Q. I planted two rows of corn, separated by some peas,
but one row closest to the fence never came up. I replanted that row and now one
row of corn is really struggling while the other, closest to the peas, is doing
well.
but one row closest to the fence never came up. I replanted that row and now one
row of corn is really struggling while the other, closest to the peas, is doing
well.
 |
| Corn is pollinated by the wind, not insects. A lot of corn plants close together will increase the amount of pollen in the area and improve the chances of having ears that are full rather than spotty. |
A. Amend the garden soil with compost to improve
drainage. Poor drainage can cause a lack of germination. Lightly dust the seed
with Captan fungicide to improve seed germination when planted in cold or wet
soils. Tear a corner of the seed packet and place a small amount of fungicide
inside and shake it. Always wear gloves when planting seed treated with a
fungicide.
drainage. Poor drainage can cause a lack of germination. Lightly dust the seed
with Captan fungicide to improve seed germination when planted in cold or wet
soils. Tear a corner of the seed packet and place a small amount of fungicide
inside and shake it. Always wear gloves when planting seed treated with a
fungicide.
 |
| My staff in Afghanistan treating wheat seed for better germination. Protect your hands and your mouth when handling fungicides used for seed treatment. |
I
strongly encourage you to not plant the same type of crops in the same area as
previous years. Instead, plant in new locations in the garden bed and rotate
them back to this spot only after 3 to 5 years. This technique helps keep plant
diseases minimized.
strongly encourage you to not plant the same type of crops in the same area as
previous years. Instead, plant in new locations in the garden bed and rotate
them back to this spot only after 3 to 5 years. This technique helps keep plant
diseases minimized.
 |
| Planting sweetcorn in raised beds requires the right time of year, a good plant density for pollination. Here sweetcorn is planted 12 inches apart in blocks. |
Mixing
woodchips into the soil before planting can also cause poor seed germination.
Corn needs lots of nitrogen fertilizer when it’s growing. The rotting of
woodchips in the soil also requires a lot of nitrogen fertilizer so make sure
enough nitrogen fertilizer has been added to the soil to fuel both growing corn
and rotting wood chips.
woodchips into the soil before planting can also cause poor seed germination.
Corn needs lots of nitrogen fertilizer when it’s growing. The rotting of
woodchips in the soil also requires a lot of nitrogen fertilizer so make sure
enough nitrogen fertilizer has been added to the soil to fuel both growing corn
and rotting wood chips.
 |
| Corn is more closely allied to grasses than other vegetables. Like grasses, corn is a heavy feeder of nitrogen fertilizer. A slight change in the color green in the leaves will tell you if nitrogen fertilizer should be applied. Let the plant tell you. |
Peas are
a winter crop while corn is a summer crop and they should not be planted at the
same time in the spring unless you are prepared for a short harvest of peas. Also,
sweet corn needs more than two rows planted for for its kernels to fill out the
ears properly because it is wind pollinated. Plant at least four rows of corn
rather than only two. Plant corn in small blocks rather than rows if the area
your planting is small so the ears fill out better.
a winter crop while corn is a summer crop and they should not be planted at the
same time in the spring unless you are prepared for a short harvest of peas. Also,
sweet corn needs more than two rows planted for for its kernels to fill out the
ears properly because it is wind pollinated. Plant at least four rows of corn
rather than only two. Plant corn in small blocks rather than rows if the area
your planting is small so the ears fill out better.
 |
| Cornsilk receives the pollen shed by the top of the plant. If temperatures are too high, poor pollination results. This is seen by missing kernels in the ears. Each kernel is connected to a silk. Every silk must receive pollen for a full ear of corn. |
Both corn
and peas have large seeds so try presoaking large seeds, sometimes called
pre-germinating, before planting to get faster germination. They should soak
long enough for the seeds to swell with water. Soak large seed in tepid water
for several hours before planting. This allows the seed to start the
germination process without planting. But it’s important to plant them at the
right time of year; peas in the fall through winter months for a winter crop
and corn in mid spring or late summer for an early summer or fall crop.
and peas have large seeds so try presoaking large seeds, sometimes called
pre-germinating, before planting to get faster germination. They should soak
long enough for the seeds to swell with water. Soak large seed in tepid water
for several hours before planting. This allows the seed to start the
germination process without planting. But it’s important to plant them at the
right time of year; peas in the fall through winter months for a winter crop
and corn in mid spring or late summer for an early summer or fall crop.
 |
| This is where the pollen comes from at the top of the plant called a tassel. |
When
pre-germinating seed, mix a small amount of your favorite water-soluble
fertilizer into the fresh water, along with a tiny amount of liquid soap. This
speeds up germination. When seed absorbs water at the very beginning, called
imbibition, the fertilizer will be taken inside the seed with the water and
early growth is more rapid.
pre-germinating seed, mix a small amount of your favorite water-soluble
fertilizer into the fresh water, along with a tiny amount of liquid soap. This
speeds up germination. When seed absorbs water at the very beginning, called
imbibition, the fertilizer will be taken inside the seed with the water and
early growth is more rapid.
 |
| This is what everybody hopes for, a full ear of corn. This is a variety called Silver Queen. It’s a lot of work to get here. |