For people who live in apartments or simply need an escape from the winter blahs, the idea of growing corn indoors may seem intriguing. This golden grain has become a staple of the American diet and is as much a part of our rural landscape as cows and tractors. To grow corn indoors, however, you have to be dedicated. Growing corn in containers in your home is not impossible, but can be difficult. Let's look at what it takes to start indoor corn growing.
Planting Corn Indoors
Start with corn seed. If you are growing corn indoors, it's probably a good idea to plant a dwarf variety of corn such as:
- Miniature Hybrid
- Golden Midget
- Early Sunglow
When indoor corn growing, the corn plants will be relying entirely on you for nutrients. Add plenty of composted manure or fertilizer to the soil for growing corn in containers. Corn is a heavy feeder and will need it to grow well. Corn seedlings don't transplant well, so if you are growing corn in containers, just plant the seed straight into the container you'll be growing the corn. The container you choose should have ample room for four to five full size corn stalks. Use a wash tub or other large container for planting corn indoors. Plant the corn seed 4 to 5 inches (10-13 cm.) apart about 1 inch (2.5 cm.) deep. Once you get the corn seed planted, place the corn in plenty of light. This can be difficult when you grow corn indoors, as the available sunlight won't be enough. You'll need to supplement the light. Add grow lights or fluorescent lights to the area where you'll be growing corn indoors. The lights should be as close to the corn as possible. The more artificial "sunlight" you can add, the better the corn will perform. Check plants weekly. Water the corn as needed-- whenever the top of the soil is dry to the touch. When planting corn indoors, the corn will typically need less water than corn planted outdoors. Keep a careful eye on not overwatering when growing corn in containers; too much water may cause root rot and will kill the plants. As we said, growing corn indoors is no easy task. To grow corn indoors, make sure that you have created the right condition for the corn to grow well. Once you have done this, planting corn indoors can be fun and rewarding.
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