Spindly-looking corn

17 years ago

As the saying goes, the corn is supposed to be 'knee high by the 4th of July' Looks like we're on pace for that, but when do they start increasing their girth? Since I moved into my house in 2005, I've never had luck w. corn, yet I try every year. It never gets any taller than a couple of pencils, and then it bolts.

My grandfather and I used to have tremendous success w. corn, but then again, we had a much bigger plot than what I have now.

I'm concerned because it looks like it's getting tall, but not any stronger. How often should I be feeding this?

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Comments (4)

Karen Pease
17 years ago
That corn is still very young. Don't expect girth until it gets bigger.

If it's not growing fast enough, my first suspicion would be insufficient sunlight. My next suspicions would be insufficient water or nitrogen. Nutrient deficiencies are fairly easy, as they also show up via color changes. Do you get any yellowing in your lower leaves?

Actually, looking again at your photo -- are you planning to grow them to full size in that pot? That looks like a really tiny pot for four corn plants to grow in. If you grow in pots like that every year, that could be your problem.
bomber095
Original Author
17 years ago
No I dont keep them in that pot. I will be transplanting two of them when they get taller.

It doesnt really matter how I try to do it; pot or ground. It just doesnt work for me

I know that red leaves are an indication of a lack of potassium, but they really dont discolor at all
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mmqchdygg
17 years ago
Ok, for what it's worth, here's my patch. I'm just north of you in NH. Planting details, so you can get an idea of growth stages:
Corn in the back of this bed was planted out from winter-sown containers into this bed on or about Memorial Day. I believe it was started around the first weekend in May.
Corn in the front of this bed was STARTED via winter-sowing method on or about Memorial Day, and planted out into this bed at this size on 6/9/09, I believe.
This pic was taken last Friday, 6/12.

So for what all that's worth, when this pic was taken, the corn in the back was ~6 weeks old, and the corn in the front section was 19 days old.

{{gwi:32131}}
mmqchdygg
17 years ago
I forgot to mention that I start these in regular Pro-Mix potting soil, then when they are about as tall as yours are now, they went in the ground. I do NOT fertilize other than my giant compost pile, which I amend the entire veggie patch with in the spring or fall.

And as I understand it, corn is best in large numbers, as it takes many for pollination. I found this out a couple years ago when we had lots of rain, and my seed rotted before sprouting, and I only had several stalks. Corn volume was particularly low.

AND...they like it warm. This crappy weather we've been having probably isn't doing them any favors, but I think they are benefiting from the black plastic, which I am using for the first time this year.