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Growing corn in containers allows you to enjoy the sweet flavor of homegrown corn in a smaller space. While you do need the right pot, soil, seeds, and technique to grow corn in pots, it’s not difficult to do. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know, including how to hand-pollinate your corn plants to get fully developed ears from just a few plants.
Why start growing corn in containers
Aside from saving space, growing corn in pots lets you harvest from unconventional spaces, including from a deck or patio and even from balconies. With the proper care, container growing this backyard crop can also reduce necessary pest control by allowing you to better observe your growing plants. Plus, cultivating corn in containers means you can completely control the soil and fertilization, along with managing the best time for planting, watering, and other maintenance tasks.
Corn varieties for container growing
While technically you can grow any variety of sweet corn in containers— you can even grow flint corn (for decorations) and dent corn (for cornmeal) —that doesn’t mean you should. By choosing varieties of sweet corn that are slightly smaller in stature or that are bred specifically for container growing, you’ll give yourself an advantage. Most container varieties reach just 4 to 5 feet in height.
Hybrids for container sweet corn include ‘On Deck’ from Burpee Seeds, ‘Who Gets Kissed’ from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, and ‘Casino’ from Renee’s Garden Seeds, which are among my personal favorites for their sweet flavor. I also like growing open-pollinated selections like ‘Dwarf Blue Jade’ from Hudson Valley Seed Co and ‘Golden Bantam’. I’ve also tried my hand at growing popcorn in containers, including ‘Tom Thumb’ (which is a delight with 3-foot-tall stalks!) and ‘Strawberry’ which has red kernels and a rounded cob shape.
A reminder that corn is wind pollinated (we’ll talk more about this later). Because of this, you should only grow one variety of sweet corn at a time. Cross-pollinating can result in tough kernels that lack the sweet flavor you are hoping for. Isolate varieties by several hundred feet if you would like to grow more than one.
The right size pot for growing corn in containers
Container corn is most successful when you use the right containers. Bigger is definitely better. Because corn is wind-pollinated, the more plants you have, the better the ears will be pollinated and the more developed the kernels will be. The seed packets of these compact corn varieties for containers recommend a minimum of 9 plants in a 24” diameter pot that is at least 30” tall. Bigger pots are even better. I find large fabric grow bags to be some of the best containers for growing corn. A deep 50 or 60 gallon grow bag is perfect for 10-12 plants.
You can also try your hand at container corn cultivation in plastic pots, deck boxes, half-whiskey barrels, and even decorative glazed ceramic pots. Just remember – the bigger the better!
The best soil mix for growing corn in containers
Fill the pots with a high-quality soil mix when growing corn in containers. Good drainage is essential, so you’ll also want to make sure the pot has a drainage hole in the bottom. Couple that with a well-drained potting soil blend, and you’ll be good to go. I plant my container corn in a 50/50 mix of high-quality potting soil (here’s the brand I typically use) and organic matter like aged manure, composted manure, compost, or leaf mold. You can purchase the organic matter by the bag or make your own compost for the job.
Fill the pot to within 1 inch of the top rim. It will settle a bit once watered, so don’t skimp on the soil mix. If you want to make your own potting soil, you’ll find my favorite DIY recipes here.
When to plant corn in containers
Corn seeds need warm soil to germinate. If the soil is too cold, they may rot in the ground before they can grow. The best time for planting corn seeds is about 2 to 3 weeks after your last spring frost. Fill the pot with soil a few weeks in advance of planting and put it in the full sun so the soil can warm up. Corn plants grow quickly in warm weather, so if you are unsure of when to plant corn in containers, err on the side of later. Depending on the variety you are planting, the plants require anywhere from 60 to 100 days to reach maturity. That means you’ll need a growing season at least that long in order to be successful.
You can also cheat by starting corn seeds indoors under grow lights so that when outdoor planting time arrives, your plants are already a few weeks old. You may even be able to find corn transplants at your local nursery (as I did with the popcorn plants shown in the photos). If you start your own corn indoors under grow lights, plant the seeds about 4 weeks before your last expected frost. Plant 4 to 6 seeds per 3” pot and then separate the seedlings when planting them outdoors.
Caring for corn in pots
With proper care, your corn plants will be happy and healthy in their container home. Growing corn in containers means you will have to regularly fertilize with a water-soluble fertilizer (here are some of our favorites) every 2 to 3 weeks since corn is a heavy feeder, particularly when it comes to nitrogen.
Watering is another essential chore. Keep the soil consistently moist. Do not allow it to fully dry out in between waterings. Water deeply and thoroughly (here’s a video showing you how), especially when the weather is hot. As long as there is a drainage hole in the bottom of the pot and excess water is allowed to drain away, you cannot overwater.
What about pollination?
The biggest challenge with growing corn in containers is pollination. When they reach maturity, corn plants develop their male flowers at the top of the plant (called the tassel). The female reproductive part is the silk coming from the end of the undeveloped ears. Ample pollen needs to fall from the tassel, down onto the silks. It takes a lot of pollen to fully fertilize an ear of corn.
Poor pollination results in puny ears with mal-formed kernels or kernels that don’t form at all. This is why corn is typically grown in blocks with a lot of plants in close proximity. This method of planting means there is a lot of pollen in the air to fertilize the ears. But with container planting, you will likely have to take matters into your own hands.
How to hand-pollinate corn plants
To hand-fertilize corn, cut off a tassel when you can visually see the tiny, dust-like pollen grains drop from the tassel as it’s lightly tapped. Shake the severed tassel over the tops of all of the immature ears on every plant in your pot. Every day or two, cut off another tassel from one of the plants and shake it over the ears of corn on every plant. You can also brush the tassel against the silks to transfer the pollen. If done with each tassel, this should be enough to pollinate the ears.
When is corn growing in containers ready for harvest
It’s time to harvest homegrown corn when you peel open the tip of one of the ears and press a fingernail into a kernel and a milky liquid comes out. If the liquid is clear, the corn is not ripe enough yet. The corn kernels should be plump and fully formed.
For sweet corn varieties, enjoy the tender kernels by preparing them as you would any corn on the cob or cut the kernels from the cob and enjoy them in salads, or in salsas when combined with delicious tomatoes, onions, and garlic.
For popcorn, let the ears fully dry on the stalks. When the stalk is completely brown and the silks are dark and dry, it’s time to remove the ears from the plants. Remove the husk and silks and lay the cobs out on a screen in a warm, dry location until they are completely dry. Remove the dry kernels from the cob and store them in an airtight container. Pop them in a pan with a bit of oil and salt.
The ears have it
As you can see, growing corn in containers isn’t hard, but you do need to carefully consider the variety you plant, tend to the plants properly, and support good pollination. With a little effort, homegrown sweet corn is within your grasp.
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