When you sit down for dinner and there's a piece of corn on your plate, you never really stop to think of where it's been. If you did, the last thing you'd think is that it was grown next to a bunch of marijuana.

For who knows how long, people have been growing weed in cornfields. Usually these are guerilla-style grows where the grower chooses a field(s) that isn't his own, but that's not to say a farmer has never snuck some cannabis in with his corn either.

For the guerilla grower, cornfields offer a precise environment that most other locations don't. While there are a few setbacks to growing in corn, it's a favorite place of many growers - and for good reason.

Cornfields are large, confusing, creepy, and people simply don't go out into them. If you've ever been into a commercial cornfield near the second half of summer, you'd find yourself stepping into tightly sewn rows that tower over your head. It's very quiet and still inside because the corn acts as an insulator from wind and sound. It's also very easy to get lost. It can seem like the rows go on forever and if you're not careful, you can find yourself in a literal maze. There's very little room to walk and practically zero visibility from row to row. This high level of security makes the corn an exemplary spot for growing and harvesting cannabis.
 

Sativa cannabis strain from Oaxaca, Mecxio. Flowering in a midwest cornfield, 2013.
 
However, it's important to know what you're doing. Just because you're growing where nobody can see you doesn't mean you won't get caught by authorities or that your plants won't be stolen.

Below are some tips from years of experience that will help you get the best out of your cornfield grow while minimizing crop loss and maximizing your yield.

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Corn

First off, and most importantly, you need to choose the proper field. If you're unsure whether it's sweet corn, feed corn or silage corn, you'll need to find out. Sweet corn and silage are harvested as early as late august while feed corn (cattle feed) is sometimes not harvested until as late as November, depending on weather. You DO NOT want to plant in a field with sweet corn because your plants will not finish in time. The corn will be cut and your hard work (and your buds) will be gone.

Chances are, someone around you knows when the corn is harvested. Get as much information as you can, but do it without giving away your intentions.

Another important factor of corn growing is being sure your plants don't go into the field until after the farmer has sprayed for weeds and pests. Once the corn is about waist high or a bit taller, they won't be spraying anymore because the sprayers can't get into the field without crushing the corn. You don't want any sort of weed killer or pesticides on your plants. The weed killer will kill them, and the pesticides can make your finished product toxic.

Security First

While cornfields generally offer amazing security, it's important to know the shortcomings.

1.) Large plots can be easily spotted from the air by plane or helicopter. To prevent being spotted, never place more than 2 (to 3 max) cannabis plants in a single location. You'll want to plant inline, directly along with the row. (Planting between rows will make it easier to spot and also minimizes sunlight once the corn reaches a certain height due to how the stalk's leaves sit). Depending on the spacing of the corn, you'll want to pull about 3 to 5 corn stalks from the row to place each plant in. Don't plant another 2 anywhere within a 100 foot radius of any other plot. If you spread them out, you'll be fine. If you put 10 or 15 plants together, you're asking for trouble.

2.) While it's generally simple to enter a cornfield unseen, the low visibility makes it hard to exit safely. Be sure to take your time when exiting the last couple rows, and slowly peek out & to both sides before your exit. Choose your entry and exit wisely, in a place with little to no vehicle or foot traffic.

3.) Don't ever visit your plants when it's raining or has recently rained heavily. The corn is planted in soft soil that doesn't recieve the same sunlight as an open area. After it rains, it will take a bit longer to dry up. Entering the corn when it's too wet will leave footprints, and anyone who stumbles upon them can follow your trail straight to the plants. Even when it's dry, it's best to wear a crappy pair of shoes with duct tape on the bottom. This prevents identifiable prints of any kind from being left behind.

4.) Don't bring your cell phone. Nowadays, it's far too easy to pinpoint someone's location via their smartphone. If you must bring your phone with you, be sure to disable cellular data and then turn on airplane mode. Also be sure your ringer is off or set to vibrate. Should somebody show up and you have to hide, the last thing you want is a phone call or alarm ringing, giving an audible signal of your location.

5.) Dress accordingly. If you're thinking about going to your plot wearing a bright red shirt, a white shirt, or your Lakers hat, think again. You need to be camoflauged, which means you need to match the corn. Buy a green shirt, and wear dark or khaki colored pants. A green hoodie is best because it will protect you from the corn's sharp leaves. The hood can be used to hide your head/hair/face from a low-flying plane or helicopter, or if for some other reason you need to hide while you're in there.

The Cornfield Environment

When it comes to cannabis, cornfields offer a great growing environment. The soil is generally tilled deeply, meaning it's rich and soft. This is perfect for cannabis roots to penetrate deeply and produce heavy yields. The corn will help hold moisture within the field which offers near perfect humidity for cannabis. However, since the tightly knit corn acts as a wall there is less airflow in the corn - mold can become a problem if there are heavy rains and not enough sun. Corn can also grow very tall, sometimes up to 10 feet, causing your plants to recieve less sunlight. It's important to take note of these things and plan/act accordingly. To minimize problems, do the following:

1.) Select a tall-growing strain, and if possible, one with decent mold resistance. Tall growing cannabis will easily compete with the corn and ensure your plants recieve enough sunlight. Sativa and sativa-dominant strains are perfect for growing in the corn.

2.) Plant in a row with good southern sun exposure. You might want to cut the very tops from surrounding stalks to the south once they get above head height. This will allow the sun to enter at an angle when it's lower in the sky, giving your plants better exposure. You want as much sun as possible, which can be a battle in the corn. What you don't want to do is create a gaping hole that sticks out from the air. Chopping the top off the stalks in the row immediately to the south will help. Also, chopping the tops off the stalks in your row (the stalks immediately before and after your plants) will help with early morning and late afternoon sun exposure. Pay attention to the sun and its patterns and you'll know what to do. You'll see the angles and times of day where sun penetration is low and can act accordingly with the cutting.

3.) Cornfield soil is good, but bagged soil is better. Yes, it takes some work and bags of soil are heavy. But a single large bag of soil per 2 plants is fine. Dig your hole, plant, and backfill. Use extra vermiculite in your soil for added water retention if you're not able to water weekly. If you must use the native soil, that's fine. It's great soil. But bagged can make a huge difference in yields through improved oxygen and nutrient delivery.

4.) Bugs are rarely a problem, but there is a pest called a corn-borer in some areas. They will eat holes through your buds. They shouldn't be a problem though, nor should most other bugs. If you feel that you have a problem, go purchase some ladybugs from a pet store. Put 10 or 20 on each plant and they will eat the malevolent bugs. Praying Mantis also work well but they are known to enjoy nibbling on buds from time to time, so it's your call.

Visiting, Watering, and Maintenance

One of the best parts about growing is visiting your plants to care for them and check their progress. You don't want to go too often, but it's still an important part of the growing process. You need to be sure they're watered and keep them in optimal health.

You really don't have to visit your plants too much if you're getting decent rain. If you're not getting rain or suffering a dry spell, you'll want to get out there weekly to water, if possible. At a very minimum, every two weeks. Cannabis likes dry soil better than sopping wet soil, but it's important to keep your plants hydrated or they can die. The best way to do this is with gallon jugs of water, using 1 per plant. The handles make them easy to manuever through the corn and are much lighter than buckets.

When visiting, NEVER leave empty jugs or trash of any kind behind. If you smoke, don't even leave a cigarette butt on the ground. Keep it clean and leave no evidence. NEVER take the same path through the corn, or you will spread the stalks too much and create a trail. Be sure to count your rows so you know EXACTLY how many rows in your plants are. If you have 5 or 6 groups of 2 plants, you might want to buy a cheap handheld GPS unit (DO NOT USE YOUR PHONE'S GPS) to mark them so they can easily be found. Regardless, it can sometimes still be hard to find your plants even with GPS, so be sure to take the proper precautions to determine their location.

Later in the season, as the corn gets taller and your plants begin to flower, it's important to trim eveything up. The lowest branches are going to recieve very little sunlight due to the height of the corn. While they will produce tiny buds, those lower branches use more energy to keep the leaves alive than it's worth. They're actually robbing the plant's energy from the higher branches and leaves because they don't get enought sunlight of their own. To prevent the plant from wasting energy on sparse buds from lower branches, simply remove those branches. Do it cleanly and all at once, but never remove more than 25% of the total plant. By removing them, the plant can focus its energy on building buds at the top where the sun penetration is sufficient for photosynthesis. Whatever you cut off, take it with you and dispose of safely. Don't ever leave it laying there near your plot.

Harvest

During harvest time, the most important thing you need to do is beat the farmer. If you have an idea when they'll be chopping the corn, this can help you immensely. You don't want to pull your plants before they're finished but you don't want to lose everything to the farmer's combine either. Do your best to plan, use multiple plots, and use multiple fields if possible. Keep an eye out for farmers and combines in the weeks leading up to harvest. With a little surveillance and some luck, you should be fine.

 

9.5 foot Mexican Sativa strain, flowering in a cornfield
 
Do NOT make the stupid mistake of running out into the field while the corn is being cut, trying to save your plants at the last minute. The farmer cannot see you in the tall corn, and you cannot see the combine. The corn can be disorienting and the combine sound doesn't travel the same as it does outside the field. Don't be a dumbass and get killed & combined over some weed. Use your head - I say this only because there are dumbass people out there.

Some Last Words

Laws are different in different states and/or counties. The same goes for different countries. I have no idea where you're living, and I don't advocate you to break the law. With that said, have some respect. Understand that you're taking down stalks of corn that might not be yours. While it's not a huge deal, there are a lot of farmers who won't like it if they find out. Operate with caution. Don't leave trash, and don't contaminate the field with toxic fertilizers, pesticides or other chemicals.

Unfortunately, due to legislation, many of us are drawn to the corn to grow safely. Unfair and unjust laws regarding cannabis possesion/use are FAR more immoral than yanking 5 ears of corn in a field of 500,000. I'm not here to argue the ethics, but please be smart and be respectful. If you do it right, you'll end up with some great smoke that will last for a long time to come.

I hope this writeup was helpful to some of you. Feel free to ask questions or drop your own tips on cornfield growing in the comments.