Not some many people believe that growing corn in containers is possible. Although it is a very popular and versatile plant, many gardeners avoid growing it as it needs a lot of space. Therefore, this post aims at saving your space by showing you how to grow corn in containers.
Homegrown corn is undoubtedly the tastier corn you will ever taste. It is a fact that vegetables and fruits you plant in your home are way better than those of the markets. Since anything can be grown in a container, corn definitely makes no exception. However, the yield is less than the corn grown in a garden.
Take a peek at these easy to follow guide to learn how to successfully grow corn in containers.
1. choose a large container
Corn needs at least a 12 inches deep and wide container. It does not matter what it is made of, it could be made of wooden crates, old tries, laundry baskets and so forth and so on. The only thing that matters is that the container should be big enough to hold the plant and hold enough soil.
The number of plants you want to grow in a single container largely depends on how big the container is. A 12 inches container is fit to hold 3 full-size corn plants perfectly. However, if you want to grow more, let’s say for example 6 corn plants, you will at least need a 20 inches container.
Adequate drainage is also vital for your corn plants. Make sure that your container has an appropriate number of drainage holes.
2. Choose your preferred variety
There are many different varieties of corn. When you are about to select a variety you are going to grow, it does not only depends on your taste or decor but also on the best corn variety to grow in a container. The dwarf varieties are the best fit to grow in containers are they don’t exceed 4 or 5 feet in height.
Trinity, Sweet Painted Mountain, Strawberry popcorn, Sweet spring treat and Chires Baby Sweet are the most suitable variety for growing corn in containers. They are also widely available. Corn is wind pollinated and can cross-pollinate very easily. Therefore, it is best that you opt for one corn variety.
3. Soil
It is crucial for growing corn in containers to use a good quality soil such as a peat based potting soil. Please don’t use soil from your own garden or yard, that is not a good idea. A potting mix that can retain moisture is the best soil for your plants. They have vermiculite and perlite incorporated into the blend.
4. Planting
This is the easiest part. All you need to do is to sow no more than three seeds per container. You should sow them one inch deep. Then cover them with a thin layer of soil. Afterward, give them a lot of water. Mornings and evenings are the best times to water your plants.
Mulch around them to hold the moisture and place your container in a sunny place. Corn needs at least 6 hours of sunlight exposure daily.
5. Watering
Corn requires regular daily watering. Therefore you should water it daily but don’t let the soil become soggy or waterlogged. Water is an important factor to get a tasty corn. In fact, the sweetness and softness of your corn heavily depend on how much water you have given them. Thus, at the time fo fruiting, water your corn more frequently.
6. Fertilizing
Fertilizing starts ten weeks after sowing, usually when the plants are two feet tall. Dig a hole of 2 cm depth around each plant. Pour in each whole a 1/2 tablespoons of 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 fertilizer per plant, and incorporate the soil.
7. Harvesting
Generally, you can harvest corns in 60 to 10 days after planting them. It largely depends on the variety you had planted and the weather conditions of your area.
Now you know it is possible to grow corn in your house even if you don’t the required space for it. All you need to do is to follow this detailed easy guide.
You could also read about how to grow spinach, pepper, and Calamansi in containers. Click on them and learn how.
However, if you rather other kinds of vegetables, here is the ultimate list of “the best 20 vegetables that you can grow in containers“.
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