Sprouting

• Sprouting begins with the germination process of the corn seed. Germination begins when the seed moisture level reaches 30 percent. At this point in time, given sufficient moisture, light and nutrition from the soil, the seed sprouts an embryonic root that becomes the primary tap root. The embryonic shoot produces the visible portion of the corn seedling.
  
  

Silking

• Silking of the corn plant begins around 55 to 66 days after the seedling's emergence. At this point in time, the corn plant has reached its full height, and the total number of leaves and ears produced for that growing season. Silking is the process of pollination, where pollen contacts the silks of the corn and fertilization begins. The greater number of silks pollinated, the greater the number of kernels per each ear of corn. It takes two to three days for all of the silks of a corn ear to emerge and become pollinated.
  
  

Milking

• Milking of the corn kernels begins around 20 days after silking has begun. At this stage, the kernels of corn are full-sized and contain a milky fluid inside. There is a lower percentage of starch in each of the kernels. If harvesting corn for eating, this is the stage when the ears need to be picked for optimal kernel size and quality.
  
  

Denting

• Denting begins 36 days after silking. At this point, there are small, hard dents at the tops of almost every kernel. Around 48 days after silking, all of the kernels are fully dented and dried. This is the process of creating dried corn kernels, which are used for making cornmeal, saved as seed for next year's planting or for popcorn production.