Plant Gardens 101

Sweet corn is a summer favorite for everyone. We all have fond memories of eating corn on the cob at summer picnics and grill-outs; it is an essential summer side dish. Many gardeners regard sweet corn as a garden staple that they cultivate every year. But, homegrown corn may not be the best crop for all of us. In this article, we’ll explain the basics of growing your own sweet corn at home, and how to determine if this tasty vegetable is right for your garden.

The first and most important consideration in growing sweet corn is space. If you are lacking for planting area, or if you prefer to garden in containers, then sweet corn is probably not the crop for you. Corn is pollinated by wind, meaning that it’s essential to plant it in blocks at least four rows wide. If corn is planted in one long, single row, you’ll get a disappointingly low yield of edible ears. (more…)

The place on the stem of a plant where the scion, or bud, is joined to the rootstock or trunk. It is usually indicated by a slight swelling. Also called union or bud union.