If you’ve ever sunk your teeth into sweet, buttery corn on the cob fresh from a local farm stand, you may have thought about growing your own. Imagine how good corn would taste when the trip from picking to cooking and eating is mere minutes. So sweet!

The National Garden Bureau has designated corn as the edible plant of the year for 2020, because it’s genetically diverse, easy to grow, and has new breeding to showcase—all you need is water, sunlight, and time!

Corn is fun to grow and there’s nothing like tasting it fresh from your garden. That’s why we’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing, harvesting, and eating—with some easy-to-prepare and tasty recipes—home-grown corn.

First, in the Introduction, you’ll get some history and tidbits about corn that will make you want to start your own patch.

In this collection’s Feature Articles, you’ll learn all the basics of growing your own corn. Then, in Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about eight popular varieties of corn, so you’ll have specific details about the best uses for particular types of corn.

If you’re already an advanced food gardener, some of this might be refresher content for you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the history of corn and the recipes!

While there are scores of varieties of corn, we’ve included eight plant profiles that are some of the most commonly grown. If you’d like us to include another corn variety that appeals to you, please let us know by commenting below.

We are, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing your own delicious food at home!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. Corn on the cob is popular, but there are so many other ways to enjoy it. These recipes include uses for salads, soups, and baked goods. Everyone will rave about your cooking when you serve these corn-based dishes, and they’re sure to become staples in your household.

These corn recipes are so easy to prepare and should become “house standards” for you. Enjoy your corn harvest with these tasty recipes, and your family and friends will appreciate all your corn gardening efforts!

Next, you’ll learn about the basic nutrition of corn in Nutrition Facts and Home Remedies & Health Benefits. Find out how eating corn promotes eye health, for example, because of key antioxidants in corn. And learn all about other benefits and uses for corn, besides enjoying its garden-fresh deliciousness.

To help you explore the wonderful world of corn even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you what you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious corn, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by clicking on the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

Now, go and be the best corn grower ever!