Thanks for this post! I'm a first-year edibles gardener with a block of 12 sweet corn stalks growing now, so this was very helpful. I also started 6 of my 12 indoors. Started in peat pots and planted in the garden without disturbing the roots at about 2 weeks after germination. Then I direct-sowed for 6 more stalks next to the original 6 (so now a block of 3 x 4). My indoor-seeded stalks are now about 8" tall, while the newer, direct-sow stalks are about 3". I was hoping this would give me small harvests spaced over a few weeks. I know I won't have very many ears, but it's just my husband and I (although extras certainly may make their way to our 2 adult kids and their 2 roommates if enough is produced).

So far mine are doing well, and I appreciate your post... very informative! We're also in a windy area, and I'm ready to stake and tie the stalks once they are a bit taller.

Happy gardening.

Hi jodi. Just the two if us here as well. Four to six ears a week would be plenty for us. But I'd like to have that corn every week for about three and a half months. With the small space I have for gardening I haven't managed to do it yet. But I get closer every year.

With such small amounts, it's the pollination that may prove to be another big problem. I'm thinking of building a hose device that can be hooked to a shop vac. The hose would have a slot where the corn silks would be inserted into the air stream and then above that a flex hose to run up to the tassels.

Very organized report - thanks for that. Looks like a useful method for some. I doubt there is any chance of getting two crops in the same ground where I am, though a super-early crop would certainly be nice with the usually-planted crop in different ground.

pnbrown,
Getting two crops may not be out of the possibility. As little as 10 'grow' weeks might get you there. Of course, what I observed in reduction in days to maturity (DTM) may have been a fluke that I will not be able to duplicate. It wouldn't be the first time.

Things under consideration as a cause of the reduction in DRM are:

1. A change in the root system caused by being constricted to the container size.

2. The even distribution of fertilizer in the soil at transplanting.

3. The extra aeration from a deep fluffing of the soil at transplanting and immediately before the corn makes a growth surge.

I have another trial underway with the same variety where the container time was extended to 36 days. The corn is just starting to show tassels. The DTM seems to be reduced but the plants don't look as well developed and I wonder if there will be a harvest.

I also have started another variety with a listed DTM of 72 days. Hopefully I will see a reduction of DTM to something around 65 days.

For starting early, I have a great micro climate of shelves on a south facing concrete wall. Next year I'm going to push the start date back to 3 weeks before last frost date. With the corn in containers I can just bring it inside for the probable hard freeze.

If I can duplicate the reduction in DTM with some certainty, I propose to do corn in 4 small locations next year as shown in the calendar below.

{{gwi:66581}}

I brought this topic back up because I'm wondering what the effects of your growing system would be under some lights indoors?

If I understand you, you moved them outside after three days because you didn't have any lighting. If you kept them in an 80+ degree room with lighting over the seedlings what would the reduction in your DTM be?

I'm thinking about trying this out for my planned plot of Silver Queen corn. A 10' section of 4" PVC is only $12 or so, and it would give me 20 6" planters. I could try this 20 indoors and the rest regular sowing. It's 88 days to market, and if I could get it started 3-4 weeks before my last frost date at the end of April, I'd have corn by the third or fourth week in June. I could then plant corn normally from seed as well and have a staggered succession of corn over the whole growing season.

Any thoughts?

I paid $5 and something for the pipe early last year. As the cost of oil went up so did the price of pipe. I'm hoping it will now go back down, as I want another 50 pots this year.

There is a bell end on the pipe and I only get 19 per 10ft joint.

I doubt that you could use the lights more than about 16 to 18 days before the corn would be too tall. It could be that corn can stand a light frost. I may start with lights this year and push for even earlier corn. Say about 5 weeks before last frost. If I lose them I will have some more ready to replant.