Need Advice- Is it worth it to grow corn at home?

[MsMarieH]

I'll echo what the others have said. I've considered growing it, but it takes up a fair amount of space and resources and I decided it wasn't worth it for me. I live in the middle of corn fields and can easily get it here fresh off the farm quite cheap (like $2-3/dozen) so it's really not worth it for me.

It is wind pollinated and you need to plant a fairly good sized block to get decent pollination. One long row would not do as well as four short rows right next to each other.

16 x16 is not very large. I have the exact same size garden, so I know! Cukes, tomatoes, zucchini, and cantaloupe can all be quite large plants that take up a decent amount of room, though that is reduced substantially with trellising.

[frugalfranny]

It's your garden - grow what YOU want. If it fails, find out why and try again next year.

Totally agree..........and you have to try different things, so go for it.........one year of planting and care should tell you if it is for you.

I don't do root veggies as my ground is too rocky and I don't want to mess with raised beds. Don't do broc. as it bolts too easy if we get a warm June......but I tried it 3 diff. times. But I do lettuce as I don't like the $ in the stores......and take my chance on the 'going to seed' sun.

I try to grow the things that: 1. are too expensive in the stores(lettuce, tomatoes, winter squash, strawberries, asparagus) or..
2. I don't like the taste of the store bought items or want some unusual kind that I can't find. (tomatoes, cukes)

[lparker]

A 16x16 garden isn't very big once you figure in the pathways. If you want to experiment, just plant a half dozen seeds in a circle in the middle of a north section of the garden and interplant with the melons. Plant some radishes and lettuce or whatever short season plant in the circumference.

[Keildra]

I used to grow corn when I lived with my dad but we had more of a 30x30 area so we always had at least 3 rows I don't remember ever having bug problems I just remember that sometimes we would wait to long to harvest it.

[checkerkitty]

I'm going to give the corn a try. I bought a pack of seeds for a super sweet variety that tops out at 6 feet. We'll see what happens. Thanks for all the input!