Learn How to Grow Baby Corns at Home in Pots in this detailed guide, and try your hands at cultivating cereals in a small space!
Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a big garden to cultivate maize. Learn How to Grow Baby Corns at Home in Pots and harvest it fresh for your family without a big yard!
Learn how to grow popcorn microgreens at home here
What are Baby Corns?
Baby corns is a variety of maize that is harvested before the ears fully mature. It is usually harvested between 7–11 cm (3–4 in) in length. The ears are smaller than those of a normal maize plant, around 3–5 cm (1–2 in). The ears have undeveloped kernels that are edible and have a sweet, crunchy, and tender texture.
Baby corn is used as a vegetable in salads, stir-fries, and other dishes. It is a popular ingredient in Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cooking. It is also used as a garnish or as a decorative element in a variety of dishes.
Baby corn is very low in calories and is rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It is a good source of vitamin C, magnesium, iron, and zinc. It also contains some B vitamins, such as folic acid, thiamine, riboflavin, and niacin.
The #1 Secret of Growing Baby Corns
The key to getting tasty baby corns is to never grow them to the point where they get mature.
The secret tip is to cultivate 3-4 plants in a standard 12 inches pot so they don’t get an established root system, which will keep them small in size, making the cobs tender and delicious!
Best Baby Corn Varieties to Grow
- Redhaven Baby Corn: This variety is a sweet, crunchy baby corn with a yellow-orange hue.
- Shimmer Baby Corn: This variety is a highly productive variety with a sweet flavor.
- Temptation Baby Corn: This variety is a sweet, crunchy baby corn with a creamy-white hue.
- Sugar Ann Baby Corn: This variety is an extra-sweet baby corn with a buttery flavor.
- White Sweet Baby Corn: This variety is a mild, sweet baby corn with a pale-green hue.
- Peaches and Cream Baby Corn: This variety is a sweet, creamy baby corn with a yellow-orange hue.
- Snow White Baby Corn: This variety is a mild, sweet baby corn with a white hue.
- Golden Baby Corn: This variety is a sweet, crunchy baby corn with a golden hue.
Best Pot Size for Growing Baby Corns
Baby corns have shallow roots, so you can grow them in a 10-12 inches pot with ease. 4-6 plants in one pot would be great. This will result in a bountiful harvest per container.
You can also use grow bags, buckets, milk jars, and fruit crates. Make holes at the bottom to ensure proper drainage.
How to Grow Baby Corns in Pots?
Baby corns don’t transplant well, so it is preferable to sow them directly in the pots without the mess of starting in germination trays.
- Fill a pot with a well-draining and nutrient-rich potting mix. Sow 8-10 seeds half to one inch deep, spacing them 2-3 inches apart.
- Place the pot in the sunniest corner of your house and ensure that the soil is evenly moist but not soggy.
- After a week or two, the kernels will germinate. Thin out the saplings and keep only the healthiest plants with 3-4 true leaves.
Alternatively, you can also start the seeds in 2-4 inches long disposable cups and then plant healthy ones in the pots after germination.
Requirements for Growing Baby Corns in Pots
Sunlight
Ensure the plant gets a minimum of 5-6 hours of direct sunlight. While growing indoors, place the plant in the south-facing window that receives the bright afternoon sun. If you grow it in a shady spot, the plant won’t produce corns.
Soil
A well-draining loamy soil with a pH of 6 to 7 works best for baby corns. The plant produces a healthy harvest in a nitrogen-rich growing medium. If you want the best yield, use a mixture of silt, sand, and gravel for the perfect blend.
Watering
It is important to keep the soil evenly moist as the plant grows in sunny temperatures. Do not let it sit in water-logged soil. Follow a deep watering session every time you find the topsoil dry.
Temperature & Humidity
Baby corns are warm-season plants and thrive in a high-temperature range of 70-90 F or 21-32 C. The plant doesn’t tolerate frost and requires a high humidity of 50-60 %.
Baby Corn Plant Care
Fertilization
The best fertilizer for baby corn in pots is a balanced fertilizer, such as a 10-10-10 or a 16-4-8, applied at planting and again when the corn is about 6 inches tall. A slow-release fertilizer, such as an organic fertilizer, is also an excellent choice.
Mulching
Mulching baby corns in pots can help protect them from weeds, pests, and extreme temperatures. It also helps to maintain a more consistent soil temperature, which leads to better root growth and healthier plants.
To mulch baby corns, spread a layer of organic material (such as straw, grass clippings, leaves, or wood chips) around the plants. This should be done after the soil has been thoroughly worked and tilled.
Make sure the mulch is only a few inches thick, as too much can cause the plants to rot.
Pests and Diseases
Baby corns are susceptible to a number of diseases, including Common Rust, Downy Mildew, Leaf Blight, Charcoal Rot, Ear Rot, and Cercospora Leaf Spot, among others.
This can be controlled by treating the seeds with pest control or choosing the less prone varieties to such diseases.
Harvesting Baby Corns
Baby corn is harvested when the corn cobs are approximately one to two inches in length. The cobs should be picked before the silks turn brown and the kernels become hard.
Care should be taken to ensure that the ears are not damaged when picked. The ears can be cut from the stalk with a sharp knife or snipped off with scissors.
Check out our article 12 Crazy Clothes Hacks for the Garden here
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I Grow My Own Baby Corn? How Long Do Corn Plants Live?
Yes, you can grow your own baby corn! Baby corn is simply young ears of corn that are harvested before the kernels mature, typically when they are between 2-4 inches in length. Growing baby corn is similar to growing regular corn, but you will want to select varieties that produce smaller ears with shorter maturation times. With proper care and attention, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of fresh and delicious baby corn from your very own garden.
Corn plants typically have a lifespan of one growing season, which is typically around 90-100 days. During this time, the plant will grow from a seed to a mature plant that produces ears of corn. However, some varieties of corn can live longer if they are left in the ground after harvesting and can continue to produce new shoots and ears of corn.
2. What Soil for Baby Corn?
Baby corn requires well-draining soil that is rich in organic matter and nutrients. The ideal soil pH for baby corn is between 6.0 and 7.5, which is slightly acidic to neutral.
When selecting soil for your baby corn, look for a mix that contains compost, perlite, and peat moss. This will provide the necessary drainage and aeration while also retaining moisture and nutrients. Additionally, adding organic fertilizers such as compost or well-rotted manure can help enrich the soil and promote healthy growth.
Want to Make Organic Fertilizers from Kitchen Scraps? Click here
3. Why Is My Corn Plant Leaves Turning Yellow?
Yellowing leaves on a corn plant can be a sign of several issues, including nutrient deficiencies, diseases, or environmental stress. One of the most common reasons for yellowing leaves is a lack of nitrogen, which is essential for healthy corn growth. Other nutrient deficiencies such as phosphorus, potassium, or magnesium can also cause yellowing leaves.
On the other hand, diseases such as corn smut or gray leaf spot can also cause yellowing, as can environmental factors such as overwatering or underwatering, excessive heat or cold, or pest infestations. To determine the cause of yellowing leaves on your corn plant, examine the plant for other symptoms and consider the environmental conditions it has been exposed to. Once you have identified the problem, take appropriate steps to remedy it, such as providing additional nutrients, adjusting watering practices, or treating pests or diseases.
