Growing corn on the plotis not very popular. However, if we find enough space, it is worth taking an interest in it because of itsnutritional value of cornand relatively easy cultivation. You can choose fromsweetcorn , which can be eaten raw or cooked, andpopcorn , which is suitable for popcorn. Here are the bestvarieties of cornto grow on your plot and everything you need to know about the requirements of this vegetable.
Corn - cultivation on the plot
Nutritional information of corn
Common corn(Zea mays) is a thermophilic annual plant that can grow up to over a meter in height. Corn is very he althy - one cob of sweet, cooked corn provides less than 90 kcal, and a lot of dietary fiber and potassium. It is a valuable source of selenium, vitamin E, beta-carotene, it can be used in a gluten-free diet.
Detailed basicnutritional values of corn are presented in the table
The nutritional value of cornis valued all over the world. Unfortunately, this vegetable also has a bad reputation as it is associated with the very unhe althy glucose-fructose syrup made from corn, as well as with GMO crops (a large part of the world's corn crops are GMO crops).Growing maize on my own plotwill give me confidence that we obtain fully natural plants.
In allotment gardens we can grow sweetcorn , eat the cobs of which are raw or cooked, andcracking corn, from which you can make popular popcorn
Growing corn on the plot
Maize is easy to grow, but it does not tolerate frost.Maize can be grown from sowing directly to the bed or from seedlingsThis vegetable requires humus soil, warm, well-drained, with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. On weaker soils, about two weeks before sowing, it is worth applying a mineral fertilizer (e.g. Azofoska or Fructus).
Sowing sweetcorn seeds into the groundcan be carried out throughout May. The popping corn should be sown as early as possible, ie in the first half of May. Place the seeds in the soil at a depth of about 4 cm. To ensure good pollination and full cobs, it is best to plant the maize in blocks of a dozen, spaced about 30 cm.
If you live in areas where spring comes late and you want an early harvest,we can grow maize from seedlings The seedlings of maize, preferably prepared in multi-pots, should be planted after 3 to 4 weeks, when the risk of frost is over (from the second half of May).
Nursing treatments in maize cultivationduring the growing season are mainly limited to weeding (in order not to damage the roots of plants, you should not reel too deeply) and irrigation during dry and hot weather (the greatest demand for water is in the period of flowering and growing cobs). When the plants have produced six to seven leaves, it is worth doing top dressing with ammonium nitrate.
When to harvest corn?
The maize is harvested from September to OctoberIn the case of sweet corn, it is very important to harvest it when it is properly mature, which we must judge by the appearance of the plants.Harvest the corn when the ends of the threads emerging from the cob are dry and brown , and the milky juice flows out of them after the grains are pierced.When the juice is watery, you have to wait for harvesting, and when the juice turns out to be earthy - unfortunately the flasks are already overripe.
The cobs should not be stored for too long , because they taste best when fresh eaten directly after harvesting. However, if necessary, the corn cobs can be refrigerated or frozen for 2-3 days.
Breaking cornHarvest in September, when the kernels are dry and hard, and the leaves covering the cobs are completely dry.
Varieties of maize for cultivation on the plot
Among thevarieties of sweetcorn , hybrid varieties marked with the F1 symbol are best suited for amateur gardening. The flasks of very sweet varieties, such as 'Candle', can be stored at a low temperature (slightly above 0 &176C) for up to 2 weeks, they are also suitable for freezing. The mentioned variety is an early variety, reaching up to 140 cm in height, producing large cobs up to 20 cm long.Several times our forum users praised the 'Candle F1' variety as resistant to corn diseases and very tasty.
It is also worth recommendingPolish corn variety 'Gucio' F1It is an early variety, fertile, suitable for direct consumption and preserves, gives a light yellow grain with a good sweet taste.
Among thecracking maize varietieswe recommend typically amateur varieties, such as 'Płomyk' and 'Perłowa'. Both varieties produce flasks about 12 cm long and have a good breaking capacity. They require higher density cultivation.
