Corn Crops and Diseases

Corn must be planted at a very specific time to make sure it grows properly and healthily.

1. Check your soil temperature. Plant corn when the soil registers 55 degrees Fahrenheit at a depth of 2 inches, and 50 degrees at 6 inches deep. Don't worry too much about the "frost-free" date. Iowa State University notes that the plant grows deep in the soil and there is a long delay between planting and the emerging of the plant above ground.

2. Consult a local farmer's almanac. Although the weather may be unseasonably warm or cold at one point in the season, areas tend to follow general weather patterns that indicate good planting times.

3. Consult the USDA plant hardiness zone to determine your zone. The hardiness zone groups areas together with like temperatures, which helps gardeners know what types of plants can grow in what locations. Most corn seed packages are labeled with the suggested planting hardiness zone.

4. Calculate when you would like to harvest the corn and count backward to find the typical maturity date. The exact number of days will depend upon the specific corn type.

5. Stagger the planting dates by about 12 to 14 days to allow for easier harvesting and a longer picking season. Planting early, mid and late season corn crops allow you to have grown crops throughout the summer growing season.

6. Water the corn throughout the growing season. Warmer weather will require more water to ensure the plants do not dry out.