Nothing says "Summer's here!" quite like an ear of fresh sweet corn dripping with butter. Sweet corn has the best flavor on the same day it is picked, so to have the most flavorful corn at your table, you may want to grow your own sweet corn.

Sweet corn is very easy to grow, but it does require a large space with plenty of sun. Corn won't grow well at all if planted in a spot that receives less than six hours of full sun each day.

Corn seed, especially the super sweet varieties, needs to be planted after the soil has warmed up to at least 60 degrees. The seed will germinate poorly or not at all if it's planted in soil that is too chilly. Plant the kernels an inch deep and about six inches apart in good rich soil. The rows of corn should be about three feet apart. Make sure to plant your corn in blocks of at least four rows to ensure proper pollination. Corn planted in one single row will be poorly pollinated, resulting in a disappointing crop of ears with few kernels.

To extend the harvest season, plant successive corn crops each week for several weeks. You can also extend the harvest by planting several varieties that have different maturity dates.

Sweet corn is ready to be harvested 18-24 days after the silk first appears on at least half of the crop. Mature ears of corn will be full and the kernels will be "milky" when pierced. The silk will begin to dry and turn brown when the corn is at its peak flavor. Corn plants love heat and the ears will ripen more quickly during times of very warm weather. As a bonus, you can cut down the dried stalks in the fall to make your own decorative corn shocks!