Growing your own popcorn is very easy. It does take some soil, site preparation and a little planning. You can use almost any container that will hold soil. Old buckets, planters, or a barrel cut in half. Even bales of hay can be turned into a planter. Simply lay out a square to the size that you want and fill it full of your potting soil. This not only makes a productive planter, but it is unique and decorative as well.
You need to start out by finding a good source for popcorn seeds. Most home improvement stores, discount stores and hardware stores carry a variety of different seeds. Farm stores can be one of the best places for bulk seeds. You can order from one of the many seed suppliers on line also. I look for a good quality seed that produces well. Popcorn seeds come in many different colors and styles. You have your choice of just about any color you would like, as well as the different styles of corn such as mushroom or snowflake.
Once you have your seeds ordered, you need to start on soil preparation. All types of corn are heavy feeders. You need a good potting soil or some compost. I like to use both and mix it half and half . I also add a good 6-6-6 fertilizer in the soil mix. You can incorporate some leaves, grass clippings, horse or cow manure.
Find a nice spot that receives the most sunlight. This is a good place to start your garden. You can direct sow right into the ground or use your containers in that spot. Plant your seeds when the soil temperature is above 65 degrees or your seeds may not germinate. Plant the seeds about 8-10 inches apart. If you are using containers you want them that close so they will pollinate better. If they are planted too far apart, the pollen may not be able to pollinate the cobs very well.
After planting the seeds I like to cover them with a layer of rotten leaves or hay to keep the moisture in. Keep an eye on the moisture level of the soil. It should just be damp, but not full of water. Make sure any containers you use have sufficient holes in the bottom to allow for good drainage.
In a week to 10 days you will see the plants starting to sprout. Keep the moisture level as constant as you can. When the plants are 6-8 inches tall you can plant some beans next to them. This will allow the corn to use the nitrogen the beans put into the soil and the beans will grow up the stalks. This is a good way to use companion planting. It also lets you get more crop out of the same planting space.
When the corn starts reaching it maturity, it will send out tassels. These tassels are used to pollinate the cobs. It should take approximately 2 1/2 to 3 months depending on the variety of corn you are growing. You want to let the cobs remain on the stalk till the moisture levels drop. Let nature do it's job and when the stalks start to dry out it's time to check on the corn kernels. The easiest way to test them is by taking a few random kernels and seeing how long it takes them to pop.When the correct moisture level is achieved, the kernels will pop in a few minutes of being dropped into hot oil.
When you get to that level you need to pull all of the cobs from their stalks.Pick any beans as they ripen for another special treat. Now you need to remove the dried kernels from the cob. There are a couple of tools made for this, but I like to take a cob in my hands a twist back and forth until the kernels fall off. It's a good idea to have a large bowl underneath to catch the falling kernels. Pack the kernels into seal able plastic bags or into clean jars for storage. Keep them in a cool dark place until you use them.
When you are ready, fire up your favorite popcorn popper and enjoy a big bowl of home grown popcorn.
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