You can actually grow a large amount of corn (maiz) in a very small space. Many native (heirloom) varieties will grow with little water, especially if you plant the seeds pretty deep. This will also keep birds from eating them. The key to a successful patch of maiz is to plant the seeds closely together and in bunches rather than rows. Corn produces lots of pollen, which is carried to the pistils by the wind, not by insects. In order for the pollen to get to where it needs to go before it or the pistils dry out, plants need to be in close proximity. Ideally, the pollen should produce a “cloud” over your patch. You will need at least a dozen plants to reach the “critical mass” where the plants pollinate each other well; more is better. I will sometimes shake the plants to disperse the pollen if there is little wind. Once the ears begin to form, you will have to water more frequently. I’ve never grown squash or melons under the corn plants, but a friend of mine who runs a community garden tells me that squash or pumpkin vines help to “mulch” the stalks. This is an ancient practice.
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