Planting Tips: Corn should be planted in spring once the soil has warmed. If planted too early, the seeds may rot before germinating. Sow seeds about 6 inches apart, with rows spaced 24–36 inches apart, depending on your cultivation method. It’s best to plant at least four short rows in a block rather than one or two long rows, since corn is wind-pollinated. A block of rows captures more pollen, resulting in fuller ears. Poor pollination shows up as unfilled sections on the cob.

Harvesting Tips: Sweet corn should be harvested when the kernels are fully colored and, when pressed, release a milky white juice. The silks will usually be brown by this stage, but keep a close eye — open-pollinated sweet corn moves quickly from the tender “milk stage” to the tougher “dough stage,” when it’s no longer ideal for eating.

Flour and cornmeal varieties should be allowed to dry as much as possible on the stalk. Ideally, the husks will turn tan and rattle in the wind. However, if fall rains or birds threaten, harvest the ears a bit earlier. Husk them and spread or hang them in a protected, airy place such as a porch or garage to finish drying. (If left in the husk, the ears may mold.) Once the kernels are fully dry, shell the corn and store it in an airtight container for later use.

Seed Saving Tips: Corn is wind-pollinated, so different varieties that shed pollen at the same time — even up to a mile apart — can cross. To keep varieties pure, grow only one type of corn per year unless their pollination times differ. For example, many field corns tassel much later than early sweet or flour corns.