How to Grow Corn Indoors

Last Updated: February 21, 2022 References

Ideally, corn should be grown outdoors in full sun during the summer, but if your space or conditions don't permit it or you'd like to try something different, try growing corn indoors. It's an unusual houseplant, and you just might get a meal or two out of your efforts.

Steps

1
Assemble the materials listed under "Things You'll Need".
2
Choose the sunniest place you have indoors. Aim for a sunroom, large window, preferably facing south or west, or under a large skylight.

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3
Supplement the light. Corn will generally take as much light as you can give it, so consider supplementing the light, especially if you're serious about getting corn out of this experiment. You may have to supplement the light if you don't have enough natural light. Try fluorescent bulbs.
4
Choose a large container. Try a washtub or something of a similar size.
- As with any houseplant, protect the surface underneath. Use a large plant saucer between the container and the floor.
5
Fill the container with soil. Use a rich potting mix with plenty of organic matter and nutrients. Optionally, add additional fertilizers according to package instructions.
6
Start from seed. Plant seeds one inch deep in the soil, 4–5 inches (10.2–12.7 cm) apart.
7
Water as necessary. Wait until the top of the soil dries out, and avoid watering so much that the roots are in standing water. Check for moisture before you water. Check at least weekly and remember that indoor containers will require less water than outdoor ones.
8
Thin to four or five plants per large container. Choose the strongest growers and pull the rest.
9
Help the pollination process. The best pollinator for corn is wind, and that's not available indoors. Instead, try gently shaking the plants as tassels start to appear. The tassels produce the pollen and the silk receives it. Each strand of silk corresponds to one kernel.^{[1]
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10
Harvest corn right when you plan to eat it. Corn is ready to harvest when a the juice from a kernel is milky, not clear. Other signs are brown silk but a green husk.^{[2]
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Research source} When you've determined that an ear is ready, snap it off the stalk with a twisting motion and cook it as soon as possible.

Community Q&A

Question

My corn plants are too big for my container. How do I transplant them to a larger container or outdoors?

Community Answer

You grab the plant by the stem, turn the container upside down, then gently hit the bottom of the container until the plant (with the roots) falls out. Then put the plant into a 12 inch hole and cover it with dirt.