Sweet Corn in an EarthTainer

[Douglas_OW]

How many stalks of sweet corn can one EarthTainer support? I remember Raybo had previously posted about some of his experiences where he thought that he had planted too many in one container, but I couldn't find his follow-up posts about an optimal number. I wasn't sure from his posted pictures how many were in each container- looks like 12 to 18. I'm thinking of giving corn a try this year.
Thanks,

Jim

[rnewste]

Jim,

The first year, I crowded in 24 stalks per 'Tainer:



Last year, I went down to 3 rows of 5 stalks each:



This Season, I will be adjusting to 3 rows of 6 stalks each. I think this will be about the optimal number. If I were in the East or Mid-West, frankly corn in EarthTainers is not a great R.O.I. as tomatoes and peppers produce a higher yielding crop for the Season. But out where I live, there isn't a cornfield within 100 miles, so getting a few ears of fresh tasting sweetcorn per 'Tainer is a justified trade-off, in my view.

Raybo

[Douglas_OW]

Raybo,
Thanks. I'll have to consider that. I'm going to try and get some corn earlier in the season. Local corn isn't available here until August, but then you can buy it by the bushel, no older than an hour or two off the stalk. And by local, I mean within walking distance.
As an exercise, I'll have to try and figure out what 18 stalks per container equates to in bushel per acre- I'm guessing a lot more than a typical 140-180 bushels/acre.

Jim

[rnewste]

Jim,

That is one of the advantages of the EarthTainer - the soil warms up significantly earlier than in-ground planting beds. I had corn in early July last season, and my first ripe tomatoes (Stupice) on May 29.

Again, on a "cost per ear" basis, the EarthTainer is a very expensive way to go - - but eating freshly picked corn on July 4 is Priceless......



Raybo

[John3]

rnewste have you tried
Six Shooter Very old variety up to six ears of corn per stalk >Six Shooter
http://www.rhshumway.com/dp.asp?c=172&P={D0473A79-EB2C-4EAF-9493-60E059BE54A9}

There is also a Six-Shooter Bicolored Sweet Corn(not sure if it's a heirloom)

[veggie babe]

Raybo that is one nice picture, keep them coming.

Neva

[rnewste]

John,

I checked out your link and it says while you may get 6 ears per stalk, the ears have only 10 rows of kernels. I like big, fat ears of corn!! But thanks for posting it.

Neva,

I never "framed" the Oleanders in the background behind the corn photo, it just kind of happened that way. Thanks.

Raybo

[David Marek]

WOW. Look at that. Impressive even to someone from the land of corn... My plants in the ground get about 1 square foot each. What nutrients do you add to keep the containers productive?

[rnewste]

David,

I don't do anything "special" - - just use the (Old) Tomato-tone on the tomato and pepper plants, as well as Gurney's Corn Fertilizer on the sweetcorn. We get a lots of sunshine here and the exposed sides of the EarthTainers warm the soil much better than my former in-ground bed.



Raybo

[John3]

Those are really nice corn plants Raybo