Sweet corn or maize (Zea mays saccharata) is essentially the only vegetable pollinized by wind. And for that reason, it should planted in groups so that pollen from the male flowers (in the tassel above the plant) will readily fall on the female flowers below (the silk at the end of each ear of corn). If pollination is poor, the cobs will be deformed with only sporadic kernels.
Farmers easily solve this problem with massive monocultures: row upon endless row of corn. In the home garden, corn is typically planted in “blocks” (several tight rows forming a square or rectangle) rather than a single row, where pollination might be spotty. However, such a concentration of corn plants tends to attract corn ear worm and other corn insects, not to mention raccoons. That’s why you might want to consider the method Native Americans used: sowing 4-6 seeds together in a tight circle (called a “hill”, although it isn’t necessarily mounded up).
The latter technique makes for an attractive effect (corn can be as beautiful as any ornamental grass when grown this way) and allows you to scatter hills of corn here and there throughout your yard, not just in the vegetable patch, but among your flower beds as well, thus avoiding the risks inherent in monocultures. And 4 to 6 plants growing together will ensure good pollination for all the ears.
An ornamental appearance, abundant, productive ears, and good eating: what more could you ask of corn?
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