Vegetable Program
Crops

Corn, Sweet  

Sweet corn is one of the major vegetables grown in New England, with over 16,000 acres grown in the region. Nearly all is sold fresh market. It is an extremely popular crop for roadside stand sales.

Current information on production methods (including varieties, spacing, seeding, and fertility), pest management (weeds, diseases, and insects) is available in the New England Vegetable Management Guide.

        Printable Version (Sweet Corn Section of 2008-2009 Vegetable Management Guide )

       New England Vegetable Management Guide website

Below you will find additional information on managing this crop.

Crop Profile and Pest Management Strategic Plan

New England Sweet Corn Crop Profile (document)

Northeastern Sweet Corn Pest Management Strategic Plan (link to Northeastern IPM Center)

Integrated Pest Management

• Using IPM in the Field: Sweet Corn Insect Management Field Scouting Guide
• IPM Guidelines for Sweet Corn
• Refer to list of individual pests, below.

Organic Sweet Corn: Production and Pest Management

• Production Practices for Organic Sweet Corn
• Fact Sheet on Organic Insect Management in Sweet Corn

• Powerpoint Presentation on Organic Sweet Corn Production
• Research Reports:
  • Implementing a Biointensive Strategy for Caterpillar in Sweet Corn ( SARE Final Report, 2003)
  • Using Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Products for European Corn Borer Control in Sweet Corn 1994-1996 On-Farm Trials: Final Report
  • Timing and Efficacy of Corn Oil and Bt as a Barrier to Corn Earworm
• Zea-later Oil Applicator

Insect Pests of Sweet Corn

• European Corn Borer

                            Bio-control: Trichogramma Use Guidelines for Fresh Market Sweet Corn

• Common Armyworm
• Fall Armyworm
• Corn Earworm
• Corn Flea Beetle
• Corn Leaf Aphid
• Cutworm Black
• Cutworm Variegated
• Seedcorn Maggot
• Wireworms
• Twospotted Spider Mite
• Japanese Beetle
• Stalk Borer
• SAP and Picnic Beetles

Diseases of Sweet corn

1. Corn Rust (Puccinia)
2. Corn Smut (Ustilago maydis)
3. Corn Stewart's Wilt (Erwinia)
4. Maize Dwarf Mosaic Virus (MDMV)

Other Topics

• Cutworms in Seedlings
• Growing Corn From Transplants
• Weed Control: What's New and Effective?

• Managing Wildlife Damage in Maturing Sweet Corn