• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to footer navigation
  • Skip to header navigation
  • Skip to privacy navigation
  • Skip to recipes navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Blog
  • Contact

Brooklyn Farm Girl

Cooking And Gardening in NYC

PopularStewed Tomatoes
let's be friends
join my free recipe club!
  • New? Start Here
  • recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Desserts
      • Dinner
      • Drinks
      • Side Dishes
      • Snacks
    • Type
      • 30 Minute Meals
      • Breads
      • Brownies & Bars
      • Cakes
      • Casseroles
      • Cheesy
      • Cookies
      • Dips
      • Donuts
      • Holidays
      • Kid Friendly
      • Mac and Cheese
      • Muffins
      • Pasta
      • Pizza
      • Potluck
      • Salads
      • Smoothies
      • Sneaky Vegetables
      • Soups
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Meat
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Pork
      • Seafood
      • Turkey
    • Method
      • Baked
      • Canning
      • Drying & Storing
      • Freezing
      • Instant Pot
      • Roasted
      • Slow Cooker
      • Stovetop
    • Season
      • Spring
      • Summer
      • Fall
      • Winter
  • Vegetable Index
  • Urban Gardening
    • Let’s Harvest
    • Tutorials
    • Seed Calendar
    • Compost in Brooklyn
  • About Me
    • About Pamela
    • Our Garden
    • Editorial Guidelines
  • Life & motherhood
    • Journal
    • Motherhood
    • Our Upstate Adventure
    • Cats, Cats, Cats
    • Crafts
  • Videos
  • PopularStewed Tomatoes
Home » Gardening » Garden Tutorials

Tips on Growing Sweet Corn

corn
By: Pamela Reed
Posted:9/5/16
Updated:8/3/23

Fresh sweet corn – don’t you love it? I sure do.  Follow our journey from seed to picking over 20 ears of corn!

We tried growing corn up on the roof for a few years and it grew.. sometimes. In 2012 we had the best results on the roof, but each year before and after was hit or miss (here’s how to protect corn from rats).  

Each year I talked Matthew into trying again, and each year we got small, if any, corn.  Eventually Matthew had to give me a intervention and say that corn was a waste on the roof, why don’t we grow something else?  After huffing and puffing and blowing the house down, I gave in, no more growing corn on the roof.

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

So this year, with our first proper growing in the ground, non-rooftop garden, I was determined to grow corn! Lots of it! A entire bed of it!  We are still figuring out our growing schedule, but we decided to plant it in early June.  By July it was growing, but not that tall, and I was becoming nervous because the (legit) farmers around us had corn that was 5 feet tall.

 I was worried we started too late.  I was worried the ground wasn’t ideal growing conditions for our corn. Then August came and the corn just took off!  It grew tall! It grew ears! It grew multiple ears on each stalk!  The corn couldn’t control itself, it kept growing and growing and growing!  

Last, last weekend, we peeked at the corn and it was white, not the yellow/white combo it was supposed to be, so we gave it one more week.   This past weekend, it was ready.    We picked it. We ate it. I danced with it. 

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

Technicals: We grow Xtra-Tender bicolor super sweet corn. I’m in Zone 5A. Corn seeds were planted directly in the soil June 6.  We harvested on September 3.   Seed packets say 73 days to maturity but ours took 89 days.

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

Here’s the corn 12 days old.

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

Here’s the corn 26 days old.

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

Here’s the corn 60 days old.

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

And finally, 89 days old! (Hanging out with their friend Mr. Sunflower).

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!
20160904_115524

Ok, ok… pick it already!

Tips on growing corn:
Plant seeds directly in the ground.  Corn is not a vegetable that likes to start indoors and be transplanted.  Space the corn about 8 inches apart when planting.  Corn is wind pollinated, so growing them together is important for pollination. 

Corn likes soil that is at least 60 degrees for germination.  It loves full sun.

Corn is a big plant so it’s no surprise it needs good watering.  Corn has shallow (but very strong!) roots so it can go into panic mode if it doesn’t get enough water.  Soaker hoses work great in corn beds.  Careful watering is most important in the early stages to get your corn off to the right start.  Once established you don’t have to babysit it too much with watering, just keep a eye out.  Once our corn is about knee high we pretty much just rely on the rain (seriously!) to water it.

Read the seed packet for how many days to maturity, but don’t be surprised if your corn is a few weeks off.  The best way to tell when it’s ready is when the silks are brown.  You can also gently peel some of the husk down to see what the corn looks like.  If it’s filled with corn, and is the right color, then it’s ready.   We grow bicolor yellow/white corn and it starts white first before turning yellow.   If we peel the husk down and the corn is all white, then we’ll dress him back up and give them another week.

To remove ears of corn off the plant, hold the corn stalk with one hand while the other pulls the ear away from the stalk.  Twist it gently and you should hear it crack off the stalk.  

Refrigerate corn as soon as you pick it to keep it fresh and sweet. It stays fresh this way for about 10 days.   For any corn leftover, use a knife to cut the corn off the cob and then freeze corn kernels. 

If you spot a ear worm in your corn after you pick it, don’t freak out.  Just cut that piece of corn off.  Just think that your corn was so tasty the worm wanted a bite.

Deer and raccoons love corn.  There’s lots of sprays and fences on the market to try to keep animals away from corn.  I have a hate/hate relationship with electric fences, but you do whatever you think is best.  In our case we just built a boss fence so animals can’t get into the garden.     If birds are eating your corn, consider placing bird netting on top of corn. Once ears of corn appear, put paper bags on top of them keeping birds out.

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

This weekend we picked 23 ears of corn, but who’s counting? (I am!).   We saved some for next weekend that needed a little more time.

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

And the corn is big!  Yes, I measured it! Don’t lie, you would too.

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

So that makes a happy ending to the corn this season.  I’m not sure if we’ll change anything next year as it did so well this year.  

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

Now I have to go.. I have grilled corn on the cob to eat!  And I have to tell you that this is the most delicious corn ever!  Homegrown corn is always the best!

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

Tell me in the comments if you grow corn, I want to hear all about it!

Looking for corn recipes?  Check out how to make corn nuts! 

Step by step instructions on how to grow Sweet Corn. It's easy to grow!

Similar Recipes

  • Garden Update: What's Growing in October?
  • 20 Best Leftover Candy Corn Recipes
  • 20 Best Leftover Candy Corn Recipes
  • 20 Best Leftover Candy Corn Recipes

Reader Interactions

join the free recipe club

Receive My Favorite Recipes Straight To Your Inbox!

Thank you for subscribing!

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or recipe review here. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Made this? Rate this recipe:





  1. Christina from Vancouver Canada says

    April 3, 2021 at 11:55 am

    Wow, I just came across your corn page, very impressed with your advice. I tried growing at the start of last summer, and as an experiment, I only grew 6 corn stalks lol. I actually germinated them indoors because I was afraid that the temperature was still too cold outside. and we had plenty of soaking rain all spring into summer. The corn grew well but didn’t last because raccoons (maybe skunks too, we have one living in our hedge) got to the corn and our planter was a sad mess by late August. I need to build a fence on my planter!

    Reply
  2. Dominique f says

    March 28, 2020 at 4:56 pm

    Thank you!! After all this craziness with the Corona virus my family wants to plant a nice garden this year just in case. Time to teach our little how to grow! I wrote down everything you wrote and all the tips! So excited to start this. I live on long island so hopefully we have a similar yield. Thank you again! Stay healthy *positive vibes*

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      April 2, 2020 at 12:54 pm

      Hey Dominique – I hope these tips help you! Please send me photos of your corn at the end of Summer, I’d love to see them! 🙂 Happy gardening and good vibes to you and your family! 🙂

      Reply
  3. Joy says

    June 23, 2019 at 10:08 pm

    Looks awesome. Inspiring, in fact!

    Reply
  4. Edward Blocker says

    November 10, 2018 at 8:57 am

    It’s November of 2018 and we just moved into a new house. I’m very determined to have a vegetable garden this year as I have always been raised to have one but new environments present new problems. My neighbor has a giant yard light on the pole that sits directly between our backyards as well as one in the front near our street. The red lighting covers every inch of my property and I was just wondering will the lighting have any kind of effect on my corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, and speckled beans? The spot where I plan on putting my rows will be roughly 50 to 60 ft away from the source of light. Any feedback will be much appreciated thanks.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      November 10, 2018 at 4:40 pm

      Hey Edward, I can’t imagine the light having any affect. The sun should easily cancel out the light during the day. Good luck with your garden!

      Reply
  5. Ginnie Forlines says

    October 22, 2016 at 4:23 pm

    We raise an acre of sweet corn to sell here at our farm. That’s the only fresh produce we sell and it is very popular. A couple of things to be careful of: plant it as early as you can because of the way it pollinates. You see, it can pollinate with the farmer’s field corn nearby!!! If it does, it will taste a lot different than good sweet corn. We are in central IL and try to plant mid April, and we usually sell mid to late July.

    Another thing: watering. Don’t water frequently. Corn needs to have deep roots to stand well, and those roots grow deeper when they are needing water. Sometimes standing well, tho, is a direct result of planting the seed deep enough too. And corn is a big feeder, but your corn looks very healthy so you must have good well fertilized ground. Keep up the good work!!!

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      October 23, 2016 at 6:42 pm

      Hey Ginnie, thanks for stopping by. A acre of sweet corn – wow, what a beautiful sight that has to be! I agree about the water, once the corn is about knee high we pretty much rely just on the rain to water it! I wish we could grow earlier but we are high up in the mountains (I’m thinking you are in Zone 6?)! Thanks for all the tips! Enjoy your corn!

      Reply
  6. Sabrina Zaragoza says

    October 9, 2016 at 12:54 am

    Wow, incredible post. So informative. Now I know how corn look like in each of its growing stage. Happy to see this post. Thanks for sharing and have a nice weekend, Pamela.

    Reply
  7. Karen (Back Road Journal) says

    September 22, 2016 at 9:35 am

    We didn’t have room in our Maine vegetable garden for corn and in New Hampshire we had too many deer because of the apple orchard. The farmers in New England used to say, “knee high by the 4th of July” and that was about right in the corn fields there. We couldn’t buy corn from the farm stands until the end of August. Your entire garden has done so well, I’m very happy for you both. You have worked hard and it has certainly paid off.

    Reply
  8. Pat C.Wilson says

    September 13, 2016 at 1:51 pm

    aw lovely story of growing corn. i’m a big fan of corn. i want to plant corns in my back yard , too ( poor me i don’t have any backyard) 🙁
    great work, i can imagine the way you enjoyed it. keep going on, girl. xD

    Reply
  9. Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says

    September 8, 2016 at 7:37 am

    Sadly all our corn got eaten by slugs, but we are going corn picking next week and I can’t wait!

    Reply
  10. John/Kitchen Riffs says

    September 7, 2016 at 10:17 am

    Congrats on your corn crop! Not the easiest thing to grow, and you really do need space for it. So neat to be able to gobble down freshly picked corn! Fun read — thanks.

    Reply
  11. Marta @ What should I eat for breakfast today says

    September 6, 2016 at 2:03 pm

    Great work! I can imagine you dancing with it 😀

    Reply
  12. Monica says

    September 6, 2016 at 11:58 am

    Wow!! That is just amazing! Congrats on all that great corn. For whatever reason, bicolor is my favorite although I’m always hearing white corn is sweeter… : )

    Reply
  13. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

    September 6, 2016 at 11:16 am

    You are simply amazing, Pamela!

    Reply
  14. Summer says

    September 6, 2016 at 10:23 am

    The corn looks so nice ♥

    summerdaisycottage.blogspot.com

    Reply
  15. Suzanne says

    September 6, 2016 at 10:19 am

    Beautiful corn Pamela. Wow!!

    Reply

Primary Sidebar

welcome!

Hi! I'm Pamela, an artist Mom who shares family recipes. My farm is a 1,000 sq ft apartment in NYC. Let's make dinner together.

Read More

join the free
recipe club!

Receive My Favorite Recipes Straight to Your Inbox!

Thank you for subscribing!

TOP POSTS

Half Sour Pickles

The Best Stewed Tomatoes Ever

Unstuffed Bell Pepper Casserole with Ground Beef

Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce

Recipe Index
Vegetable Index
Follow On Facebook
Follow On Instagram
Free Recipe Club

fresh this week view all

How to Store and Freeze Fresh Blueberries

Irish Potato Candy (Pennsylvania Dutch)

Classic Stuffed Peppers

Peanut Butter Protein Cookies

As Featured On
free recipe club!
Get weekly recipes, videos, and gardening tips to your inbox!
join the club!
EST. 2013
let's be friends
  • Recipe Index
  • Veggie Index
  • Urban Gardening
  • Web Stories
Back To Top
© 2025 - All Rights Reserved
  • Privacy Policy & Terms
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled

join the recipe club!

Receive My Favorite Recipes Straight to Your Inbox!

Thank you for subscribing!

16 shares