what grows well with corn

14 Great Companion Plants for Growing Corn

1. Cucumbers. Have you ever considered growing cucumbers near your corn? You might want to give this a second thought.
2. The Three Sisters. The three sisters is a common companion planting option when growing corn. The corn is one of the...
3. Basil. Some gardeners keep a separate area for their herbs, while others add them...

Full Answer

What are the best conditions for growing corn?

Corn does best with warm, sunny growing weather (75–86° F), well-distributed intermittent moderate rains, or irrigation (15 or more inches during the growing season), and 130 or more frost-free days. The U.S. corn belt has these soil and climatic conditions.

What season should you plant corn?

When to Plant Corn

• Starting corn indoors is not recommended. ...
• Sow corn seeds outdoors approximately two weeks after the last spring frost date. ...
• It’s important to get corn planted as soon as possible, since it requires a fairly long growing period with warm weather. ...
• Soil temperature is key to successful germination. ...

More items...

What grows good with corn?

What Do You Plant Between Corn?

• Siting Sweet Corn. Where should you locate the corn patch? ...
• Timing Corn Planting. Corn doesn't just like sun on its leaves; it likes soil warm from the sun around its roots. ...
• Planting Sweet Corn. Sweet corn doesn't require bees or butterflies for pollination. ...
• Harvesting Sweet Corn. ...
• Corn Companion Plants. ...
• Other Companion Plants for Corn. ...

What is the best soil for corn plants?

What Soil Is Best For Sweet Corn Gardening?

• Loosen Soil for Young Roots. Soil to be used for growing corn needs to be loosened to a depth of around 6 to 8 inches. ...
• Fertilizing with Compost. ...
• Corn and Soil Acidity. ...
• Soil Moisture for Growing Corn. ...
• The Best Soil for Corn. ...

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What is the best plant to grow with corn?

These nine plants are not only perfect companions for corn, but some of them are also tasty!Dill. ... Nasturtiums. ... Pole Beans. ... Potatoes. ... Pumpkins (and Other Cucurbits) ... Radishes. ... Sunflowers. ... White Clover.More items...•

What can you not plant with corn?

Brassicas - All members of the cabbage family including broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, cauliflower should be planted apart from corn. Corn shades the brassicas too much, stunting their growth. As well as both crops are also heavy feeders and will compete for nutrients in the soil.

Can peppers go next to corn?

Corn serves as a windbreak and sun barrier to peppers, while beans and peas fix nitrogen into the soil, a necessary nutrient for peppers, and also help block wind and sun. Buckwheat can be grown around pepper plants to attract pollinators and, once harvested, serves as green mulch for the garden.

Can you grow tomatoes with corn?

Plants to Avoid Planting with Tomatoes Corn is another no-no, and tends to attract tomato fruit worm and/or corn ear worm. Kohlrabi thwarts the growth of tomatoes and planting tomatoes and potatoes increases the chance of potato blight disease.

Are there certain vegetables that should not be planted together?

Other commonly believed plant incompatibilities include the following plants to avoid near one another: Mint and onions where asparagus is growing. Pole beans and mustard near beets. Anise and dill neighboring carrots.

What plants should not be planted side by side?

Bad Neighbors: 11 Plant Pairs Never to Grow Side by SideButterfly Weed & Impatiens. 1/12. ... Cucumber & Basil. 2/12. ... Leyland Cypress & Spiraea. 3/12. ... Beans & Garlic. 4/12. ... Elaeagnus (Silverberry) & Boxwood. 5/12. ... Tomatoes & Corn. 6/12. ... Gardenias & Gardenias. 7/12. ... Sunflowers & Potatoes. 8/12.More items...

Can cucumbers and corn grow together?

Planting cucumbers with corn provides the cucumbers with needed shade and support while the corn receives pest protection and nutritional aid. With the right timing and spacing, you can successfully produce these two warm-season vegetable crops together.

What plants dont do well together?

Some plants compete for nutrients or space, or they attract damaging insects or fungus. Here are some incompatible plant combinations.Beans and Onions.Tomatoes and Corn.Potatoes and Sunflowers.Asparagus and Garlic.Celery and Carrots.Eggplant and Fennel.Cucumber and Rosemary.Lettuce and Garlic.More items...•

Corn and the Three Sisters

You might remember from elementary school, the story of the Iroquois people planting corn, squash and beans together to create a symbiotic relationship.

12 Corn Companion Plants

What I love so much about companion planting is that there are still choices aplenty. It’s not one or nothing. And there is really no wrong way to do it.

More Corn Companion Plants – Aromatic Herbs and Flowers

Now we are getting into the flowers and aromatic companion plants for corn.

Using Other Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects

In addition to the common garden plants listed above, there is a plethora more, worth discovering. Some are edible, while others are not. Either way, they are corn companion plants that will attract beneficial insects that help to keep those earworm beetles in check.

Can you plant tomatoes next to corn?

Other companion plants for corn include: Note: Not every plant works when companion gardening. Tomatoes, for instance, are a no-no for planting next to corn. This is just a sampling of plants to grow with corn. Do your homework prior to planting corn in the garden to see which ones work well together and are also suited to your growing region.

Can you grow corn with squash?

If you’re going to grow corn, squash or beans in the garden anyway, you might as well grow all three. This trio of crops is referred to as the Three Sisters and is an age old planting technique utilized by Native Americans. This growing method is called companion planting with corn, squash and beans, but there are other plants to grow with corn that are just as compatible. Keep reading to find out about companion planting with corn and suitable corn plant companions.

What are some good companion plants for corn?

9 Companion Plants for Corn. These nine plants are not only perfect companions for corn, but some of them are also tasty! 1. Basil. I grow basil in my garden every year, and then I bring at least one plant inside to keep in my warm house during the long Alaska winter. As an annual, basil thrives in Zones 2-10.

Why is corn a companion plant?

With corn specifically, companion planting allows you to save space in your garden by growing pumpkins among the stalks. Some plants, like basil, drive away pests that could plague your maize. Still other plants add nitrogen to the soil, which is important because corn feeds heavily on nitrogen.

What is the best crop to keep aphids away from Z mays?

With bright, cheerful blooms, Tropaeolum majus is the perfect trap crop to keep aphids away from your Z. mays. Tastier to aphids than corn, they’ll swarm the nasturtiums and (hopefully) leave your stalks, silks, and kernels alone. Be sure to plant your sacrificial crop several feet away from your corn.

What do the Three Sisters plant?

Pole Beans. Squash, corn, and pole beans make up the Three Sisters planting trio implemented for thousands of years by Native American peoples. Here’s what pole beans ( Phaseolus vulgaris ), specifically, can do for maize.

What is the best mulch for corn?

9. White Clover. This sweet-smelling legume ( Trifolium repens) acts as the perfect living mulch, or cover crop, for corn, according to researchers at the American Society of Agronomy. The thick spread of clover suppresses harmful weeds, requiring less weeding work from you.

What is companion planting?

Companion planting is the pairing of certain plants in the garden together for some mutual benefit. Certain plants may repel pests, others attract pollinators. Tall species can provide support for climbers, or shade for low-growing crops.

Can you grow basil in the winter?

It is hard to find fresh basil ( Ocimum basilicum) in the winter up here. But it’s worth growing both indoors and out – including out in the garden next to your corn. Here’s why: one of corn’s chief pests is the maize weevil ( Sitophilus zeamais ), which can eat your sweet kernels in the garden and in storage.

How to support corn?

Hilling dirt up around the roots of the corn can help. Drive stakes at the ends of the beds and run twine between stakes to give corn support.

How to fertilize corn before planting?

Feed corn before and during the season. Corn requires rich fertile soil to meet its heavy nitrogen demands. Apply at least an inch of compost to your beds before planting. After planting, fertilize corn when the first leaves emerge and then weekly with fish emulsion.

How to grow silks in a garden?

2. Choose a sunny spot for planting corn. Corn does best grown in full sun. Plant corn where it won’t shade other crops as it grows. 3. Plant corn seeds directly in the garden.

What are the spots on corn silks?

Corn silks ready for pollination. Corn tassels contain pollen. Patchy spots in harvested corn indicate poor pollination. Each silk is connected to a kernel of corn and must receive pollen. Collect pollen from several tassels, and sprinkle on the silks when they first emerge.

Why is water important for corn?

Corn has relatively shallow roots and needs regular water throughout the growing season. Water is most critical when corn is tasseling. Water stress during pollination can result in spotty pollination. 7. Give corn support as it grows. Tall stalks and shallow roots mean corn can tip and fall in the wind easily.

Is it good to eat corn?

Corn picked and eaten fresh is about as good as it gets in gardening. Some people even put the pot of water on to boil before picking their corn so they can eat it right away. The reward of fresh-grown corn awaits those who are willing to put in the extra work that growing a successful crop of corn takes. Learn how to grow corn with these 10 tips.

Can you stake corn during the monsoon?

In the low desert of Arizona, the monsoon planting of corn will definitely benefit from being staked during the higher winds of monsoon season. 8. Keep an eye out for common corn pests and diseases. Corn is a favorite of many pests. Prevention is usually the best defense.

How to plant corn in a block pattern?

Planting bed preparation. Choose a site with full sun. Choose a bed or site where corn can be planted on 2 to 3 foot squares or blocks. Planting in a block pattern will maximize pollination: corn is pollinated commonly by wind as the pollen falls from the male tassels to the female silks.

How to keep corn from rotting?

Place drip irrigation or a soaker hose near the base of stalks and cover with straw mulch to help keep the soil evenly moist. Side dress corn with aged compost every 3 to 4 weeks during the growing season. Pest protection. Cover seeded beds with row covers to exclude birds, caterpillars, and beetles early on.

How long does it take for supersweet corn to grow?

Supersweet corn varieties are sweeter than sugary enhanced varieties. Supersweets also have an enhanced harvest window of 2 to 3 days. One note, supersweet corn can be demanding: it requires soil no less than 65°F at planting time; it grows best when the soil is pre-warmed (cover beds with black plastic to warm the soil);

How long does it take for sugary enhanced corn to harvest?

Sugary enhanced hybrids give growers a 3-day window for harvest. (Near harvest time it is important to monitor standard corn each day to make sure you pick at the peak of its sweet flavor.) Sugary enhanced cultivars don’t require daily monitoring; pick sugary enhanced corn anytime within the 3 day peak flavor period.

How long does corn stay sweet after harvest?

This corn is best rushed to the kitchen and eaten within an hour of harvest. • Sugary enhanced corn are hybrid varieties that keep their sweet flavor up to 3 days after harvest.

Can you substitute corn for corn?

There is no substitute for the flavor of corn just picked from the garden . Flavor and adaptability to your garden’s climate are the major considerations when choosing a corn variety. There are three types of fresh-eating sweet corn grouped by flavor: standard corn, sugary enhanced corn, and supersweet corn ...

How to avoid corn seed?

How to Avoid this Mistake: This mistake can be avoided by waiting until wet soil dries out, before attempting to plant corn seed. If you plant while the ground is wet, the seeds may not germinate. When dirt is too compact, the seeds struggle to form plants. Therefore, wait until the soil is dry and aerated.

What is the difference between corn and maize?

What’s the difference between corn and maize? Not much! Corn and maize are both terms that reference the same cereal grain. Corn is primarily used in the North American english vernacular, whereas maize is used in the British english vernacular. Though the two words are often used interchangeably, they can have substantially separate applications. Maize … Continue reading

What do racoons do when they eat corn?

Raccoons are crafty critters, but one thing they like to be able to do while eating is to stand up and look around occasionally. If they’re breaking into your corn crop, you can take advantage of this tendency by planting other vegetables around the corn plants. Plants That Deter Raccoons from Corn Plants that will … Continue reading

Why is my corn ear misshapen?

Corn can be impacted by fungal and bacterial diseases. Again, if a fungal disease impacts your corn, it’s common to see the plants suffering and the ears of corn appear misshapen and unappealing.This can happen with pests and bacterial diseases as well.

How much space between sprouts and corn?

How to Avoid this Mistake: When corn is initially planted, it should be placed an inch into the soil and with three inches of space between seeds. This is for a germination insurance policy.

When should corn be fertilized?

Corn should be fertilized when they’re four inches tall, ten inches tall, and when the ears begin forming silks. This will ensure the plants have what they need to produce adequately.

Is corn a difficult vegetable to grow?

If you’ll become familiar with these issues, and their solutions, it should help you overcome common problems when raising this crop. Corn isn’t a difficult vegetable to add to your garden.

Why do you plant corn in rows?

Corn is wind-pollinated so planting in blocks or multiple rows to ensure pollination is important. To come to harvest quickly corn requires warm temperatures, rich soil, and even, regular watering. Corn is wind-pollinated so planting in blocks or multiple rows to ensure pollination is important. Here is a troubleshooting list ...

How to grow corn in a raised bed?

Plant corn in mounds or hills–thin each hill to 3 plants–or in raised beds.

What is the name of the insect that eats the seed?

Corn wireworm or the seed corn maggot is eating the seed. The corn wireworm is the larvae of the click beetle; the click beetle is reddish brown or black to ¾ inches long. Wireworms are brown or yellow and leathery to 1½ inches long. The seed corn maggot is a yellowish-white legless maggot, the larvae of a fly.

What do European corn borers eat?

Larvae feed on corn whorls then bore into stalks. They also feed on tassels and kernels. Handpick and destroy larvae. Apply Bacillus thuringiensis.

What insects eat silks?

Earwigs, Japanese beetles, and corn rootworm beetles feed on silks which prevents pollination or causes poor kernel development. Check ears daily for earwigs and beetles; handpick and destroy. Spray plants with hot pepper and garlic repellant. Place traps around the garden to collect pests.

How to get rid of worms in corn?

Spade the corn bed and let it lie fallow every third season. To trap: use pieces of potato on a spike setting them 2 to 4 inches into the soil; check the traps twice a week. Pick and destroy wireworms and maggots from the potato.

Does corn emerge from the soil?

• Corn does not emerge. Soil may be cold or damp. Plant later when the soil and temperatures are warmer; make sure soil is well-draining by adding aged compost and organic matter to soil.

What are companion plants for beans?

Companion plants for beans or other crops should be plants that have a natural symbiotic relationship. They may protect other crops from wind or sun, they may deter or confuse pests, or they may attract beneficial insects. When selecting your bean plant companions, consider their nutritional requirements.

What are some examples of food crops that benefit from being planted with other crops?

Beans. By: Amy Grant. Printer Friendly Version. Image by RobertWaltman. Many different plants not only coexist together, but actually derive mutual gratification from being grown near each other. Beans are a prime example of a food crop that benefits greatly when planted with other crops.

Why are beans good for the garden?

Beans fix nitrogen in the soil, a necessary nutrient for healthy growth of other crops, which is truly a boon to the gardener. The Iroquois people were aware of this reward, although they chalked it up to a gift from the Great Spirit.

What was the first plant to grow beans?

Corn was planted first and when the stalks were tall enough, the beans were sowed. As the beans grew, squash was planted. The corn became a natural support for the beans to clamber up, while the beans made the soil rich in nitrogen, and the large squash leaves shaded the soil to cool roots and retain moisture.

Can you grow beans with the same nutrients?

Don’t grow plants with the same nutritional needs together since they will compete for those available nutrients. The same goes with growing bean plant companions that have the same root depth. Again, they will compete with each other if they grow at the same soil depth.

Can you plant pole beans with squash?

Pole beans do quite well when planted near: Also, don’t forget to interplant with the corn and squash! Just as there are beneficial crops to plant with beans, there are other plants to avoid. The Allium family does neither pole or bush beans any favors.