Corn is shallow-rooted and would only be good for a windbreak until the wind becomes strong enough to blow it down--a worst-case scenario for corn growers. The last thing I want to see is the aftermath of a hurricane coming my way--or worse yet, a hurricane. I try and plant corn in my most sheltered spot.

Of course if you want to eat the corn, too, you'll want sweet corn. Kandy Kane is delicious and it's tall--about 9 feet grown to its potential. Many other sweet corns are much shorter, at 5-7 feet.

If you only want a windbreak, plant "field" corn, which may grow as tall as 12 feet (for some varieties). Still you're faced with the problem of strong wind, so it doesn't matter if it's 50 feet tall or 5 feet tall if a hurricane comes--it WILL blow down.

Also, field corn CAN be eaten and has some decent taste at a young age--country folks call them "roasting ears" at this stage, as that's the only time it's edible. Mature, it's WAY too starchy.

Check the maturity date on the corn you're buying. Some field corn takes longer at 100-120 days, so it'll be around longer than a sweet corn that matures in 60-80 days.

After corn matures, it begins its demise. It has set seed and will dry and die. Nevertheless, it still remains standing--no doubt you have seen fields of dry corn waiting for the corn-picker to come and harvest it--if wind hasn't gotten it.

Corn will reach about 5-6 ft, tall enough to do some good, in about 40-60 days after planting. You might want to try some field corn. It gets taller and is later maturity. For sweetcorn, Silver Queen is long season and gets pretty tall. You might get the plants to stand up for 120 days after planting. I'd hill soil up around the base of the plants when it is about 18-24 inches tall. This will help it stand up better. Your corn won't be much of a windbreak if it falls over.

I have a small fenced garden area, so the corn would be tied to the fence. I get 50 mph winds, which does a number on crops. 5-6 feet tall is plenty, but a windbreak for about five months would be best.

I'd forget the corn and add something to your fence that will be permanent. There are plenty of artificial windbreak materials. A 50% shade cloth material works well. The slated wood fencing used as a snow catchment along roads would work. Any kind of decorative fencing that is about 50% porous area will help.

Our winds are worst in spring. An artificial windbreak will be there all year for 10-20 years.

Cost is the main issue, seeds and water are only a couple of bucks. I don't know if I will garden next year. Plus, I can feed the corn and stocks to my animals.

what kind of fencing surrounds your garden?

ditch the corn and plant bamboo, its more durable and you can build other garden things with it. I planted corn in the ground and in containers and it grew great, but it cant stand up to the wind, cant. So as a WIND break it is pointless.

Here is a link that might be useful: robs urban farm

I have a chain link fence.

Actually, corn works great for a windbreak. Last season I planted two rows to test it, it reduced the wind and held up pretty good. I forgot to survey how long it takes to grow and I planted it at the middle of summer. The reason for the OP.

Bamboo can't be feed to my animals or eat myself and I need something temporary.

If you want corn to stand up in the wind you've got to hill the soil up around the base of the plant while it is young. This will cause extra brace roots to develop from each buried node. Also it will be tied to the fence.

i live in nebraska and we get pretty good storms as well as our share of windy days the biggest crop here is corn i guess thats why were the corn huskers i dont live on a farm but my back yard is wide open and im yet to have my corn blow down