Growing corn plants in garden (Best soil for corn plant) – Cultivating sweet corn (Grow maize)
Growing sweet corn in outdoors. (How to grow maize from seed in a garden.) This time, we’re preparing the soil for sweet corn. (Prep soil and starter fertilizer for maize.) The bed size for growing sweet corn is about 60cm x 60cm (2 feet x 2 feet).
Starter fertilizer for sweet corn (Best organic fertilizer for maize)
There are three types of compost and fertilizer needed for growing sweet corn. Sweet corn (maize) is grown with organic farming, so we use organic fertilizers. We prepare cow manure, chicken manure, and canola cake. (Recommended fertilizer for sweet corn.)
For growing sweet corn (maize), the needed fertilizer (starter fertilizer) is 1 liter (1 qt) of cow manure, 50g (1.8 oz) of chicken manure, and 50g (1.8 oz) of canola cake.
Cow manure compost is made by mixing cow manure with straw or sawdust and letting it fully ferment. (Best compost for sweet corn.) It helps activate the microorganisms in the soil. Cow manure compost contains about 1% nitrogen, 1% phosphate, and 1% potassium.
Cow manure is mainly used as compost, not just as fertilizer. Mixing cow manure compost with clay soil can improve the soil (making it soft and fluffy). The compost is made from cow manure, but it is fully fermented, so it almost doesn’t smell bad.
Chicken manure is fertilizer made by drying and fermenting chicken droppings. (Recommended fertilizer for sweet corn.) It is an organic fertilizer that contains a good balance of nutrients needed for the growth of sweet corn. Chicken manure contains about 3% nitrogen, 6% phosphate, 4% potassium, and 11% lime.
Canola cake is the leftover residue after squeezing rapeseed oil or soybean oil. (Starter fertilizer for sweet corn.) It is an organic fertilizer that contains a lot of nitrogen, which is needed for the growth of sweet corn stems and leaves. Canola cake contains about 5% nitrogen, 2% phosphate, and 1% potassium.
Also, for soil improvement, I will use 5 liters (5 qt) of coco peat and 1 liter (1 qt) of zeolite. (Both coco peat and zeolite are materials that meet organic JAS standards.)
Coco peat is a soil improvement material made from coconut shells. It helps with drainage and air flow in the soil. It also makes the soil softer, which helps sweet corn (maize) roots grow better.
Zeolite is a soil improvement material made from natural minerals. It has the ability to hold and keep fertilizers, so it prevents fertilizers from being washed away by rain. Although it holds fertilizers, it still provides the nutrients that sweet corn (maize) need.
To prepare the soil for growing sweet corn (maize), first use a shovel to dig the whole area about 30cm (1 ft) deep.
Put 5 liters (5 qt) of coco peat into the hole and mix it with the soil. (Mix the coco peat into the soil using a shovel or hoe.)
After mixing coco peat with the soil, put the saved soil back on top. The coco peat is light, so cover it with soil to press it down.
After that, mix 500g (17.6 oz) of zeolite, 1 liter (1 qt) of cow manure, 50g (1.8 oz) of chicken manure, and 50g (1.8 oz) of canola cake into the soil.
How to make a bed for sweet corn (Growing maize in garden)
After fertilizing, the next step is to create the bed for sweet corn. Shape the bed with a trowel and wooden boards.
As a tip for making the sweet corn bed, use a trowel to press the edges of the bed and make it slightly compacted. If you press the edges of the bed, you can maintain the shape of the bed.
Afterward, cover the sweet corn bed with black polythene mulch, and secure the mulch with mulch pins. Mulching is a traditional method for making the growing sweet corn healthy. Mulch will keep the soil moist and the plants clean. Your sweet corn bed (maize) is complete.
Following is the video for how-to. English subtitles are available.