Real Estate and Diet

In 2004 I used fourteen 7-3/4" round X 5-1/2” high nursery man’s pots. When the pots were emptied, the roots had doubled back, and were within about 1-1.5 inches from the container’s top.

Someone who grew a small corn plot told me that one needs about two dozen corn plants to really get it right, so will be expanding my crop to a minimum of 24 plants next year.

The first set of seeds was soaked overnight in water, and planted pointy side up with potting soil in 8 oz. yogurt containers punched for drainage. The crop was set inside by an east facing window. Within a week, the seeds were growing a fuzzy white mold coat.

Before the second crop was planted, I soaked the pots in PineSol, and gave them a good rinse. The containers were place outside. It rained, it froze, within a week, they were germinating.

When the plants became root-bound, they were transferred to the larger pots. My measuring containers for the mix were a 1-quart yogurt carton and a 16-oz. margarine tub. The blend was –
three quarts potting soil (the cheapest available)
one-quart steer manure, and
about 3/4 margarine tub of bone meal

The pots with plants were filled within about 1.5-2” from the top. Next year, I will put about .25” layer of wet potting soil over the surface to discourage flies and comments regarding manure pong, both of which disappeared after several weeks.

The plants were watered as needed. By mid-June, they were once again becoming root-bound. At this juncture, their diet was changed to a fairly stiff aqua blue solution of Miracle-Gro in the morning, and watered in the evening.

There is a reason the pots were not filled to the top. Printed on the seed packet – “Sweet corn benefits from rich soil, side dress with fertilizer just before tassels appear and water deeply.” The pots were filled within a 1/2” of their rims with a mix of –
two quarts potting soil (the cheapest available)
one-quart steer manure, and
about 3/4 margarine tub of bone meal

Next year, the pots will again be topped off with a thin layer of potting soil after the second soil application, the dirt will be about 1/4” below the pot’s top to allow for a bit of over watering.