I am totally aware that this post has nothing to do with Home Decor. But SERIOUSLY you guys are better than Google. So todays post is going to be a Q&A sesh about gardens. With me asking the questions.
This is part of our backyard:
Its not huge.
WHen you round the corner you see the garden area…
Which is huge, like 12×20.
I planted a garden 2 years ago and it was great, some things did not do so good and some were out of control (nothing like leaving on vacay for a few days and coming back to zucchini the size of logs…)
The first question that I have relates to watering. There are sprinklers that cover this entire area (because when we put them down we werent sure where the garden was going to be) Can I use those to water it? Or does it have to be a drip system or hand watering?
Question 2. When we had the garden 2 years ago I planted corn. It seemed like it was growing really really well and then when it came time to harvest all the ears were pretty much empty. Should I plant again and to see if they grow better this year?
Are the pants that you buy at a nursery better than ones that you would buy at like Home Depot or Lowes?
And last but not least, tell me all of your secrets. (of the garden variety thankyousomuch.)
I found this super great website this weekend that I spent HOURS on called Smart Gardener. It helps you plot out your garden and tells you lots of great info about growing stuff in your area. Do you guys have a site or book or info (other than the guys at Home Depot that you look to for info?)
Love Your Gardening Guts, Mandi
First, the irrigation is probably not going to be enough, and you won’t have the control needed for watering. Watering is like a science especially with Vegs. Over water is just as bad as under watering.
Corn-Sounds like you didn’t have enough of a crop to pollinate the other corn. You know the tassels at the top of corn? Well that has the pollen in it. Each time a little piece drops into the ear of corn, it make a kernel 🙂 So you want a large crop to pollinate…Or you can manually run your hand over the tassels to drop the pollen.
Always go to a local garden center! Their job is to sell plants! The plants at nurseries are typically not stressed which is what you want. At box stores they take somebody from electric or kitchen and throw them in the garden center for a couple months of the year 🙁 Not good for plants or customers who have questions like yourself!!
Another issue is rotating crops!!
A great source of info is You Bet Your Garden, host Mike McGrath, It’s a show on NPR and his website has a TON Of info on gardening…Best of all it’s allllll organic!
Good Luck and have fun
I’m gardening obsessed. Like, a lot. If I had to give only one piece of advice, it would be to add compost to your spot every year.
To answer the question about where to buy plants, big box stores are just fine. You’ll find more variety at a nursery, but for the standards, follow the best prices.
I’d LOVE for you to virtually check out my modest Oregon garden. And I’d gladly answer any questions you have!!!
https://rindymae.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Yard
Mandi,
I am so excited for your garden and I envy the large space you have for it.
I don’t have much in the way as advice as I am only a second year gardener myself, but the sprinklers should work wonderfully, as long as they reach the plants in the middle as well.
Last year I got a tomato plant from Lowes and one from a nursery…I also bought them very late in the season but the one from the nursery seemed to fair better.
This year I started all my plants from seed. I just love watching the little buggers sprout. If you get the itching to plant in february or March next year, I suggest you grow from seed too. it is really rewarding plus you get 15 or more plants for the price of one from the nursery !
Good luck with your garden and your green thumb. I hope you should garden updates as it grows !
Sarah
The Sunset Western Garden book will tell you everything you need to know about plants that will grow well in your area, watering needs, sun needs, etc… St. George is Zone 10. It’s the best resource I have.
Also, a nursery will have MUCH better plants and MUCH more knowledge than Home Depot or Lowes.
My secrets:
1) Start with good soil. Get composted soil or specialty soil to put around the roots when you plant.
2) Water in the cool of the day when it won’t evaporate. This means early morning for me.
3) Weed. They suck nutrients from your plants.
4) Only grow what you’ll eat or give away.
5) Grow what you’re good at growing. Each year you can add another plant to experiment with, but more than one experiment a year usually makes me feel like a failure and a money waster 🙂
6) Put down newspaper around the base of your plants and cover with rocks or dirt. The newspaper will keep the weeds away from your plant’s root area. And it will eventually compost.
7) Make sure your plants have enough sun. Lack of sun killed my tomatoes last year. (too much water will kill them too by making them crack)
Hope this novel I just wrote was helpful 🙂
Mandi–
I have been gardening for over 25 years, and I know a little–I say a little because I am always experimenting.
Amending your soil is CRITICAL! Each year, your soil is depleted further, especially if you grow the same thing year in and year out.I have three different compost bins, and I rotate using them. I amend the soil a season before i plant–so fall for spring and spring for fall. You don’t have time for that now, so I suggest you wait on the corn ’til next year. And you will have to hand pollinate, in part because of your walls which block the wind.
Kyinthegarden is right about buying plants at a garden center, if you are interested in a crop. Less-so for annuals of the floral variety. If it’s one (year) and done, buy the cheap flowers.
I don’t know where you’re located, but it looks kinda hot and sunny. Watering is really important–and it needs to soak into the root system of your plants. I use a soaker hose or multi-layering water (with a watering can, multiple times with a break in between) in the early morning (before 7am) and sometimes, if it’s been a brutally hot day, in the evening (7pm). I am in an area of the country that is really hot in the summer, and if we haven’t had rain during the day, my little plants suffer. Most of my perennials are okay with every other day, but the annuals need a lot of TLC.
Hope this helps!
Recently found your blog and now I’m hooked. Love your ecclectic style and DIY craftiness. Also loved your tips on a yard sale. I am having one soon and may need to “borrow” a few of your ideas.
As for gardening, it is very important to rotate crops especially tomatoes. Most of my plants are started from seed by my aunt. That is her winter therapy. Seems like those plants do the best. Full sun is also very important although I know you can’t control that. And in regards to where you buy your plants, I think your better off at a local nursery but if you do go to a big box store make sure the plants you buy look well taken care of and healthy. Good luck!!! I look forward to seeing pictures.
I don’t have any tips because I’m a garden newbie!!! We just built two planters and are using the side yard similar to your layout. Looking foraward to reading all the tips you get! I am planning on lots of tomatoes and squash and not sure what else:0)
Hi Mandi,
Love your blog! I have a small tract house in So Cal, so not a lot of room. But I try to make the best of it. Here is a project we did a few years ago in our side yard.
https://laurmelashouse.blogspot.com/2010/09/before-and-after.html
I just recently planted tomatoes, zuccini, eggplant and some radish and carrot seeds. Still looking for more crops to add. When we redid the side yard we added drip irrigation for the raised beds. When it is really hot, I will had water as well. Like the others I buy from the big box stores, but supplement with new and different plants I find at the local nursery as well. Good luck in your garden, I look forward to seeing your progress!
My hubby is the real gardener at our house, but we’re all dragged into it. Here are some of the things he does:
*He set up a drip system last year and it made a huge difference. He wasn’t out there for an hour every morning and it was pretty cheap to put in. I’m thinking it came in around $50 maybe?
*We’ve tried plants from the local nursery and from Home Depot and I don’t think there has been much of a difference. We do tend to favor the plants at Home Depot, probably just because we’re always there anyway.
*Last year my hubby bought this plant starter tray that has 35 spots for plants. About 6 weeks before he wanted to plant, he bought a bunch of seeds and started them all inside. It was so much cheaper than buying all starter plants and they all grew just fine. The only thing is that tomatoes need a LOT of bright light when they’re tiny, so this year he got a grow lamp and they have done really well. I imagine there’s still time to start your own plants this year if you wanted to, but it’s definitely a thought for next year at least.
Good luck with your gardening!If you have any questions about the drip system, let me know. 🙂
Well, I’m no expert, but I’ve been gardening here in So. UT for a few years now, so I can share a little. Sprinklers could work, but will allow for more weed growth and water waste. Some plants require different watering, so it depends on what you grow (ie, tomoatoes do best with less frequent but deeper watering). It would be better to do drip or hand if you have the time…pvc pipe with hose hook-ups is what we’ve done, you just drill holes by where the plants are and create rows that way. go to the county extention website for growing charts, go to their office on about 100 E. and 130N.-ish (by the old dmv office) and they can test your soil for nutrient levels and give recommendations. Replenish your soil every year, fall is a good time to dump compost on it and you can sometimes get that from the dump if you don’t do your own…or just some good manure and grass clippings worked into the soil is sufficient usually…although manure creates grass growth sometimes. Rotate where you plant your tomatoes because they draw alot of nutrients from the soil…also, if they get too much sun they can rot, so you can do sun covers for them in the real heat of summer. Go to Sandia nursery for your plants…they are local grown and adjust to transplanting better i think..it’s out in Washington Fields….they are super friendly and have good info. too. It’s the only place to get 4th of July tomoatoes and they do great here and are a plentiful tomato that’s medium sized. Also, you have to watch for blite on tomatoes in this area…use a Neem oil and Dawn soap mixuture and it should keep it away. Corn, unless you grown a bunch, doesn’t do that well because of pollination. Also, some of the nurseries in town do gardening classes that are helpful for tips for our area when you can go to them, I know Sandia does them. If you put wet newpaper in your soil around your plants when you plant them it helps with weed control and provides worm food…worms are really great for the garden. Grass clippings around the base of your plants helps keep the soil moist in the summer longer and also provides nitrogen. I like the book “The Square Foot Gardner” for planting tips that make your space efficient. Good soil makes the world of difference, but takes some time in this area….but it’s worth the effort and time to create. Eggplants have always done well for me too. Peas and cucumbers you have to plant by the middle of march or forget it. We also have the advantage of being able to plant a fall garden in this area, starting about the end of July. When a tomatoe plant gets blite it starts to yellow about the time it starts producing and you have to pull the plant before it gets to the other ones…just be sure to watch because sometimes the plants yellow from lack of nitrogen, but after a couple days you can tell the plant is dying and pull it. Also, watch for tomatoe worms…the lil buggers are naughty around here. Chard and kholrabi do well, spinach does too if you can keep the bugs out, same with squash. Melons and cucumbers require frequent watering. Water at night or early morning. ok, I’ve got vomit mouth here, so I’ll stop 😉
Corn has to be planted really close together because, like the first poster said, it pollinates by dropping pollen from the tassles at the top down into the corn where the ears grow. If your corn is too far apart, not enough pollen falls where it needs to. You can’t plant it in a long row either – it needs to be bunched up together. I usually put maybe 20-25 stalks in a square shaped grid, planting them maybe 8-10″ apart. It seems cramped, but trust me, the corn likes it that way, LOL!
Ditto the other gardeners. Work your soil, and if possible, stick to local nurseries rather than big box stores. I’m sure there is an expert in your ward who you can talk with. Gardeners love to help each other out. I have a friend that I call my very own “Garden Guru” in mine. She knows it all!
Plant your corn in a block instead of a row, you’ll get better pollination, also change the spot it is planted every year. Invest in a rain barrell! It’ll save you $ and rainwater is better for your plants than treated water. Planting potatoes is a great benefit for your soil, but don’t plant tomatoes and potatoes close together. Compost, compost, compost!
Oh – how exciting… a fresh clean canvas. I, unfortunately, have no green thumb… more like a brown arm. But I can’t wait to see the finished project. Don’t you just love Blogland… so much helpful advice at the tip of your fingers! Good Luck. Thanks for sharing and enjoy the rest of your day. Jalon
I didn’t know they sold PANTS at Home Depot so I can’t really share my thoughts on that. 😉 JK! I am no gardener. I base my choices of the plants that I buy on whether the bloom is pretty and the right color. That’s pretty much my only criteria other than price. I like to buy shrubs at the end of the season, get ’em dirt cheap (pun intended) and put them in the ground before everything freezes. Which for us in Canada is about 12 minutes. Actually, we have longer than that but our season to enjoy gardening is SOOOO much shorter. My solution is to enlist the help of a friend who used to have her own landscape business and do whatever she tells me. I’m really of no use to you but will look forward to reading your posts about gardening as I’m about as green as they come, my thumbs however, are not. Cheers!
we use those black drip hoses that you can get at costco or anywhere. we get fewer weeds by watering that way. our experience with planting corn was ok. but the past couple of year when a big windstorm came up our plants all blew over. so if you can get good corn close by then i would plant other things. good luck. i love watching the garden grow. great therapy for us!
Fun stuff! I would love to garden; however, I was not gifted with a green thumb like my hubs is. Therefore, the only point I will chime in on is the watering. Although your sprinklers may work fine, we set up a drip system for most of our garden and flowers. In one spot of our front yard we have flowers that are still on the sprinkler system; after awhile the plants are tall enough that they get a really direct hit from the sprinkler and its not uncommon for the water pressure to tip the plants over. Not good. That might just be the pressure on our own irrigation system, but I would say go for the drip system anyway. Have fun!
Fun stuff! I would love to garden; however, I was not gifted with a green thumb like my hubs is. Therefore, the only point I will chime in on is the watering. Although your sprinklers may work fine, we set up a drip system for most of our garden and flowers. In one spot of our front yard we have flowers that are still on the sprinkler system; after awhile the plants are tall enough that they get a really direct hit from the sprinkler and its not uncommon for the water pressure to tip the plants over. Not good. That might just be the pressure on our own irrigation system, but I would say go for the drip system anyway. Have fun!
I live in Santa Clara so I can relate to your unique desert needs:) We’re still trying to figure it out too, but my father in law is an expert. I don’t know about the sprinklers. We have bubblers which water our garden in furrows. About the corn. My FIL told us to plan them in several short rows next to eachother to kind of make a square so that polination is easier. He also recommends squirting a tiny bit of mineral oil onto the silky stuff when they first form. Apparently that keeps the worms away.
We grow almost everything from seed except tomatoes and peppers. And we are trying some tomatoes called Solar Ice or something like that which were bred by a teacher at Snow Canyon High for our climate. Some neighbors bought them last year and said they produced all summer long. You buy those at Lin’s on Sunset. Hope this helps:) We’re still learning!
I use the sprinklers to water my garden here in St. George and have had no problems with over or under watering.
Growing corn here is very difficult because of the heat and I know many experienced gardeners that aren’t able to get a decent ear to grow. However, there are a few people that somehow are able to manage it.
I like to go to dixiegardener.org for information specific to our area. It is the website for the local extension office. They have a link called garden tasks that has lists of spring and fall calendars that show when the best times are to plant certain vegetables here. They also offer classes and have information on growing fruit, trees,etc.
I usually get my plants at a local nursery. The best tomatoes I have ever grown were from Ballard’s nursery in Hurricane. I have bought plants from Star Nursery and The Backyard Gardens and Gifts also (the employees at the Backyard are super helpful). The Home Depot on my side of town didn’t have much of a veggie selection last week.
Hope this helps!
Mandy- I am a landscape architect AND I’m in Utah AND I work for a botanical garden AND ‘ll be teaching at SNAP! so we need to chat! I have stuff to pick YOUR brain about so perhaps we can swap information!??
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I’ve been vegetable gardening in Phoenix lately and I love it! I’ve grown tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, radishes, cucumbers, artichokes, basil, oregano, and cilantro. Most from seed. I think you would do better with a drip system because a sprinkler, which waters overhead, can help breed fungus and bacteria on the plants. And preferably water in the morning instead of evening or night for the same reason, especially if you have any humidity in the summer, avoid overhead watering or you have a good chance of getting all kinds of diseases. I have rabbit problems and quail problems. Hopefully you will be pest free!
Good luck!
Sometimes, if you spray water onto a plant (like tomatoes), it can promote skin split. We use a combo of spraying in certain parts of our garden and drip hose, but the drip goes everywhere. Put down newspapers around and between plants to discourage weeds. As far as the plants issue goes, we buy our plants at the nursery only because our nursery has a rewards card. Score!
I love big garden projects! I’m in the middle of one myself, a Retirement Garden for my parents (i.e. relandscaping their entire house). I have a little more experience with vegetables than flowers, and one thing I have learned is that just because a plant doesn’t work one year does not mean it won’t work the next. Different plants growing add all kinds of nutrients to the soil from one year to the next and new varieties can flourish.
With corn, make sure they are planted several rows deep to allow for wind pollination. Good vegetables to plant with corn (they help each other out in the garden) are bush beans, beets, cabbage, cantaloupe, cucumber, parsley, peas, pumpkins and squash.
You look like you have a great blank slate to work with there. I’m really jealous – I’m working with years of neglected perennials and grasses gone wild, clay, rotten giant tree roots…oy. Good luck on your gardening adventures!
I’m not a gardener, but I absolutely love your blog and hope you find the answers you’re looking for. I wanted someone to be funny and comment on where they buy their “pants” instead of their plants. I got a good little chuckle out of that. ;] Good luck and can’t wait to hear about your amazing garden!! :]
and the let me introduce you to “sevin” the spray pesticide that saved my dinky tomatoes last year because my soil sucked. you do have to follow certain rules, like waiting a certain amount of time before you pick your produce and washing it a certain way.
as for corn, the ear wigs got all of my corn, with the exception of one ear the only ear i ventured out and planted corn, but a friend of mine suggested that you plant your corn a week apart so you will always have fresh crop instead of a crapload of corn all in the same week period of time.
i also learned why earwigs are called EAR wigs, that summer. stinking earwigs eating all my corn…
good luck!!!
I don’t know a darn thing about growing anything, but I do know where to find info on the internet!! Check out gardenweb forums for help with just about anything. They have a huge garden site and an equally impressive home improvement site. It was a lifesaver when I recently remodeled/built from scratch a new kitchen. Good Luck and may your thumb be greener than mine!!
giddingslane.blogspot.com
I am definitely not a gardener but my husband sure is- just planted 224 onions the other day and Good Friday is coming up so he’ll be planting his potatoes- 3o some hills. We live in MN so it might be a bit different where you are but he buys all his seeds- radish, beans, cucumbers, squash, corn, pumpkins, watermelon, zucchini from a catalog called Gurney’s. They have some really good coupons too if you sign up for their emails. He is like a kid in a candy store when the seeds come in the mail!! His other plants like tomatoes, pepppers he buys from a local grower. I know rotating is a big thing for him. Good luck with the garden- you’ll love the fresh veggies this fall.
I am just a gardner wanna be so having said that I am going to tell you what works for me. Mix some compost like horse manure or cow. I use composted horse manure because we have horses. Add some bat guano and worm casings. You can find all this at your local garden store. Work this mixture into the dirt with a tiller. I also suggest using soaker hoses.
Just learning this gardening thing myself…. but I found great site off of Pinterest. Go to http://www.SproutRobot.com! You put in your zip code and it tells you what to plant when for your area! Greatness!
I recommend reading The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch. It should be available at your local library – or Amazon of course https://www.amazon.com/The-Garden-Primer-Second-Edition/dp/0761122753.
Two suggestions. Build raised beds. Far less water needed and far less weeding.
Buy heritage seeds and plants, stay away from the modified if possible.
Mandi Im about a 6 year vegetable gardener but I was born with a green thumb. I have not grown corn yet because it takes alot of space and is cheap to buy even organic. I plant what we eat the most and what cost more to buy organic. Herbs are expensive fresh and easy to grow. You can add planters around for that, strawberries too! Keep growing what you know works then add 2 or 3 new things a year and Compost!! Start a pile now for next year! And find a locally written gardening book at the library and join a gardening club. Older people are wise for a reason! Have FUN! Anna
There is a lot of good advice here. I just want to agree with a couple of things and add my 2 cents.
1. Buy from local nurseries not box stores.
2. Add compost to your soil.
3. from personal experience having sprinklers one year then going to a drip system…if you can swing it go with a drip system! Seriously. It helps a heap with fewer weeds, less rot, and all kinds of other problems you can run into with sprinkler watering.
4. check which direction the sun comes from and plant short to tall according to how the shadows will fall so you don’t have taller plants blocking sun from shorter plants.
5. Enjoy! It is so gratifying eating food from your own garden!
Raised boxes, with soaker hoses. You’ll have the best control over what’s IN your soil as far as nutrients, which is important since you’ll be EATING what’s in your soil. We love the square foot gardening method.
Apartment Therapy has LOTS of info on gardening, like crazy DIY and water efficient stuff.
Your house such personality! So I was shocked at how boring your yard is! I can totally see you painting that brick wall a bright colour and DIYing something to create privacy between you the neighbours (Like a vertical garden where that low retaining wall is in your soon-to-be garden). Bringing out a cool table and chairs (not wicker or metal, but something Wonderland elegant) and eating dinner with the family out there. I lack a yard right now so I have soooo many ideas and you have a yard so I am very very jealous!!
I like to plant extra because I will can them. Especially tomatoes. Even green tomatoes. Before the first frost I picked all the green ones and used them like tomatillos and made chile verde and canned it. Very good and not hard!
A friend once gave me the best advice, $10.00 hole for a $5.00 plant.
second where are you located? that makes a big difference
I agree with the above comments. Go to your county extension office, they have OODLES of info to share with you and all you have to do is pay a few cents for copies. A lot of times they even have classes you can go to and learn awesome info for your area. (And, yeppers, corn won’t do well unless it is planted in a big huge block so it can pollinate…so unless you have a gigantic spot, I’d stick with buying corn at the road stands!) Go to your extension office. Seriously woman!
The comments on amending the soil and consulting with your local extension office are spot on. The extension office should have a Master Gardener Program that has a hotline you can call and they can research your questions using articles published by the land grant university that they work with. They may also have a website with all the published articles. They should also provide access for soil testing and workshops as mentioned above. This is your tax dollars at work as well as getting tailored info for your area. Look them up on your county government website. Good luck!
https://mysquarefootgarden.net/
check out Garden Web, a website that has sections for each area of the country and lots of good info on pests, watering and plants. nice, helpful people
The sprinklers may work; however, you’ll run into problems should a plant grow to a size to block the spray from reaching other plants. You’d be better off with a drip system. http://www.dripirrigation.com They have retrofit kits, so there’s no digging. You just attach the lines to your existing sprinklers and cap the sprinklers you don’t need to use.
With the corn, I’m a little less so, but I can remember my aunt in Eastern Washington hand polinating her corn. She would take the males (whatever they are) and brush them on the female flower (whatever that is). I asked why, and she said if you don’t and let nature try and do it, you’ll get corn without any corn! Sounds like what you got.
I lied. I was at Lin’s last night and the tomatoes are called Phoenix.
I love to garden. Often show my attempts on my blog. I just got divorced and moved out of state. So I’m starting from scratch. It is my serenity, digging in the dirt.
Brenda
Hi Mandy,
Buy a mix of mulch and manure from the place that delivers it in a truck, 4 yards should do. Mix that in with a shovel or whatever, huge difference in output with a good start. Get PCV pipe and drill holes evey 10″ or so, get elbows, make them go down the rows and link to a hose. You will get an even watering to each plant and no waste. Nursery plants are better generally but I do ok with home depot too. Corn attracts birds that eat EVERYTHING. I don’t plant it. Use Miracle Grow, it works! Deep watering is better than sprinkling, sprinkling makes a crust on the ground. Hope it helps. Love your style, YOU ARE AWESOME!!!
There is a nursery out in the Washington Fields called Sandia Farms that is a good place to get plants. Drive past Staheli Farm to the south til you see a big huge greenhouse. Their prices seem really good and they are knowledgeable. I can’t say for sure that our plants from there have done better than our big box ones but I would think that since they started their little plant lives in the desert they might do better here than ones that were shipped from somewhere else.
My other advice is to just keep trying! It’s taken us a few years of trial and error to see what grows well in different areas of our yard and we are still always learning. Good luck!
I love my little garden and have always done really well so here’s my 2 cents.
1. Ditch the sprinklers they’ll do more damage than good.
2. Box store plants can be good too, it’s really just good soil, plenty of water and sun.
3. For your Tomatoes, get some 4″ or 6″ plastic plumbing pipe with the holes in it and cut it in pieces a foot long. Dig a hole about 10″ at the base of your plant and shove this pipe in the hole and push the dirt back around it. Then water your tomatoes by filling up the pipes. It gets water deep into the roots and your tomatoes will thank in ways that will make you blush.
4. Definitely read The Square Foot Gardener” Super helpful for beginners!
5. SKIP THE MIRACLE GROW!
6. Get horse or chicken poop from someone and put it in an old pillowcase and throw it in a trash can filled with water. After a couple of days you have “manure tea” gentle enough to water your plants with but filled with enough good stuff to make your plants sing.
7.Mulch
8.Mulch
9.Mulch preferably with cocoa shells. In the summer heat the smell of chocolate will come drifting in through your windows and it smells delicious!!
10. Plant marigolds around your tomatoes to keep bugs out.
11. wrap your borders with copper tape (sold at K-Mart and most nursery’s) to keep slugs out
12. And most important of all….put a small table and a couple of chairs in or near the garden so you and the man can sip some wine look at your pretty garden.
Best information on gardening for your area is available, pretty much free, from your local county extension office. Good luck. Gardening is good for the soul and good for your health. My 87 y.o. grandmother is still gardening.
I’m not a gardener, but I’m taking a little gardening class (in southeast Idaho) and the teachers mentioned this corn issue a few weeks ago. On commercial fertilizer, there is a code on the front that tells you how much nitrogen, phosphate, and potash, etc the fertilizer contains. The first number is the nitrogen and the second is the phosphate. They said that the phosphate (2nd #) needs to be higher than the nitrogen (1st #) or else you’ll grow really tall corn with no ears. I know we are in different growing zones, but I imagine this rule still applies.
I grew up on a farm. We grew corn and beans. Like the other ladies said your kernals did not get pollenated. Every kernal of corn has it’s own silk coming out of the top of the husk. And each silk has to be pollenated to make it’s kernal grow. I’d say just keep trying differnt veggies till you find some that grow good for your soil type and climet. Try a zuccini or summer squarch if you like them plant from seed one are to hills they always grow good for me.
maybe I’m to late but I too live in st. George and we have been gardening here for about 20 years…corn is next to impossible to grow. Sure you get beautiful stalks but never good eats:-) its just to darn hot! All the plants energy is put into the plant itself! Pine Valley is a great place for corn. Drip system all the way. It helps with weed control too. The turkey farms have great manure to mulch into your dirt:-) oh and a for sure is Sandia nursery past Washington Fields…best information along with the plants! Good luck!