Grilled over mesquite, with a sprig of fresh rosemary, sweet corn is one of the season's triumphs. Plant enough to ensure a steady supply for both fresh eating and for 'putting by' in the freezer. Sow in spring when the soil is warm. For high altitude and northern gardens, wait until the first of June or later if your nighttime temperatures are still below 55 degrees. Corn can be very difficult to germinate and grow well if planted in soils that are too cool or wet.
Corn requires wind to pollinate and planting in blocks helps ensure maximum pollination.
Corn is ready to harvest about three weeks after the plants silk, or when the silk turns brown and dries. Stunted corn plants are due to insufficient moisture, a common problem throughout the West. As corn has shallow roots which do not tolerate drying out, plant your seeds along a drip irrigation system timed to come on daily for at least 20-30 minutes. Soil where corn is to be planted should be deeply worked and rich in organic matter such as compost, rotted manure and ground rock phosphate. Rotate crops by planting beans in the corn patch the next season to help enrich the soil with nitrogen and allow it to recover from corn, which is a heavy feeder.