Sweet and Indian corn varieties provide a delicious mid-summer treat and colorful fall displays for your home. Sweet corn varieties produce yellow or white kernels with a high sugar content and are valued for their flavor. Multi-colored kernels and a firm outer shell distinguish Indian corn varieties from other types of corn. Indian corn is typically grown for its value in decorative fall displays, though it was historically used for ground corn products.
Plan out the location for your sweet corn and Indian corn in advance. Plan on creating separate gardening plots for each type of corn to prevent cross pollination between your sweet and Indian corn. Space your plots at least 250 feet apart to reduce the level of cross-pollination between the two different types of corn. Plan on planting your corn in parallel rows that form a square. This planting method maximizes the level of pollination between corn plants of the same type and helps your plants produce full ears of corn.
Mark straight rows for your corn using stakes set at each end of the garden. Leave approximately 3 feet of space between each row to avoid overcrowding your plants. Make the length of the rows equal to the number of rows multiplied by three to create a square growing area. Till each row to a depth of at least three inches to aerate the soil and ensure proper drainage.
Plant your corn when the average soil temperature in your area is at least 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The ideal soil temperature for growing most varieties of corn is between 60 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Always plant your corn after the last killing frost to avoid damage or stunted growth in your corn plants.
Corn seeds germinate best in nutrient-rich soils made of heavy loam when they are planted at a depth of approximately 1 inch. In soil with a sandy composition, plant your corn seeds at a depth no greater than 2 inches. Space each seed at least 8 inches away from adjacent seeds in the same row to avoid overcrowding.
Corn uses a significant amount of nitrogen throughout the growing season. If you plan to grow corn in the same soil for several years, you will need to replace the nutrients it takes out of the soil. Perform a soil test on your garden soil to determine the exact level of nutrients and minerals present in your soil before planting time. If you cannot test your soil prior to planting, the University of Purdue recommends applying approximately half an ounce of 12-12-12 fertilizer per square foot of garden at planting time.
Sweet corn and Indian corn are available in many different varieties and cultivars. Late season varieties of sweet corn take up to 90 days to reach maturity and may require an early planting date to avoid cold weather at the end of the growing season. Early season varieties of sweet corn are typically ready to harvest within 70 days. Most Indian corn varieties require between 100 and 120 days to reach maturity depending on the variety. If space limitations prevent you from growing separate plots of corn, use sweet and Indian corn varieties with maturity dates at least 20 days apart to avoid cross-pollination.
- Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images