Corn plants are heavy feeders, which means that they need more nutrients than other plants in order to produce an adequate crop. For the best corn yield, fertilize your corn three times over their growth: first when they’re ten inches tall, then in the mid season when they’re eighteen inches tall, and finally when tassels start to form on their ears. Compost and well composted manure is beneficial for nitrogen loving corn. There is an old trick of burying fish heads and discards from cleaning deep under the corn patch to provide nitrogen. This can be successful as long as the fish is buried deep enough that it doesn’t attract animals that will dig up the patch for it. Odorless marigolds planted next to corn deters Japanese beetles which attack the silks. Growing sunflowers in alternating strips with double rows of corn between have been known to reduce fall army worm.