RE: Can You Grow Corn in Small Spaces?

H* A*

Comrades:

The detailed corn cultivation information that I've received from you all
has been amazing!  I'll be sure to share it with all of our corn fans - I'm
personally tempted to give my personal tomato, basil, beans lettuce and
squash patch a rest and go with corn. The critters we deal with are slugs
and rats...more to read, more to learn.

As those who have visited us on W. 48th in Manhattan, you can actually see
the Empire State building from our garden ( this is an open invitation - we
get visiting firemen all the time, just let us know in advance.) To view
this art deco icon ( sans King Kong)  through a stand of corn, within
walking distance of Times Square would be particularly delightful.

Wonderful thoughts for a dreary January morning!

Happy gardening!

Adam Honigman

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Dboek@aol.com [SMTP:Dboek@aol.com]
> Sent:	Thursday, January 11, 2001 1:07 AM
> To:	libby@igc.org; Adam.Honigman@bowne.com
> Cc:	community_garden@mallorn.com
> Subject:	Re: [cg] Can You Grow Corn in Small Spaces?
> 
> Hi, all,
> 
> I've also succeeded with roughly 1mx3m (~3'x6') beds of sweet corn,
> without 
> hand pollinating (tho that can be fun and a good lesson). I plant corn,
> like 
> most veggies, using John Jeavon's hexagonal spacing, so you pack in as
> many 
> plants as possible. I put plants on 30cm (12") centers. I do something
> else 
> (that's not necessary, since you can direct seed corn just fine (it is
> often 
> grown in 'mounds' of several plants together in traditional systems - look
> 
> ma, no thinning!)) - I start corn in peat pots and plant out the whole pot
> 
> when the batch is a foot tall or a bit less. That way I get a very uniform
> 
> stand, and I get started earlier. Be careful to pick a good variety for
> your 
> area, I'd suggest a short stalked sweet variety (ask a local gardener or,
> if 
> you have a good non-nozzlehead agent, coop extension). Tall corn can blow 
> down pretty easily in a small patch. Corn is a big feeder and drinker, so 
> plant in fertile beds, water regularly, even consider supplementing with
> some 
> manure or other nutrient (esp. nitrogen) source. Finally, be careful about
> 
> critters. Around here, it is squirrels and raccoons, who raid the night 
> before you plan to harvest. Bummer! Libby's advice on planting is very
> good, 
> I also companion plant my corn, especially when I plant a large plot by 
> direct seeding. Half-runner beans are great companions.
> 
> Dreaming about corn and reading seed catalogs. Must be January...
> 
> Don
> Charlotte, NC

_______________________________________________
community_garden maillist  -  community_garden@mallorn.com
https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden