These plants have large, quick-germinating seed, making them easy for children and beginning gardeners to grow. In Nebraska, virus diseases, squash vine borers, cucumber beetles, and squash bugs can be a problem. Plants should be inspected regularly to determine if insect control is necessary. Those infected with viruses or bacterial wilt should be pulled up and disposed of in the trash, not in the compost pile. While corn plants are not usually thought of as ornamental, the ears of Indian and strawberry popcorn make colorful decorations.
Some ornamental corn has red stalks can be used in the fall for decorative yard displays.
There are many types of ornamental corn available, including both large and miniature ears. Individual cultivars of ornamental corn should be isolated from one another and from sweet corn to prevent cross pollination. With its bright crimson stalks supporting crinkled red-veined, dark green leaves, rhubarb chard makes an attractive foliage plant. Chard tolerates cold weather and frost as well as hot days in the summer. It is an excellent pot herb when steamed and buttered like spinach or stir- fried in Asian dishes.