Should sweet corn be grown in the same spot yearly?

[NoSnooz]

I'm just wondering if you can grow sweet corn in the same area of the garden every year or should it be rotated with something else every year?

[Bill Hudson]

Rotate, rotate, rotate. Rotation is essential to minimize soil borne diseases and insects. You can grow corn in the same spot year-after-year, however, you will pay a heavy penalty in yield and quality reductions.

Bill

[dirtyred]

listen to bill. corn likes nitrogen so we rotate to a legume just my .02

[johnny j]

I have planted silver queen in the same spot for 35 years

I broad cast lime,kale and turnips in the fall.And broadcast 10-10-10 in the spring. At 12'' I side dress with 10-10-10
and 18'' I spray

[ricky racer]

listen to bill. corn likes nitrogen so we rotate to a legume just my .02

Ditto. Corn depletes nitrogen in the soil and legumes will put needed nitrogen back into the soil. A big truck farmer near here who grows about 40 acres of sweet corn each year ( I worked there as a kid ) plants sweet corn in the same place every year but after harvest plants winter wheat or rye every year which he plows under each spring prior to planting the sweet corn. The wheat / rye puts the needed nitrogen back into the soil.

[SONNY]

I rotate every year to try and keep the bugs and other insects guessing as to where it is planted!---keeps other varmints guessing too! thanks; sonny

[Boss Hog]

It depends a lot on the land. I have had corn in the same field for 4 years, but it was well rested land. It have not been plowed under for 10 or 15 years, with clover on it. I also use 10-10-10 when I plant and then 31-0-0 at 8 inches and again when I side it up. I always make good corn. Corn need quit a bit of N
boss

[Bill Hudson]

Rotate, rotate, rotate. Rotation is essential to minimize soil borne diseases and insects. You can grow corn in the same spot year-after-year, however, you will pay a heavy penalty in yield and quality reductions.

Bill

Some have suggested that you can grow corn after corn, for years, without any problems. Trust me on this one, when it comes time to pay the yield and quality penalty, you will not like it. The problems will sneak up on you slowly, without notice, and then, when conditions are right - BOOM! "Where the did this come from?" I've been on the phone with many folks asking questions about why the yield/quality/insect/disease problem happened. If you follow year-after-year with the same annual crop in the same location, it is not a matter of if but when.

Just my thoughts, worth what you paid for them.

Bill

[johnny j]

Like I said 35 years same spot and I have not seen any change.

Maybe if I change my spot it would be better.

[Don McCombs]

Johnny J, you have a PM.

[DirtDoc]

Gotta agree with Bill on this one. Rotating is the "best" method. Putting a cover crop down of a Non grass species will help break the cycle up. Rye and wheat cover crop won't put Nitrogen in the ground,,,but it does utilize any left over N and that becomes available when plowed under the following year. Legumes will put N in the soil, but the bigger benefit is that the root system and organic matter loosens the soil tremendously. If you want really flavorful veggies, build up the humus(organic matter) in your garden. It is a slow process, no miracle cures out there...but well worth it..Good luck Greg

[DanR]

My family farmed corn in Nebraska for decades. Same place every year. The main concern other than weather was always the cost of fertilizer and insecticide, and the available water. They used anhydrous ammonia and pivot irrigation. Sure the price of farming went up and the water table went down. They did make a fairly good living but paid the price over the years. In the end the land was just plain worn out and the wells went almost dry. Today fortunately we are much more knowledgeable than in years past. A profitable farmer today probably has a degree in Ag. You can grow your garden the old fashion way or learn more about the newer methods. The choice is yours.