between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Germination rate is optimal in warm soil. Do not plant seeds in cool soil, as this leads to poor germination, weak growth and low seedling survival rate. Time the planting to two weeks after the last hard frost in the area. New sweet corn varieties perform especially poorly in wet and cool soils.

Planting Depth

• The recommended planting depth for seeds or kernels is 1 inch deep if they're growing in heavy soils. In lighter sandy soil, plant the seeds 2 inches deep. Do not plant deeper than 2 inches in any type of soil. If you're using early-maturing varieties, space the plants 8 to 10 inches; when growing the late varieties, the recommended space is 9 to 12 inches. If you're planting on a hill instead of in rows, use 5 to 6 seeds per hill with 3 feet between the hills. Keep the three strongest plants after the seedlings emerge.

Soil

• Although the vegetable adapts well to a variety of well-drained soil types, plant maize in a fertile, deep and easily workable soil for the best growth. Plant the early crops in sandy soil, as these warm up more rapidly in the spring as compared to heavier soil. Conduct a soil test to bring the soil pH to an optimal 6.0 to 6.5. Till the soil well prior to planting with a rototiller or spade. Take care not to till wet soil, as this leads to the formation of large clods that impede healthy seed germination.

Fertilizer

• Unless a soil test is conducted to determine specific requirements for nutrients, use approximately 6 lbs. of a 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 feet of rows prior to planting. Apply a sidedressing of 1 lb. of ammonium nitrate, 34-0-0, for every 100 feet of row space two to three times through the growth season. Excessive rain or sandy soils require more frequent sidedressing of the fertilizer.