2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
You can grow corn without much hassle in the country. To do this, you need to know its biological characteristics and growing conditions
Currently, the most popular plant in summer cottages is corn. She is loved not only by children, but also by adults. It would seem, what is easier, you throw the grains into the soil, and they will grow by themselves. But for proper care and obtaining a high yield, knowledge of the characteristics and conditions of growing this crop is needed.
A bit of history
Corn was brought to Europe from America. There she was known for a long time and was considered a staple food. It was used baked, boiled, fried. They made flour from the grains, baked sweets, bread, flat cakes.
Biological features
Corn is a cultivated plant from the bluegrass family. It is a monoecious, but dioecious cereal. The ears used for food, with female flowers are located in the axils of the leaves, and spikelets with male inflorescences grow at the top of the stem in the form of a panicle. It is pollinated by insects and wind.
The root system is powerful and extends down to 1.5 m. At the same time, it forms many additional roots, first air ones, then gradually taking root. This allows it to withstand the wind more steadily.
Plant height reaches 2 meters or more. On a powerful stem, often giving off lateral branches, 2-3 ears are formed.
The growing season depends on the variety. There are 3 types of ripening:
• early maturing (80-100 days);
• mid-season (100-130 days);
• late ripening (130-150 days).
If earlier corn was grown mainly in southern latitudes, then recently, thanks to the efforts of breeders on the development of new varieties, it has moved far to the north.
In the southern regions, even late varieties are ripening, characterized by a large yield and longer ears. In the northern ones, only early varieties and hybrids should be planted.
The structure of the ears
The corncob has a fleshy core at the base. Female spikelets are attached to it in vertical rows. The number of rows is always even. Outside, it is covered with a common wrap. Depending on the variety, its weight ranges from 30 to 500 g, length - from 5 to 50 cm.
Species diversity
According to its purpose and grain quality, corn is divided into several subspecies. The most common of them grown by summer residents:
• sugar;
• bursting (popcorn).
They differ from each other in the quality of the grain and the content of sugars and protein in it.
Sweet corn
The most common is sweet corn, its cultivation in summer cottages is fully justified. She fell in love with gardeners for its unique taste. When it reaches full maturity, it produces a lot of sugars, which adds sweetness to the grains. Used fresh, for canning and freezing.
In terms of value and content of nutrients, it is on a par with beans and green peas. It contains vitamins of group B, PP, ascorbic acid, proteins, starch, sugars, fat.
The structure of grain differs from other subspecies in that, when fully ripe, it acquires a wrinkled and glassy appearance.
Pop corn
The oldest subspecies by origin. It is based on the grain most of the vitreous mass, which bursts when heated, turns outward, increasing in size. A dish called popcorn is prepared from it.
It is subdivided into rice and pearl barley subgroups according to your taste. Protein predominates in the grain. Used for the preparation of flakes, cereals. Forms many cobs on one stem, but the grains are small and smooth.
Habitat conditions
The plant is light-loving. A sunny, open place, well-blown by the winds, is suitable for planting. This condition promotes better pollination.
At the dacha, they plant her around the perimeter of the site. It can be used as a curtain for low-growing plants to protect them from the wind, or as a support for cucumbers.
Sometimes the stems are left for the winter after harvest. In this case, snow retention and accumulation of moisture in the ground after its melting occurs.
Loves fertile loose soils, seasoned with organic fertilizers in the fall. Prefers light loams and chernozems with neutral acidity. Poorly tolerates saline and waterlogged soil.
Heat-loving. The best temperatures for growth and development are 20-30 ° C. When seeds germinate, warmth is needed, otherwise, they rot and germination is lost.
Corn does not tolerate cold snaps. With a short-term decrease in temperature, the growth and development of plants stops. Prolonged exposure may cause death.
Due to the formation of powerful roots, it extracts moisture well from the underlying layers. It is drought-resistant, but at the same time responds well to moderate watering in the phase of emergence, flowering and ripening of the ears.
Most popular varieties
Among summer residents, the following varieties and hybrids are very popular: Creamy nectar, Triple sweetness, Ice nectar, Early gourmet, Sheba, Challenger, Tiraspolskaya precocious 33, Skazka 435, Kuban canning 148.
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