I have grown sweet corn for years and never have enough of a problem to do anything about the worms....I have some damage but not much.

I plant once the ground warms up. For me that is in early May. I do rows about 2.5 to 3 feet wide and at least 4 rows for pollination. Corn is wind pollinated so better more rows and shorter rather than say two long rows. I don't like the square foot thing for corn because it is hard to get to the ears for picking.

I have no secrets other than pick a good variety with very tight husks which helps deter the borers. I have planted Bodacious, Kandy Korn and a bicolor with good success. I think Honey and Pearl is touted as having very tight husks.

I am planting Bodacious this year.

Good luck.

Thanks for the info. It's encouraging to hear that you didn't have any major problems.

I don't know about tight husks, though, at least for the borer problems I had. They bored right through the husks to the ear. I guess that's how they got thier name.

advisingelf The other problem with the square foot method for corn is that it doesn't allow enough space. 16 plants in a 4x4 ft bed is very crowded. I would try half that many and see what happens.

We have grown Kandy Korn for years in a plot that is 2000sq feet. Get 600-700 ears, depending on the year.

Corn is a heavy feeder. We use chicken manure mixed with pine shavings--the litter from the chicken house and a light scattering of woodashes.