“We are planning to pick our first corn July 2. Our goal is to try and get excellent sweet corn ready by the Fourth of July. That doesn’t happen every year and that date is not set in stone, it is always weather-dependent,” said Martinsburg-area grower Marcus Martin, whose corn is sold at the Morrisons Cove Produce Auction.

“We grow under a cover to gain more heat units — corn grows by heat units — to bring it to maturity. The cover provides us some frost protection. Early corn costs me more to produce so I have to relay the costs. The cover did protect us from the early cold. I did not lose corn when the fruit crops were wiped out. Our goal is to grow the best sweet corn and not the cheapest sweet corn,” said Martin, who planted on March 31.

Amish farmers in Sinking Valley often have corn ready by July 4.

“The Amish will have some sweet corn in early July. They planted in early April and then we had some 70 degree days and planted it under plastic, when it got old it didn’t affect them. They may have some by July 4. They will have some then but will likely run out and experience a lull,” said Sinking Valley grower Gary Long.

Sweet corn from a field on Marcus Martin's farm on Cove Lane Road south of Martinsburg. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

A lot of sweet corn will be late this year, said Penn State Extension Horticulture Educator Leah Fronk, who is based in Juniata County.

“In my region, early plantings of corn are silking now, which means it’s about two to three weeks away from harvest. I think we may be hard-pressed to find local sweet corn on July 4. The second and third weeks of July are a safer bet,” Fronk said.

Fronk said the weather is the culprit.

“The early spring roller coaster temperatures reduced germination and stand quality, making corn fields spotty in many locations. Corn seedlings can withstand a light frost, but not more than that. Also, corn does not grow in temps lower than 50 degrees. Many of the early stands were stunted, and premature tasseling occurred in response to the temperature stress. Because of this, some of the early plantings will not have filled out ears and will not make it to market,” Fronk said.

Karen Wilson, owner of Blue Barn Farm near Canoe Creek, said her corn should be ready around July 19, but it depends on the weather.

She said she planted her corn in mid-April before it got real cold on April 18 and 21 when orchardists lost their apple and peach crops.

“It then warmed up and the corn didn’t get frosted. It went under freezing three times, but I got up at 4 a.m. and sprayed water on it before the sun came up. The sprayed water had more heat in it than the ice crystals and that saved the crop. We have nice stands now,” Wilson said.

She is now concerned about this week’s predicted hot weather and other pests.

“When it goes into the 90s or upper 80s, the plants will shut down and not pollinate. That could create some spotty ears,” Wilson said. “Another thing is corn ear worms. The corn looks good right now. Last year, I lost my first planting due to flooding.”

Sam Weyant, owner of Sam Weyant Berry and Vegetable Farms, Claysburg, expects his corn to be ready in mid-July.

“Last year, rain killed us and flooded us out. All looks good so far, but because of the cold weather, it may not be ready until the middle of July,” Weyant said. “We had cold weather, for corn to grow we need warm weather at night, that is when the corn grows.”

Weyant said his corn survived the cold weather.

“I lucked out, it nipped mine but didn’t hurt it. I was lucky. One night it was down to 22 degrees. I planted it on April 12. It got cold but it didn’t hurt it,” Weyant said.

Martinsburg-area growers Lynette and Earlyn Sollenberger said their corn won’t be ready until about Aug. 1.

“We couldn’t get into the fields because it was wet at the beginning of the season. The ground needs to be 60 degrees for sweet corn. We wait until it is less wet. If you have rain and warm weather, it would be much better,” Lynette Sollenberger said. “I do three plantings: Honey sweet yellow, Providence bi-color and Triple Sweet White. I wait until the first is up a couple of inches. It should come up in about seven days, but it took 10 to 12 days this year. Then I plant the second crop, (and) when it comes up I plant the third.”

Long said he doesn’t expect his corn to be ready until August because of the cold weather in May.

“We had cold weather, it wouldn’t grow, it was just cold, that doesn’t affect the crop, it just makes it later. The first three weeks of May, it was cold at night and 50s in the day. It was too cold to grow,” Long said. “Normally I plant around April 20, this year not until April 25. It never came out of the ground until May 15. The weather set me back about two weeks.”

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.