00:33
Field corn is a starchy variety harvested when the kernels are dry and is used for animal feed, corn meal, corn oil, biofuel, high fructose corn syrup, and other food manufacturing.
00:37
Sweet corn is the result of a genetic mutation that controls the conversion of sugar to starch, making it sweeter than field corn. It is harvested while still immature and is considered a fruit when eaten fresh.
01:00
Sweet corn is a warm-season plant that requires at least six hours of sunlight each day and thrives in long, hot summers.
01:18
Corn plants prefer aged, fertile soil and it is recommended to amend garden plots with compost or manure in the fall before sowing seeds in the following spring.
01:25
Sow sweet corn seeds directly into the soil two weeks after the risk of frost has passed, with soil temperature ideally above 60°F for successful germination.
01:41
Plant seeds 2 inches deep and 6 inches apart in blocks instead of long rows for more efficient wind pollination.
01:47
When seedlings are 4 inches tall, thin them to be 12 inches apart and stick to one type of corn per season.
02:00
Different corn varieties should be kept separated by a minimum of 800 feet to prevent cross-pollination, which can ruin the entire crop.
02:10
Water the planted seeds well, as corn needs a lot of moisture to germinate, and provide a minimum of 1 inch of water per week for good growth.
02:31
Corn grows well alongside beans and squash plants in a mutually beneficial relationship known as the Three Sisters. Beans climb on corn, beans release nitrogen into the soil, and squash block sunlight and act as a living mulch.
03:17
If bad weather or foraging animals topple corn plants, individual stakes can be used for support. When the silks of the corn plant emerge, gently shaking the plant can assist with pollination.
03:31
Sweet corn is ready to harvest in 60 to 90 days after sowing, and can be tested by peeling back a bit of husk and pricking a kernel with a fingernail. If milky liquid comes out, it is ready to harvest.
