Increasing my corn crop

This is my third year growing corn and each year has given me a better crop. But, I only get good ears from the first planting. Everything I read says to plant more every two weeks to extend the harvest and I have done that, but those planted later don't grow as well and only a few stalks produce ears. I've read that corn is a heavy feeder and I'm thinking that the first plants have robbed the soil of nutrients and the other crops are starving, so to speak. Any suggestions as to what I can feed the later plants to give them a boost?

Sounds like you need to apply some good all purpose fertilizer. I use 46 0 0 in the row when I plant. Rake it in well then put down the seed. Side dress with 16 16 16 when the corn is a foot high. 10 20 20 can be used but I like the 16 16 16 better for it's higher nitrogen content.

I put in an automatic irrigation system that watered deeply once a week this year, and my yields more than doubled... my season isn't long enough to plant two sets of corn on the same set of ground in one season, but this is what I did this year (in addition to the better watering method)

Area 1 - corn planted where well composted chicken manure/pine shavings had been buried last fall
Area 2 - peas
After peas were done, snipped them off at the ground (as opposed to pulling up roots)
Dug trenches 6" or so down and filled with compost
Covered over with sand (not much dirt here)
Plant corn about 1 1/2 inches deep
When the corn was about a foot tall, side dressed with more compost

This put my two corn crops about 4 weeks apart.

Maybe something like that would help you? We are on pure sand here, and I have been mixing in compost two/three times a year for the last 5 years or so, and the yields of all of the veggies are finally starting to improve. The desert sun burns up a lot of organic material and the winds blow a lot of it away, so I am constantly trying to add more.

Good luck - really fresh corn is so wonderful!

And, for a total treat, NUKE your ears in the husks, in your microwave oven!

Large ear, 3.0-3.5 minutes
Medium ear, 3.0 minutes
Small ear, 2.5-3.0 minutes

Let sit in the husk for an additional 1.0 minutes, then using paper towels in each hand, grip the corn in one hand. Use the other hand to WIPE the husks and silks away in one motion.

Enjoy! You won't even reach for salt and pepper!

slopesower, I don't understand why corn planted in a different spot 2 weeks later would not do as well as the first planting if both are treated the same. The only thing I can see is if you are planting the second planting way late in the season. Really late plantings will not grow or ear up well.

Mmm, sometimes the corn don't make it past the garden gate and into the house. Corn doesn't like the desert, but what few ears I get, I do enjoy!