Can I get corn in winter?

Planting a winter crop of corn in your home garden is possible in mild winter climates. Winter or summer, corn requires light and warmth to thrive. Dwarf varieties such as "Golden Midget Sweet Corn" have the added benefit of a shorter season, maturing in 55 to 75 days. By extending the growing season with a high hoop house and planting dwarf varieties, you can supply your kitchen with fresh corn throughout the year.

Prepare the Garden Bed

1. Select a site in the garden that receives the maximum amount of winter sunlight, at least six to eight hours daily. A sheltered, south-facing wall or fence is an ideal location, as the reflected sunlight creates a warmer microclimate.

2. Lay out the garden bed. Generally, PVC pipe is available in 10 to 20 foot lengths. By using 20-foot-long sections of pipe, an 8-foot-wide garden bed allows an approximate height of 6 feet at the peak of the high hoop house.

3. Pound the rebar 18 inches into the ground, placing one every 2 feet along the length of the garden bed. Repeat on the opposite side of the bed.

4. Place two rows of 12-inch pavers down the center of the garden bed, making a 24-inch wide path. Lay a 4-by-4-inch post along each side of the pavers, making an edge for the garden beds. Drill a hole through each end of the posts. Pound a piece of rebar through the holes and into the ground to hold the posts in place.

5. Spread 4 inches of compost over each of the two garden beds. Dig it into the soil to a depth of 12 inches, mixing thoroughly.

6. Sprinkle the soil with water until thoroughly moistened. Rake the soil up into two 12-inch wide, mounded rows that extend the length of each garden bed.

7. Insert the PVC pipe onto the rebar. Carefully bend it over and across the garden bed and insert it onto the opposite piece of rebar. Push the PVC pipe down until it touches the ground. Repeat along the length of the garden bed.

8. Unfold the plastic sheeting, laying it flat on the ground along the length of the garden bed. With a helper, pull the plastic snugly up and over the PVC pipe. Use spring-loaded clips to hold the plastic onto the PVC pipe.

9. Weigh the plastic down on three sides of the high hoop with soil, rocks, bricks or boards. Fold the plastic on the downwind end loosely, weighing it down with one or two large rocks or bricks.

Plant the Corn

1. Place an outdoor thermometer inside the high hoop. Monitor the temperature until it reaches at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit. While corn will germinate at temperatures as low as 55 degrees, a warmer environment encourages faster germination

2. Poke a 6-inch-wide grid of 1/2-inch deep planting holes in the top of each row, using a pencil or small stick. Insert one seed into each hole. Rake the soil over the seeds and tamp gently. Sprinkle the garden lightly with water.

3. Sprinkle the seeds with water when the soil is barely dry to the touch, keeping the seeds moist until they germinate in seven to 14 days. Continue to water regularly by flooding the trenches between the rows.

4. Fertilize every two weeks with a balanced 20-20-20 liquid fertilizer. Always fertilize immediately after watering the garden.

5. Monitor the interior temperature of the hoop house. Open the loose end when the interior temperature rises above 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. If possible, place a fan in the high hoop house when the tassels appear. Corn plants use the wind as a pollinator; a fan generates the air circulation necessary for successful pollination. Alternatively, partially open the hoop house or hand pollinate.

7. Watch for pests such as aphids, corn earworms and spider mites. While planting in winter and covering with a high hoop house reduces pest infestations, even covered corn is not immune to all pests. Generally, an application of neem oil spray is sufficient to discourage most pests.

I'm completely ignorant to when fruits/vegetables are in/out of season. I know corn is not in season now, but does that mean corn on the cob is completely out of the question? I really want to make a recipe involving corn on the cob but the two grocery stores closest to my house had none. Is it worth checking other stores or am I just wasting my time?

level 2

Seems so obvious now. I was just wrongly assuming that all frozen corn would be off the cob.

level 2

Turns out a little harder to find than I thought. I went to 2 Whole Foods, 1 King Soopers, 1 Safeway, and none of them had fresh or frozen corn on the cob. Finally, Super Target came through and had some.

I'm in CO, btw.

level 1

Costco always seems to have it up in Alaska. God knows where it comes from and don't expect a lot of flavor or freshness.

level 1

Sometimes I see it come in from Florida in early Winter. Then sometimes shucked but fresh packaged corn comes in from Chili.

Depends on what you're doing with it. Canned and frozen corn can be high quality but nothing will do if you're expecting mid summer corn picked the same day.

level 2

Yeah, I'm seeing it at farmers markets here in Miami now. I don't think it's a big export crop, though.

level 1

All my local grocery stores have it right now, but the cobs are all really small and kinda sad looking.

level 1

I stock produce for a large retailer and we got some corn in earlier this week.

level 1

Southern California here. The two grocery stores (Vallarta, Costco) I shop at have white corn on the cob.

level 1

We've got it here in Southern Texas :/

level 1

In southern California yes.

level 1

I'd skip buying on the cob from the freezer section and go for HUSK brand sweet corn instead. They harvest, cut it off the cob and freeze it, while in season. It tastes amazing! And best part is, it's Indiana sweet corn

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