Overview

Maize, also known as corn, is cultivated all around the world and has a higher annual production weight than any other grain. In 2020, the global production of maize amounted to a staggering 1.1 billion tonnes. This crop has a rich history, as it was domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico approximately 9,000 years ago from a wild plant called teosinte. Maize cultivation heavily relies on human intervention for its propagation and development.

Maize, also known as corn, is a tall annual grass characterized by a single stem that can reach a height of 1.2 m (4 ft) to 4 m (13 ft). Its long, slender leaves grow alternately on opposite sides of the stalk. The grains typically have a yellow or white color in modern varieties, but there are also varieties with orange, red, brown, blue, purple, or black grains. These grains are arranged in 8 to 32 rows around the cob, with some large cobs containing up to 1200 grains. Due to its shallow roots, maize is vulnerable to drought, sensitive to nutrient-poor soils, and susceptible to being uprooted by strong winds.

Now that a brief overview of Corn has been done, let’s talk about growing them in Zone 9b and beyond!

Zone 9b Florida

Let’s face it, Florida Gardening can be challenging! With heavy rains, humid summers, and pests you may wonder how you can be successful. Well, choosing the right crops, the right varieties, and the right season can make an extraordinary difference in your vegetable garden. So, what types of corn varieties are best suited for Florida? When choosing a variety you should consider the growth habits of that particular variety.

• Silver Queen (white)
• How Sweet It Is (white)
• Sweet Ice (white)
• Sweet Riser (yellow)
• Early Sunglow (yellow)

I just harvested the last of my silver queen corn this week and got just over 1 lb worth of kernels that I froze for later use. It wasn’t quite right to eat straight off the Cobb, but there’s always next season! To learn more about my corny adventures click the link below.

Care and Planting

Corn plants do best when soil temperatures are between 61 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit and are a fairly fast-growing crop. Avoid planting different varieties close together as they will cross-pollinate.

You can direct plant seeds into the garden in April and May. Water and weed accordingly. I have raised beds, so I dedicated an entire 4 x 4 bed to my corn this season and used the block method. This method calls for placing 4 corn seeds in the corners of each square foot of the raised bed. Literature does not support using a smaller plot than a 4 x 4, as corn is wind-pollinated and needs proximity and scale to allow for proper pollination.

Harvesting

Pick when the silky threads on the cobs turn brown or black, usually 60-90 days from planting. Part the top of the leaves and test for ripeness by pressing a grain with your fingernail. If it is milky, it is ready. Early varieties ripen quickly and are sweeter when just picked.

Follow along as I provide updates about my summer season garden. I enjoyed growing corn this year, and I will be planning to grow it again next season!

Links

Gardenate.(2024). Growing Corn. https://www.gardenate.com/plant/Sweet+corn?format=i 

Garden Solutions. (2022). Corn. https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/edibles/vegetables/corn/

Wikipedia. (2024) Maize. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maize