The rules of growing corn don’t change; fertilize according to soil test and deal with weeds the way you normally deal with weeds with hybrid corn. If you spray any of our corn with RoundUp it will die. All our seed is open pollinated. None of them are a GMO.
We want to give you the information you need to achieve the best results possible with our corn. If you are successful, we are too. Plant population is an important element to a successful crop. The following is our recommendation for your planter setting. First, establish your Target Harvest Population. We recommend for these O.P. varieties a harvest plant population of 18,000 – 24,000, depending on soil fertility and environmental stress. The lower your soil fertility and the more stress your crop will endure the lower your Target Harvest Population. We have some veteran growers pushing into the high twenties and thirty thousand numbers, but we are more comfortable with the more conservative approach. We don’t see the nutrition or yield advantages at those high populations. The less stress on a crop the better yield and nutrition.
Your Target Harvest Population divided by the % Germ (printed on the bag) equals Live Kernels (Always change the % to a decimal. Example: 82% = 0.82) At Green Haven we don’t use any fungicides or chemicals to treat our seed in order to improve germ test results. Therefore % germ can vary especially in a cold wet year. By not using the crutch of the chemicals fungicides, we have stronger genetics. By natural selection, only the hardier seed is allowed to propagate. To determine planter setting, take Live Kernels and divide by a % stress factor. To determine stress factor, consider soil temperature, seed bed preparation, moisture, heat, weed pressure, method of weed control, seed depth, or any other factor that would keep a live kernel from making it to harvest. If you anticipate 10% of the Live Kernels will never make it to harvest, you would use a 90% stress factor and therefore divide by 0.90.
STEP 1: Harvest Population / % Germ (printed on bag) = Live Kernels
STEP 2: Live Kernels / % Stress = Planter Setting
Number of Kernels to Be Dropped in 50’ of Test Row To Arrive at Planter Setting
| Row Width | 18,400 | 20,700 | 23,000 | 25,300 | 27,600 | 29,900 | 32,200 | 34,500 | 36,800 |
| 30" | 50 | 60 | 66 | 72 | 89 | 86 | 92 | 99 | 106 |
| 32" | 57 | 64 | 70 | 77 | 85 | 92 | 99 | 106 | 113 |
| 34" | 60 | 68 | 75 | 83 | 90 | 98 | 105 | 113 | 120 |
| 36" | 64 | 72 | 79 | 87 | 95 | 104 | 110 | 118 | 127 |
| 38" | 67 | 74 | 84 | 92 | 101 | 109 | 117 | 125 | 133 |
| 40" | 70 | 80 | 89 | 97 | 106 | 115 | 123 | 132 | 140 |
Count how many seeds drops in 10 feet when operating planter at planting speed on a hard surface where seeds won’t cover.
Using the above chart, it can be determined that the planter is dropping approximately 32,200+ kernels.
Calculation Examples
EXAMPLE 1
STEP 1:
STEP 2:
EXAMPLE 2
STEP 1:
STEP 2:
STEP 1: Target Harvest Population / % Germ = Live Kernels
STEP 2: Live Kernels / % Stress = Planter Setting
REMEMBER: Always change the % to decimal Example: 82% = 0.82
Prepare a good seed bed and set seed firmers on planter to provide good soil to seed contact. Good seed bed preparation and proper planter operation will better uniform emergence. More uniform emergence will later provide better pollination that will result in higher yields.
When considering planting date. In short season areas plant early enough to take advantage of all the solar power you can while considering soil temperature.
Generally, the higher the soil temperature (with proper soil moisture) the quicker corn germinates and comes up. Ideally, corn should be planted at soil temperatures close to 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Planting depth should be varied according to expected weather and present soil conditions:
Deal with weeds early when they are small. Get them before they do any more damage. It is curious how life lessons appear when we watch His creation at work.
