Plant Corn in Squares

Planting corn in rows sounds and looks intuitive but works against its biology. Corn (Zea mays) is a monoecious plant, so each plant produces both "male" and "female" flowers. The pollen in corn is produced in the tassels at the top of the plant while the eggs are located in the silks of the ears. Every silk represents a potential kernel of corn on the ear. 

Corn relies on wind pollination rather than insect pollination to produce the kernels. Planting corn in rows complicates the natural wind pollination since it could blow away in the wrong direction. Cobs of corn with few kernels are a sign of poor pollination likely stemming from the planting design. Meanwhile, planting corn in a square grid ensures the corn will be pollinated regardless of the wind's direction. The square grid ensures maximum pollination and yields! Additionally, planting in a square will help fortify the entire grid of crops from strong weather and storms.