Planting corn in blocks the American Indian way

News Leader reader Becky M. writes with the following inquiry: “A few years ago you wrote an article that mentioned planting sweet corn in blocks. The wind blows down our corn when planted in rows. Please tell me how to plant corn in blocks so the wind doesn't affect it.”

Thanks for your question Becky. If excessive wind is a regular problem, I advise planting corn so the entire patch resembles a square with equal sides. Some gardeners plant long, singular rows of sweet corn, which is not good for pollination or for wind resistance.

EXAMPLE: Instead of planting 2 rows 100 feet long, I suggest planting 8 rows 25 feet long. With 30-inch spacing between rows, this patch would be nearly square. While this does not “wind-proof” your corn patch, it will help shield the majority of the plants in the block. It also aids GREATLY in pollination since bees and other pollinators can concentrate their efforts.

You can also plant corn like the American Indians did — don’t use rows at all. The 1918 USDA Yearbook of Agriculture contains this passage:

“The Hopi tribe made use of a planting stick when planting corn. This stick is 3 feet in length and has a stilt-like projection 10 or 12 inches from the bottom. The stick is pressed into the soil with the foot and holes are made from 8 to 12 inches in depth. Into these holes as many as 20 kernels are dropped. The hills are about 10 feet apart. The number of plants in the hill may seem excessive, but none are thinned out, being left as a protection against wind and sun.” This bunching practice obviously provided support for the cluster of plants.

Yet another passage tells how one tribe used a “streamline method” to protect against the wind:

“The Omaha, or mound, method was used by the Omaha Indians of Nebraska. In this method the earth was pulverized and heaped into mounds about 18 by 24 inches in surface area. The northern end of the mound was 18 inches in height, sloping to the south. The south end was made level with the ground. The mounds were from 2 to 3 feet apart on all sides, and seven kernels to the mound were planted. Sometimes a ditch was dug around the mound, into which water was poured in dry seasons.”

Jeff Ishee has written more than 600 garden columns for the News Leader. Contact him at jeff@onthefarmradio.com.