Time To Plant Corn - LSU AgCenter

News Article for March 2, 2015:

March just sounds like spring but we can still be in for some cold temperatures. Corn is one of the crops that can take some cold weather and should be planted as early as practical to avoid insect problems, like corn ear worms.

In south Louisiana we consider planting dates for field corn to be February 25th to March 20th. You can plant later but you will usually have lower yields. Planting dates are based on historical weather patterns so in most years your latest date to plant without yield reduction is April 15 and we generally see a 30% reduction in yield if you wait until May 1st to plant.

Sweet corn is typically planted 7 days before the last average frost date. Here our last average frost date is about March 18th.

Corn, whether it is field corn or sweet corn, can take some cold and survive. The plant has a growing point that is below the soil line up until it puts on 6 leaves. The above ground leaf tissue can be burned back by a light frost but the growing point remains alive and with 4 to 5 days new leaves will emerge. Once the corn plant moves past the 6 leaf stage the growing point moves up making the plant more vulnerable to cold damage but the threat of cold weather in greatly reduced by then.

Field corn is fertilized prior to planting in our upland non-irrigated soils with about 60 pounds of nitrogen per acre and all the phosphorous and potassium recommended by the soil test, which is usually 40-60 pounds of each. This could be accomplished with 400 pounds of 17-17-17 or 500 pounds of 13-13-13 per acre. Come back when the corn is 12 inches tall and apply an additional 60-70 pounds of nitrogen (200 pounds of ammonium nitrate or 150 pounds of urea)/ acre. Seeding rate is based on plants population per acre which somewhere between 31,000- 37,000 seed. This will be about 12-20 pounds of seed per acre depending on variety.

Sweet corn is typically planted by the row and you want to have at least 3 rows side by side to get good pollination or your ears will not fill out. Apply 6 pounds of 8-8-8 fertilizer per 100 feet or the equivalent prior to planting. Space your seed out within the row at 8-12 inches or be willing to thin to that spacing. Once the plants get to 12 inches tall side dress with 2 to 3 pounds of calcium nitrate per 100 feet of row and then do this again when the plants are 24 inches tall.

Field corn varieties are going to be based on availability and traits that you are most concerned with so check with your local supplier and tell him you are planting on upland soils without irrigation.

Sweet corn varieties to plant would include some of the traditional good producers such as Seneca Horizon, Funks G90, Gold Queen, Merit, Silver Queen, and Golden Cross Bantam. Some of the high sugar producers that seem to work well are Ambrosia, Incredible, Miracle and Delectable. Other sweet varieties to try would include Honey and Cream, Peaches and Cream, any of the XTRA-Tender numbered series, Temptation, and Luscious.

For more information on these or related topics contact Kenny at 225-686-3020 or visit our website at www.lsuagcenter.com/livingston.