Growing Corn in Containers from Seed to Harvest

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Growing corn in containers allows you to enjoy the sweet flavor of homegrown corn in a smaller space. While you do need the right pot, soil, seeds, and technique to grow corn in pots, it’s not difficult to do. In this article, I’ll share everything you need to know, including how to hand-pollinate your corn plants to get fully developed ears from just a few plants.

Aside from saving space, growing corn in pots lets you harvest from unconventional spaces, including from a deck or patio and even from balconies. With the proper care, container growing this backyard crop can also reduce necessary pest control by allowing you to better observe your growing plants. Plus, cultivating corn in containers means you can completely control the soil and fertilization, along with managing the best time for planting, watering, and other maintenance tasks.

While technically you can grow any variety of sweet corn in containers— you can even grow flint corn (for decorations) and dent corn (for cornmeal) —that doesn’t mean you should. By choosing varieties of sweet corn that are slightly smaller in stature or that are bred specifically for container growing, you’ll give yourself an advantage. Most container varieties reach just 4 to 5 feet in height.

Hybrids for container sweet corn include ‘On Deck’ from Burpee Seeds, ‘Who Gets Kissed’ from Peaceful Valley Farm Supply, and ‘Casino’ from Renee’s Garden Seeds, which are among my personal favorites for their sweet flavor. I also like growing open-pollinated selections like ‘Dwarf Blue Jade’ from Hudson