KITCHEN GARDENS Norina Jane Whitpro

Most people enjoy eating corncobs and the great news is, you can grow them all year round here in the Whitsundays as they thrive in temperatures between 18-35 degrees. So, what problems can you come across growing corn and how can you ensure long, healthy ears (the corn itself) with full, consistent kernels?

Corn needs full sun. So, pick your location well ensuring they get at least eight hours sunlight a day.

Corn is shallow rooted and grow tall quickly, so when planting seeds make sure you plant them deeper than the usual recommendation of double the seed width. I plant my corn seeds between 3-4cm deep. If planted too shallow, I find the roots develop too close to the surface and can lead to a few issues. Shallow roots mean they are susceptible to dehydration. Seeds germinate in 6-10 days (depending on soil temperature) and each corn plant will produce one or maybe two ears.

Three things to be aware of when growing corn:

Air flow – space your planting and support pollination

Air movement is an important factor for successful pollination as corn are wind pollinated.

But that also means you want to grow them together. Plant corn rows roughly 60cm apart from each other and plant your seeds about 30cm apart.    

Did you know:  You can assist in pollination of your corn. Simply remove the tassels (the brown thing on the top of the plant) and wipe them over the silk of the corncob (the threads growing out of the top of the corn ear itself), this is a great way to ensure consistent kernels.

Water – corn is shallow rooted, so regular watering is important

Watering effects the number of kernels on the corn ears, if your plants dry out during pollination you will find the kernels are inconsistent and your corn does not develop properly, so watering corn is very important. They will have roots on the surface of the soil, so make sure you cover them in mulch when they become visible to assist with keeping them hydrated. If the leaves of your corn go yellow, this could be an indication that the plants are dehydrated and you need to water either more frequently or for longer periods of time when you do water, ensuring the water is penetrating deep into the soil.

Fertilise – corn grow rapidly – feed well

Corn are hungry, fast growers. You will need to feed them! Poultry manure is a great food for corn and is my go to, as it is high in nitrogen and promotes strong root growth in your corn. A liquid feed (I use Seasol) weekly will give great results too. Your corn will be ready to harvest anywhere between 60-100 days and roughly three weeks after the silks appear, the silk will have turned brown.

FUN FACT:  

• The tallest corn stalk recorded was 35 ft tall

• Each kernel of a corn is actually a fruit, and the cob is the stem the fruit grow on

• Corn is used in glue, paint, cosmetics and laundry detergent!

CORN CHOWDER

A rich and delicious soup for these colder Whitsunday nights.

This is quick to prepare and cooks in 30 minutes.

What you’ll need:

1 x Tablespoon Butter

2 x Tablespoons of olive oil

2 x Onions roughly diced

1 x Celery Stick cut into small pieces

2 x Garlic Cloves

Salt & Pepper to your taste

350g Diced Potatoes

5 x Corn Cobs worth of kernels (use sharp knife to remove from cob)

4 x Tablespoons Plain Flour

750ml Vegetable Stock (heated)

500ml Unsweetened Rice Milk

3 x Tablespoons Chopped Tarragon

2 x Tablespoons Lemon Juice

Method

Place butter, oil, onions and celery into a saucepan and cook over low heat until onions are transparent. Add garlic and cook for another few minutes. Add a pinch of salt and as much pepper as you like.  

Add diced potatoes and sprinkle with the flour. Stir over heat for three minutes, then add vegetable stock, rice milk and corn. Add Tarragon.

Simmer for 15 minutes to cook potatoes and corn.

Place in blender, a third at a time and ensure it is thoroughly blended. If there are still lumps, push it through a sieve. Add lemon juice and reheat on low heat.

If it is too thick for your liking, just add more stock or water.

Top with a few tarragon leaves and a sprinkle of pepper.

Serve with lightly toasted crusty bread

Corn is fast growing and ready to harvest between 60-100 days

Assist pollination by removing tassels and rubbing them over the corn silk

Corn tassels

Make a delicious home cooked corn chowder this winter

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