Golden Corn Curls And Green Artichoke Rosettes

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

A rare gardener does not seek to grow an outlandish vegetable in his beds, or at least such crops that are not eaten every day, but from time to time you still want to pamper yourself with them. Remember how in childhood we waited for the first ears of corn to gobble up still hot boiled grains by both cheeks! Or maybe grow an artichoke on your site to surprise your family with incredible edible asters? Or sow a rapunzel from a fairy tale in the beds so that children fall in love with such healthy green salads?

Guest from faraway Mexico - tropicana corn

There is no need to set aside a special area in the garden for corn. It belongs to the curtain plants - that is, playing the role of a barrier for garden crops that are more sensitive to wind or direct scorching sunlight. Therefore, it is more profitable to plant corn around the perimeter of the plot or between rows of beds. For example, as a windscreen for cucumbers or potatoes, beans and pumpkins. Thus, the plant will bring a double benefit: it will yield tasty cobs and fulfill its protective function. Another plus of corn is that it is unassuming to its predecessors. However, it has been noticed that it works best after tomatoes.

Corn is an extremely thermophilic plant. Despite its powerful appearance, even weak frosts can destroy it. High yields are possible only in case of high temperatures, it is especially important that the weather is warm on May days - about + 20 … + 22 ° С. Therefore, the optimal sowing time is the second decade of May.

Corn needs fertile soil. On nutrient-poor soils, seeds are sown in the first year after the introduction of manure, on fertile soils - in the second or third. In addition to organic fertilizers, it is useful to make mineral fertilizers:

• lime-ammonium nitrate;

• potassium salt;

• superphosphate.

Sowing of corn is carried out by the nest method. To do this, 3-4 grains are placed in each hole to a depth of about 7 cm. When the shoots sprout, the beds need to be loosened. It is important not to miss the moment when the second leaf appears on the seedlings. This suggests that it is time to thin out the beds. Only one seedling is left in each nest.

Caring for corn has its own subtleties. The plant is moisture-loving, and most of all needs water during flowering and the formation of cobs. However, during seed ripening, corn prefers dry weather. Also, during flowering, you need to help the plant with pollination by transferring pollen with a gauze napkin from male flowers to female flowers. This additional pollination procedure is performed 2-3 times.

Interesting Corn Facts:

• Although corn sometimes reaches 3 m or more in height, it belongs to herbaceous plants.

• Sweet corn is also called maize.

• Sweet corn belongs to the cereal family. It is highly probable that corn is the oldest grain plant in the world.

Artichoke - exotic Spanish handsome

Another guest from hot countries, who is quite well accustomed to our gardens, is an artichoke from sunny Spain. The plant belongs to the Aster family, and, nevertheless, this flower is used for food, namely, an unopened basket of a future flower.

The artichoke is sown in the third decade of May. Areas protected from the winds and not heavily sunlit areas are suitable for him, so corn will be a good neighbor for him. They prefer fertile soils, generously filled with manure or compost. It works well on clayey soils. During sowing, it should be borne in mind that it will grow and take up a considerable area, therefore, planting is done at a distance of 100x100 cm.