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ABC,s of Ornamental Corn
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The same corn species that brings the world field corn, popcorn, and sweet corn has turned up some ornamental varieties that are worth growing in the garden for their statuesque beauty.
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Corn needs rich, fertile soil and full sun. The soil must be well drained and moist. Wait to plant corn until after the last frost-free date and the soil is warm. Plant seeds 1 inch deep. Space plants 6 to 10 inches apart. Corn forms a series of brace roots to support it, so it will not need staking.
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Corn is tall and requires space to accommodate it. It's useful as a fast-growing screen and as a plant for the back of the border. Ears of ornamental corn are used in many kinds of dried arrangements -- from door hangings to centerpieces, some varieties may be eaten as a sweet corn and others for corn meal.
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Corn is very suseptible to seed rot. Seed treatment with a fungicide can help if need to plant in cooler soils. Non-chemical steps to control seed rot include, planting when soils are above 55 degrees F. Try to avoid long cool spells after planting through emergence. Do not over water. Do not plant in water saturated soils.
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Variety |
Average
Seeds/Oz. |
Spacing (Inches) |
Planting Depth |
Approx. Days to germ |
Approx.
Days to Maturity |
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In Row |
Between Rows |
Inches |
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Ornamental Corn/Popcorn |
375 |
6-10 |
22-42 |
0.5-1 |
7-12 |
64-110 |
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Interesting History
The Three Sisters are the three main agricultural crops of some Native American groups in North America: squash, maize, and climbing beans (typically tepary beans or common beans)
In one technique known as companion planting, the three crops are planted close together. Flat-topped mounds of soil are built for each cluster of crops. Each mound is about 1 ft high and 20 in wide, and several maize seeds are planted close together in the center of each mound. In parts of the Atlantic Northeast, rotten fish or eel are buried in the mound with the maize seeds, to act as additional fertilizer where the soil is poor. When the maize is 6 inches tall, beans and squash are planted around the maize, alternating between beans and squash.
The three crops benefit from each other. The maize provides a structure for the beans to climb, eliminating the need for poles. The beans provide the nitrogen to the soil that the other plants utilize and the squash spreads along the ground, monopolizing the sunlight to prevent weeds. The squash leaves act as a "living mulch," creating a microclimate to retain moisture in the soil, and the prickly hairs of the vine deter pests. Maize lacks the amino acids lysine and tryptophan, which the body needs to make proteins and niacin, but beans contain both and therefore together they provide a balanced diet.
The three sisters planting method is featured on the reverse of new issues of the US Sacagawea dollar coin. |
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