Corn belongs to a large family of cereals. This annual plant, reaching a height of two meters or more, consists of a straight, strong stem with a large number of broad-leaved leaves, male flowers at the tops in the form of panicles and female flowers in the axils of leaves in the form of cobs. The root part is powerful, the roots are about 1 m in diameter, and almost 2 m deep.
For many, boiled corn cobs are a real delicacy and a very nutritious dish. After all, a vegetable plant, or rather its grains, contains a large amount of useful substances - proteins, oil, vitamins, amino acids, carotene and carbohydrates.
Growing corn
Corn is a heat-loving and moisture-loving vegetable crop. The favorable temperature for seed germination is from 8 to 13 degrees Celsius. The landing site must be protected from cold northerly winds. With proper care and appropriate weather conditions for the plant, the crop can be harvested approximately 2.5-3 months after germination. The ripening rate of corn cobs directly depends on the total number of warm days (with a temperature of at least 15 degrees Celsius).
The soil on corn beds should be fertile and nutritious. To enrich its composition, it is recommended to use mineral and organic dressings. The plant responds well to the introduction of humus into the soil. In areas with acidic soil, lime must be applied. For 1 square meter of garden area, it will take from 300 to 500 g.
A cereal crop can produce good yields over several years in the same area. Before planting seeds, it is recommended to carefully dig up the soil. The depth of cultivation is 1.5-2 shovel bayonets. After the appearance of young plants, the soil around them must be loosened and hilled.
Planting corn seeds
Seeds are planted in late spring (approximately from the second week of May), when the soil on the plot warms up to 8-9 degrees Celsius. The planting depth of seed is 5-6 cm, the distance between plantings is 30 cm, and the row spacing is at least 50 cm. On heavy soils, the planting depth is minimal, and on sandy and sandy loam - deeper. Experienced vegetable growers recommend sowing 3 seeds in one hole at once, one of which will be dry, the second swollen, and the third sprouted. This method makes it possible for seedlings to appear under any whims of the weather. If the germinated seeds fall under belated night spring frosts and die, the remaining planting material will correct the situation. When shoots appear from all seeds, you will need to leave the strongest specimens, and remove the rest. Flowering begins 6-7 weeks after germination.
Rules for the care of corn in the open field
Soil care
The soil in corn beds needs timely loosening and regular weed management.After precipitation (after about 2-3 days), as well as after irrigation, during the entire growing season, the soil must be loosened. Depending on the density of the soil, such procedures will take from 4 to 6.
Watering
A heat-loving and drought-resistant vegetable plant, it responds well to watering in hot and dry weather. Each young plant requires about 1 liter of irrigation water, for an adult - 2 liters. The average moisture level in the soil is 80-85%. Exceeding this level can lead to the death of the root system and stop growth. With an excess of moisture in the soil, the color of the green leaves of the corn will change to a purple hue.
Growing corn seedlings
The time of planting seeds for seedlings is mid-May. The best growing place is nutrient cubes or small plastic pots.
The composition of the soil mixture is 1 part of sawdust, 5 parts of poorly decomposed peat, 20 g of mineral fertilizers.
The hardening procedure begins 5 days before planting seedlings in the beds. In the first 2 days, young plants are placed outdoors in the shade, gradually accustoming the seedlings to sunlight.
Planting seedlings in open beds at the age of 2-3 weeks is carried out in the first week of June.
With the seedling method of growing, the ears ripen by the beginning of August, and with the seed method, by the end of the month. Each plant has 2-3 ears. It is recommended to leave the earliest specimens for seeds. The ears, together with the leaves, are stored in a cool room in a suspended state.
