The Indian method is to plant pumpkins or squash closely to protect the roots, reduce weeds and help retain moisture. Corn is ready to harvest about 3 weeks after the silk appears at the end of the ear. The silk will dry out and turn brown when at their peak. Pick the ears by breaking the ears from the stalk. The idea is to break of the corn close to the base of each ear without damaging the stalk or the corn.
Corn is pollinated by the wind.
Planting corn in blocks of rows will assist pollination. It is not a good idea to plant dent corn or different varieties of corn closer than 100 feet. Corn plants will cross pollinate and will cause a number of problems. White corn takes 80 days to mature. The cobs grow to about 8 inches long on plants about 7 feet tall.