Hmmm may have to give that a try. It's still 2 weeks to corn planting time down here and even that may be delayed given the weather so far.

Dave

Wayne:

I've got my third planting in and coming up. The first planting is knee high planted Feb 25, 50 days before ave last frost. But I found out it's not that frost hardy once it gets some size. There were a few lost leaves a while back at only 36F air temperature. Was colder than that at soil level judging from the corn leaves.

This is no doubt the earliest I'll ever have corn here. Most years late March is about the earliest planting that would make it without major protection.

Some frost when just coming up may not be fatal but burn it back. Field corn is less tender.

I covered the 4 rows of about 18 feet long with 6 mil clear plastic.

What is the width of the plastic?

how do you hold it down in the wind?

very interesting. I want to try this. just need more details. do you have a picture.

Well, I planted a flat and half of early corn in the greenhouse Saturday, and put it on the heat mat. We had 3 inches of snow yesterday, and some sleet and freezing drizzle this morning. Not exactly corn germination weather outside.

I tried something called 'Spring Sensation' and then 'Early and Often' from Burpee. Last year, I would actually have had a nice crop of ears from the Early and Often around the 4th of July, except the squirrels stripped it in about 24 hours when it was all but ready to pick.

My sheet is 10 feet wide...12 would be perfect....20 feet long. I hold down the plastic with about 15 bricks. Since it is in place temporarily, I do not pin it down with dirt like seasonal coverings.

i have started a couple of small (4-5 plug flats) plantings in my greenhouse this year- basically as an experiment since i've never done anything but direct seed corn in the past. first batch has been in the ground for a couple of weeks now and is about 10 inches in height- hopefully it will continue to go well...

I have one flat of 288-cell sweet corn about 6-8 inches high and ready to go in the ground. Two other flats going, one has just germinated and the next was just planted. I will plant the first one next week. Yes, a bit early but I made it last year.