How to Prepare Your Seedbed Before Planting Corn

The goal of preparing your seedbed for corn growth is to develop a firm bed with minimum moisture loss or wind erosion. With some practice and patience, you can achieve this over time as you become a better farmer. Corn germination depends on the temperature of the soil. In an ideal environment, the soil should reach between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit during early May.

You can apply nitrogen fertilizers by broadcasting the ammonium nitrate on the surface and relying on the rain to work the fertilizer into the ground.

●Ideal Dates for Seeding

Ideally, you should seed the corn between May 1 and May 15. If you plant the seed earlier, you may run into problems with morning frost. If you seed the corn later than May 15, you may get a smaller yield. You should also consider the same for silage. If you plant the silage early, you will get the best results with higher quality silage.

●Depth

You should plant corn in warm, moist soil with enough coverage to protect it against birds, mice, and some insects. The recommended depth is 1.5 to 2 inches into the ground. If you plant the corn too shallow, warm daytime temperatures could dry out the surface. If you plant the corn below three inches, the seeds will be exposed to cool soil temperatures. This can lead to seed rot.

●Rate

There are several factors that determine the seed rate, such as soil type, fertility, drainage, planting dates, location, and the reason why you are planting the corn. When looking at rates, you should look for 1,000 kernels/acre. However, the plant stand count is more accurate for optimal growth. Ideally, you want to plant 24,000 to 26,000 corn stalks per acre.

●Row Width

Average row widths range from 30 to 36 inches. The main consideration when establishing your row width is the type of equipment you will be using to nurture and harvest the corn. You must be able to get through the rows.

●Seed Treatment

Growers should only purchase and use high-quality seed corn to get optimum yields. Being picky about your corn seed also keeps the agricultural standards high across the industry. It also ensures that the corn is edible and delicious. You should encounter few problems with vigor and germination corn levels.

Contact Elk Mound Seed Company

If you are looking for seed products for your garden, landscape, or plot, contact Elk Mound Seed today. We offer a wide selection of seed products for farms and properties across the Midwest. To learn more about our products or to order your seeds, you can browse our website and order online.

You can also contact us at 800-401-7333, or you can message us at sales@Elkmoundseed.com.