I'm about to set up a 4x8 raised bed for growing corn, but I'm unsure how much seed to buy. The packets seem pretty small, and I want to make sure I have enough. Can anyone share some guidance on how many plants I can fit in that space and the best setup for them?
3 Answers
I've actually tried using half of my 4x8 bed for corn and managed to fit around 30 plants. They all thrived! Just make sure you’re fertilizing that soil well since corn is pretty hungry for nutrients. Check out some pictures of my setup!
Wow, those plants look amazing! What's your secret to keeping them healthy?
The traditional advice is to stick with 2 rows of 8 for your bed, but if you stagger a middle row with 6 plants, you can enhance pollination. It's better to plant in a block format rather than straight rows. Keeping the spacing the same as your rows will help everything grow more evenly!
For optimal growth, you should ideally plant corn in blocks instead of rows for better wind pollination. In a 4x8 bed, you could go with either 16 plants (2 rows of 8) or push it to 32 (4 rows of 8), but with the latter, you'll need to be ready to provide extra nutrients since they'll be competing for food. Just remember, corn is a heavy feeder! Depending on where you are in Florida, plant early in the season, ideally by April, and you might even want to consider a fall planting too.
Great job! Any tips on the best fertilizer to use?