sweet corn in plot

[Nova]

I have decided to turn one of my food plots at home into a sweet corn patch. It's about 1/8 acre and for some reason it gets very little attention. I have planted brassica, field corn, and soy beans in it and they just don't use this plot. I have a ton of food left in it in spring, so I want to repurpose it.

Question is, how much different is it planting sweet corn than field corn. Can I use my 3 row planter for sweet corn? Is seed a lot more expensive? It won't be RR sweet corn, so can I use 2-4D on it? Thanks for any help!

 

[John-W-WI]

I've never done it, but I know some local people that do. They use the same equipment to plant sweet corn as they do field corn. So the hardest part is taken care of.

I can't speak to the cost of seed and 2-4d will be safe to use, but I don't know if you should spray it on something you intend to eat. There is probably a wait period after spraying but before eating. Check the label!

-John

 

[Nova]

I was thinking if I only spray it one time when the corn is about 8-12" tall it won't even have ears yet. But yeah I will check the label on 2-4d

 

[Bill]

RR sweet corn is on the market but I wouldn't begin to know where to get it and I bet te pricey. Simazine could be used as a post emergent for some weeds/grass on any corn.

 

[j-bird]

I know lots of farmers in my area that plant sweet corn with their planters. A little 2,3 or 4 row would be awesome - that is how many of the farmers market (trucker patchers as we call them here) places here do it. I would suggest maybe a little more spacing from seed to seed, but even that may not be needed. I would expect sweet corn seed to be far more expensive, but that's just a hunch on my part. 2-4D should be fine on it. Corn is a grass so anything targeted at broadleaf weeds should be fine. I will warn you that as soon as squirrels or coons find it....it's game on. Sweet corn is like candy in the summer time for lots of critters. Lots of folks here actually plant a few rows a week. This staggers out when it's ready AND allows you to have fresh over a longer duration and not have it all ready at once. Don't forget - it's still corn so N is your friend!!!

 

[Nova]

Yeah, I am prepared for the coons, I have heard planting vining plants like pumpkins or cucumbers in the rows will keep them out. They don't like to cross the vines for some reason. One farmer friend swears by this in his sweet corn.

I was planning on planting the plot in thirds to space out the harvest times.

I have beans planted in the plot now so that should get me some N and I will hit it with urea before planting.

I didn't see anything about not using 2-4d on edible crops on the 2-4d label.

I also found 800 count sweet corn seed packs for $16. 2 of those should give me plenty of plants for a 1/8 acre.

 

[mikmaze]

I hid 2 lbs worth of sweet corn in my big corn patch, will see how it does........... I should stagger a second planting soon, just in case it works.

 

[WTNUT]

I know lots of farmers in my area that plant sweet corn with their planters. A little 2,3 or 4 row would be awesome - that is how many of the farmers market (trucker patchers as we call them here) places here do it. I would suggest maybe a little more spacing from seed to seed, but even that may not be needed. I would expect sweet corn seed to be far more expensive, but that's just a hunch on my part. 2-4D should be fine on it. Corn is a grass so anything targeted at broadleaf weeds should be fine. I will warn you that as soon as squirrels or coons find it....it's game on. Sweet corn is like candy in the summer time for lots of critters. Lots of folks here actually plant a few rows a week. This staggers out when it's ready AND allows you to have fresh over a longer duration and not have it all ready at once. Don't forget - it's still corn so N is your friend!!!

This is all good advise, very good. Yes, you can plant it with a two or three row planter. A flex 71 works fine for it. 9-11 inches will be plenty of space between seeds/plants. Seed is way more expensive than field corn, but it can be bought in bulk as well. From a cost standpoint, it would cost a fortune to plant even 1/8 of an acre if you bought the seed in small bags like one gets to plant it in the garden. Next big issue, is if you have deer to hunt ( assuming you do since you are plotting) I can't imagine you ever producing a single ear of sweet corn out of an 1/8 acre of sweet corn.


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[Barndog56]

Even though they've ignored that plot in the past, once they find out its sweet corn they'll use it. I believe they like it more than field corn. You may have to load up on the milorganite to keep them at bay.

My dad always put a battery powered radio in his sweet corn patch to keep the coonc away. Might not be a good idea though if it's too close to where you want deer.

 

[swat1018]

I plant a big patch every year with my 2 row flex 71, really the only reason I bought it. I planted 10 rows way early, it's starting to tassel now. Planted another 6 rows 3 weeks later, and another 4 rows 3 weeks after that. It's around the edge of a production corn field, so I have the farmer hit it with a double dose of anhydrous. Back down the population a little from field corn, a plant about every 8" is about ideal for sweet corn. I've been planting RR ready, I like it. Still clean up some resistant weeds with a hoe or some 2,4-D. Coons are your biggest enemy, but I've been lucky, so far. I probably have about .2 to .25 acre worth. Plenty to eat, freeze, and give to all my friends, etc.

 

[Nova]

Even though they've ignored that plot in the past, once they find out its sweet corn they'll use it. I believe they like it more than field corn. You may have to load up on the milorganite to keep them at bay.

If it makes the deer use the plot then it's a win/ win for me!!

 

[mikmaze]

second round of sweet corn went in today, staggered planting, spread out harvest.....