FRESH SUMMER SWEET CORN By Laura Boggess Shafer. Laura and her family manage a family farm in the Clendenin area. Keeping Appalachian values and traditions alive, she enjoys sharing her wisdom on gardening, canning, preserving, recipes and more with ERL readers!
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here's just something special about biting into an ear of fresh-picked sweet corn. Whether it's boiled, grilled, or roasted, nothing beats corn that's been picked straight
from the garden and slathered with butter. It's a summertime tradition I look forward to every year. Sweet corn is a member of the grass family. Aside from sweet sorghum, it's the only member that's intentionally grown in the garden. While there are several types of corn, including popcorn, field corn, flour corn, and Indian (flint) corn, sweet corn earns its place at the dinner table thanks to its naturally
From The Ground Up
high sugar content. Corn grows best in fertile, well-drained, sandy loam soil with a pH above 6.0. If your soil is more acidic, adding lime may help improve growing conditions. Wait until the danger of frost has passed before planting seeds about an inch deep and six to eight inches apart. Frank prefers using a push seeder, which makes planting quick and keeps the rows nice and even. One of the most important things to remember is that corn is pollinated by the wind. Instead of planting one or two long rows, plant several shorter rows side by side. This allows the pollen from the tassels to fall more evenly onto the silks, giving you fuller ears of corn. You may notice bees buzzing around the corn stalks, but they aren't doing the pollinating. They're collecting the protein-rich pollen to take back to the hive. They may accidentally bump a little pollen onto the silks, but Mother Nature relies mostly on the wind to do the job. I have to admit—that surprised me! If you'd like to enjoy fresh corn over a longer period, stagger your planting every 10 to 14 days. We usually wait until our first patch reaches about waist height before planting the next one. This year, we'll have three patches growing, which means fresh
AUG 2026
sweet corn well into late summer.
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This issue ERL is wrapping up our three-part series, From the Ground Up, with two of summer's greatest treats—sweet corn and tomatoes. I am highlighting sweet corn this month. I featured tomato growing tips and varieties in our March issue. If you missed it, visit elkriverliving.com and browse our past issues.
Corn also appreciates consistent moisture, needing about an inch to an inch and a half of water each week. A good, deep soaking is much better than a quick daily sprinkle, encouraging stronger roots and healthier plants. Since corn is a heavy feeder, don't forget to give it a little extra nitrogen during the growing season. Apply a balanced fertilizer