The local method of planting corn in stations really saves some prep time.
Instead of tilling an area, you just take a string trimmer (or scythe or whatever may be your weed-clearing weapon of choice) and scalp the ground right down to the dirt.
Then knock loose holes in the ground about 2.5 feet apart and plant 4 kernels in each hole.
Feed with manure or chemical fertilizer.
In a few weeks, the corn will grow taller but the weeds you knocked down will also return. Come back with your string trimmer and knock all the space between the corn back to bare earth.
In a few more weeks, the corn will be tall enough to take care of itself and shade out the weeds. Eventually, you harvest the ears, then turn the ground over to growing something else.
It’s really an easy system. I just planted another patch this way as you can see in yesterday’s video. Thanks to Cheryl in Oklahoma for the seeds!
This method of planting corn can also be used in a pigeon pea/corn intercrop system like I wrote about here.
As I remark in the video, I’d really love to try this in a typical lawn back in Florida. Imagine doing this in the midst of an expanse of St. Augustine!
What great fun.
5 responses to “Planting Corn in Stations, Right in the Grass!”
Forget the St Augustine grass … will this work when the dominant grass is that evil rope grass? Or am I still stuck with digging that (*stuff*) out by hand?
I bet it would – just scalp the living daylights out of the grass right before planting, then again in a couple of weeks. Some of the weeds here are horrid too.
I am going to try it in my S FL backyard. We don’t have much sand, but more marl and builder’s deposits. So I will have to do something about that, but I’m gonna go for it. I think it will take a shovel rather than a string trimmer on my St. Augustine.
In Florida I have tried something similar and have noticed that doing it at the right time of year is important. Jute spinach, pigeon pea, roselle, false roselle, and cow pea easily out compete grass for growth in late Spring early summer for growth. The peas really benefit from the addition of mulch to the area though. For tougher grass you might want to cover dirt with card board and mulch. I have torpedo grass here nothings stops it. I just grow right in it and out compete it with plants. I find it actually makes good soil.
I have not really tried to grow corn here since I prefer to broadcast seeds that I know will grow in the mulch while I am away from the farm. David if you have any recommendations of hardy varieties that will grow in my 9b-10a area I will gladly give them a try. Either for food for the family or the chickens and other animals. Was also wondering if rice would work here. Have not read any good info on it.
Great read and vid David. Question…how far apart is the corn spaced in each station? Thanks for the info….