Recommended spacing depends on variety and probably to some extent location. I have planted "How Sweet It Is" sh2 variety corn and use a 2 1/2 row spacing with plants about 8 inches apart. Each plant produces 1 ear. Being that I'm alot further south, I'd suggest a response from someone up in your area might be more helpful.

OK, read the above post, I'm much closer to your latitude and climate -- SE Michigan.

However, what the above poster said is about the same as I do. 2 1/2 - 3 feet between rows is about right. 8" is probably a little close, I think I do more like 10 - 12, but 8 WILL work, especially if your space is limited and you're trying to maximize the # of plants you can get in a space.

Something I've done, which most people DON'T reccommend, is that I DON'T plant in thick blocks, I only do 2 rows together, and spread my plantings out into groups of 2 rows. I've personally found, if I were to plant 4 or 6 rows together in a big block, the exterior rows have significantly higher yields, but the interior rows have lower yields and smaller ears. So, I do it so that all of my rows are exterior rows. And, I've never had any pollination problems with this.

30 inches between rows is a good spacing; I generally use 10" between plants in the row. Don't let the "square foot gardening" people convince you otherwise.

On fertilizing, if you choose to fertilize, a good grass fertilizer will work well as corn is just overgrown grass. Be sure to get fertilizer without pesticides or other chemicals mixed in. Basically a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

I don't know your rain situation (we get none in summer) but I like to run some 3/4" soaker hoses down my rows. Does great for me.

Wayne

30" between rows and 10" in the row is probably a good spacing. You are going for the highest quality/sized ears rather than total yield. I plant about 6" apart in the row and space the rows 2 rake width's (about 32") apart for walk rows, then 1 rake (about 16") for the water row. This spaces the rows but doesn't require the water to sub out as far to get to the plants as if all the rows were the same width. My spacing is probably a bit close as the outer rows of corn have very thick, large ears and the inner rows have slightly smaller ears with fewer/thinner husks. I'm sure more spacing would help, but I get all the corn I want with this spacing. Also, with good nutrition and light, many of the stalks will produce 2 ears. The second ear will be about 1/2 the size of the first and will be ready to pick a week or so after the primary ears.

I plant in 29 inch rows and 4 inch spacing. My main patch is too far away to water so I have to depend on the weatherman which is usually a 50 - 50 deal. I sidedress with 46% urea when corn is about 10 inches tall. If you don't have full sun your crop will suffer.

With all the information you have recieved It's going to be a crap shoot for your success. Hoplefully a good crop will happen on your first try. There are so many variables with corn that it may take years. If you don't have a good crop, don't give up.