I grew corn this year and it was not sweet at all... kind of tough and starchy. Why? I live in Western Orego
Answers:
well they can only be two answers and you mentioned one of them and that is leaving it on too long and over maturing the other is in what varieties you planted if they happened to be a variety of field corn you won't have the sweetness this is what it sounds like you have as field corn is a tough starchy corn as far as the watering don't think that would have alot of effect on sweetness or being starchy not enough water usually mean stunted growth and smaller stalks and ears.you said you planted 3 varieties even if one of them was a field corn it would cross pollinate the other two and make them tougher
Other answers:
Hi You might want to try adding epsom salts to your ground next year. sometimes that will sweeten your veggies.
Hi You might want to try adding epsom salts to your ground next year. sometimes that will sweeten your veggies.
More than likely you left the ears on the stalks too long. I grew "peaches and cream" this year which is a bicolored corn, it was sweet as sugar.
it may not have had enough water or there may be weeds near by. If there are weeds close by then the weeds will rob the nutrients from your corn.
The soil, not enough nitrogen. You have options;
1) plant potatoes in the area next year, followed by corn the following year.
2) plant the corn and beans together letting the beans (or peas, or both) grow up the stalks.
3) use a commercial nitrogen, fish fertilizer is the best
4) put seaweed in your compost or right into the soil where you plan to grow the corn over the winter.
Beans and peas enrich the soil with nitrogen and potatoes (Yukon Gold variety resists all sorts of blights and insects but expensive) neutralize acid soil.
Are you growing your corn near evergreens, or where evergreens once were? These plants need a more acidy soil.
either it was field corn or they crossed pollinated
very likely left on the stalk to long. use lots of mulch when the plants are knee high and always plant just one kind of corn or it will cross polinate(don,t let anyone tell you it doesn,t matter it does) also when your corn starts to tassel out, take a eyedropper and some mineral oil and squirt some in the tassel end of each ear.that will stop corn boers from eating into your corn the best variety of corn is called candycorn. try it you will like it. we do!! good luck