Planting and Growing Corn in Containers

Planting and Growing Corn in Containers

Growing corn in containers is possible, however the yield is less than the corn grown in a garden. Corn requires more space than most small or medium sized containers provide. If you’re planting corn in containers, use large pots and reproduce optimum external conditions as close as possible.

Choosing Containers to Grow Corn in Potsgrowing corn in containers

Choose a large container that is at least 12 inches deep and wide. You can grow about four corn plants in this size of pot. Make sure your pot have enough drainage holes in the bottom.

Varieties for Growing Corn in Containers

As you grow corn in pots, choose a dwarf variety that does not exceed 4 or 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) height. Some good choices are short stemmed ‘Trinity’ and ‘Sweet Painted Mountain’.

Planting

Sow four to six seeds per pot about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and rake a bit of soil above them. Don’t worry if the corn is planted together closely in a pot. In fact, sowing seeds closely helps in pollination and allow the corn to fruit abundantly.

Requirements

Sweet corn needs full sun, plenty of water and fertile soil to thrive. It depends on the wind for pollination, which is best achieved when the corn is planted in a block of several short rows.

Mulch around the corn to hold in moisture. Use wood chips, newspapers or grass to help prevent moisture loss. Mulching also keeps weeds to a minimum.

Soil

Corn plants require soil that retains moisture without drying out quickly but drains well enough so it doesn’t become soggy or waterlogged. A peat based potting soil works best for them.

Water

Water the plant every other day, keeping the soil constantly moist. Water is important ingredient to get sweet and soft corns, especially at the time of fruiting you’ll need to water your potted corns more.

Fertilizer

Add fertilizer after 10 weeks from sowing. Dig a hole about 2 cm in depth and diameter around each plant. Pour 1/2 tablespoons of 5-10-10 or 10-20-20 fertilizer per plant, and incorporate the soil.

Harvesting

If you know how to grow corn in pots, you can grow your own corns without the need of lot of space, usually corns are ready to harvest between 60 to 100 days after planting, depending on the variety and weather conditions.

7 Secrets To Have More Blooms In The Garden

7 Secrets To Have More Blooms In The Garden

Want more flowers in your garden? Here’re 7 tips you should know to keep your plants blooming.

1. Use rich soil

Soil that is light and rich in compost or manure provides plenty of nutrients constantly to the plants. A soil that is rich in organic matter also encourages bacterial activity that promotes soil fertility. Add some compost or manure to the soil when planting your plants and go adding them time to time.

2. Deadhead often

Most plants grow better and have more flowers if their wilted and faded blooms are plucked often. When you see the wilted flowers, remove them, so the plant can direct its energy on other flowers and they will be receiving more nutrients. Wilted flowers waste energy and sap. They also attract insect and pests. Also, by cutting off the spent flowers you prevent plants from seeding.

3. Fertilize the plants

To have more flowers, feed the plants regularly during the growing season with half strength liquid fertilizer, a flowering fertilizer should be used that has more phosphorus than nitrogen, as phosphorus is the element that promotes more flower buds. Also, you can mix time-based fertilizer in the soil at the beginning of the growing season.

4. Provide more sun

Light is essential for the plant’s growth, direct sunlight for several hours a day can be a prerequisite for many plants that come to flower, however, shade loving plants tend to reduce the number of flowers when exposed to more sun.

5. Nurse the roots

To have healthy plants and abundant blooms– nurse the roots, and remember that it is through them the plants absorb nutrients and water from the soil. When you perform the transplant or when you dig soil around the plant be careful not to cut or damage the roots as if being damaged plant would take a while to recover or it may die.

6. Apply mulch

Plants growing in a mulched soil are usually more vigorous, less prone to pests and diseases.

7. Do moderate watering

Excess watering tends to favor the development of foliage but can also produce the absence of flowering. Similarly, the lack of water can cause the plant to drop the flower buds. The best way is to do moderate watering (avoiding both overwatering and underwatering) during the flowering season.