Curled, Dry Corn Leaves

Question

I live in the sierra foothills and I’m experiencing some problems with my corn plants. They started out great but for the last 2 weeks, I’ve noticed the top leaves are drying out and curling. Almost seems like they are not getting enough water. Do I water several times a day, keeping the soil wet, or is there another underlying issue?

Answer 1

They may not be getting enough water. Corn has very shallow roots and needs lots of water during its active growth, especially in high temps. Typically, the garden needs about an inch or so of water each week. It is a good idea to water deeply (for about 20 min. or so) every other day or two, depending on the weather. Once temps reach 85 F and up, daily watering is often necessary.