I planted 12 seeds of Silver Queen corn. I know you're supposed to stagger the plantings but my corn seems to stagger itself and I can't figure out why. Maybe someone here can tell me. I plant 2 seeds together, so two, two and two in the back row and two, two, and two in the front row. The individual stalks are probably about 2" apart from each other and the sets of twos are probably 18 inches apart from each other, if that makes any sense. I've planted like this before and never had any trouble before. In the back row, plants 1, 2, and 4 are up to my chin now. Plant 3 is about half their size. Plants 5 and 6 are a shade shorter than Plants 1 and 2. Not a great deal of variation there. But, in the front row, seeds 7 and 8 were eaten by birds, so they were replanted about 3 weeks after the original planting. The plants now are about a quarter size of 1,2, and 4. Plants 9 and 10 are shorter than plant 3. Seed 11 was also eaten by a bird and was replanted 4 weeks after the original planting. It's the smallest of all my corn stalks. But plant 12, planted when all the others were originally planted, is actually smaller than the two stalks 7 and 8 that I had to replace three weeks later. In fact, 12 is almost being passed by plant 11 and 11 was planted four weeks after 12. What gives? They all get the same sun and the same water. It's a mystery to me. Also, the main leaves are turning brown on the tip. Is this too little water? Too much water? Fertilizer needed? I've always stuck my seeds straight into the ground and this is the first year I'm growing corn with a raised bed. It's not looking good.
Are you rotating your crop or planting in the same spot as last year? I had issues with my corn seed germinating this year. I planted corn twice and only one stalk came up. Next year I am going to start them in pots under grow light where I have no critters getting to them. That should fix it. As far as one kernel not growing: seeds are like anything else, some are strong and some weak. Viability varies. Brown tips is probably drying out from wind if you're soil is moist or uneven watering.
