Planting corn in open ground: how to get a good harvest with minimal care (25 Photos & Videos) + Reviews

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden plants Published: April 04, 2017Last edits: January 06, 2021

Corn (lat. Zea) is a genus of cereal plants, which includes six species, but only one of them has been introduced into cultivation - annual sweet corn (lat. Zea mays), the oldest cereal grown by humans. The cultivation of corn began in the territory of modern Mexico from 7 to 12 thousand years ago. In the 15th century BC, corn began to spread throughout Mesoamerica, and the need for new varieties arose, which served as an incentive for breeding experiments that culminated in the appearance of many varieties of the plant in the 12th-11th centuries BC. Today, without exaggeration, we can say that all ancient civilizations that lived in America (Olmecs, Mayans and Aztecs) owe their appearance to corn, since the cultivation of this crop began highly productive agriculture, without which the emergence of a developed society would have been impossible. Before the conquest of America by Europeans, the corn plant had already spread to South and North America, where it was cultivated by the Iroquois from the 10th to the 16th centuries AD. Corn appeared in Europe in the 15th century and is now grown throughout the world.

Description of the plant

Corn

Herbaceous annuals - corn or maize - belong to grain crops, but are considered a cereal. The plant’s homeland is the region of modern Mexico and Peru; it came to Russia only in the 18th century during the Russian-Turkish War. Initially, the crop was grown in the southern regions of the Russian Empire.

Unlike other cereals, corn has developed multi-tiered root and above-ground parts. Depending on the variety, individual plants can reach 7 meters. Long leaves protect the inflorescence – the spadix and panicle. A monoecious plant has male flowers (can be identified by the presence of stamens) and female flowers (there are only pistils).

The plant has been so cultivated that corn no longer grows in the wild.

Despite the fact that corn is considered a southern, heat-loving crop, it is also grown in northern latitudes (by seedlings), because seed ripening begins at +10 degrees. At the same time, the seedlings can even easily tolerate short frosts.

Maize is a valuable food crop

The growing season of maize takes from 3 to 5 months. During this time, the plant forms 1–2 ears, the average weight of which reaches 500 g, length – 40–45 cm.

Features of planting seedlings and subsequent planting in the ground

Growing corn in Russia, where return frosts are common and summers are very short, usually begins with growing seedlings.

But since corn reacts negatively to transplantation, the seedling method has some subtleties.

Advice! Use only peat pots to grow corn seedlings. This will free you from picking and protect the roots from touching your hands when planting them in the garden.

Condition requirements

To get strong seedlings, you need to plant corn correctly.

They begin planting seeds around the twentieth of April.

It is important that the room temperature does not fall below 22°C.

To ensure good lighting and the desired air temperature, install a fluorescent lamp before sowing, otherwise the young shoots will stretch, making caring for them very difficult.

Remember! Young seedlings are very afraid of drafts.

The main care for corn seedlings is regular watering and timely fertilizing with fertilizers.

Corn loves water; drying out of the soil can lead to the death of the greens.

Soil preparation

You can purchase land for planting at a specialized store, or you can compose it yourself. To do this you need:

• humus - 2 parts;
• sand – 1 part;
• peat – 1 part.

Mix everything thoroughly, adding one and a half cups of wood ash to each bucket of the resulting substrate.

Fill the peat pots with this mixture and start sowing the seeds.

This is done like this:

1. Place 3-4 grains in containers;
2. Deepen them by 2-3 cm;
3. Prepare a solution of warm water with foundation in a proportion of 10 l x 4 grams;
4. Moisten the soil in containers with it;
5. Place on an east or southeast window sill in full sun.

Do not forget to constantly moisten the soil in the pots.

After the corn seedlings have begun to grow, feed them with mineral fertilizers such as Polyfide or Kemira-hydro.

Watering with a growth stimulator won’t hurt either. Feed the seedlings every 7-10 days.

When the third or fourth leaf appears, select one strong seedling in each pot, remove the rest using scissors, cutting them off at the very surface of the ground.

Approximately 7-10 days before planting seedlings outdoors, carry out hardening sessions, placing them in the shade on a balcony or in the canopy, increasing the time the seedlings stay outside the house every day.

Site selection

Corn grains

The culture is also unpretentious to lighting - for stable growth, 12–14 hours of daylight is enough for it. You should only be meticulous in choosing the soil: it should be quite fertile and loose.

It is considered optimal for cereals: loamy or sandy loam soil with weak or neutral acidity (from 5.5 to 7 pH). Good drainage is important so that water does not stagnate when watering, and groundwater does not come close to the soil surface.

If the soil on the site is unsuitable, then it can be enriched by applying fertilizers. The basic principles of increasing soil fertility, depending on the period of preparation for planting cereals, are collected in the table.

The plant needs protection from cold winds, so it is better to plant it under the protection of large trees or near buildings.

How to plant corn in the garden

If the region is favorable for the crop, correct planting of corn in relation to the choice of site, layout of holes, time of sowing seeds in open ground will bring a successful harvest of tasty cobs in August.

Preparing the landing site and soil

The drought-resistant crop gives a good harvest in areas with an acidity of 5.5 to 7.0 pH, which is taken into account when growing corn in the country:

• loams;
• sandy loams;
• chernozems.

On sandy soils, planting is carried out in the presence of irrigation or frequent rainfall. An important condition for the yield of a crop grown by planting seeds in open ground is the fertility of the site. Suitable predecessors:

• tomatoes;
• melons;
• grain crops;
• roots.

The site chosen is spacious and sunny. Fertile soil for planting plants with a strong habit is provided in the fall. Enrich with organic matter before autumn plowing, adding 30-50 g of phosphorus-potassium preparations. Modern varieties are less prone to lodging, but select areas with wind protection.

Attention! Corn develops well on fertile, moisture-intensive lands with neutral acidity; it does not grow in lowlands with heavy soils and stagnant moisture, as well as on peat bogs.

Soaking corn before planting

Before planting in open ground, seeds are stored in a cool and dry place. To ensure rapid germination, corn is soaked in plain water for 12-20 hours before planting. Summer residents also use melt water or dissolve a spoonful of honey in a glass of water, and also mix aloe juice and water equally. First, immerse the seeds in a fabric bag in a slightly pink solution of potassium permanganate. For soaking, place a cloth on a plate and a ball of seeds on top. Pour enough water so that the grains are not completely submerged. Plant corn in the ground with wet seeds, without drying.

Warning! If the area is infested with underground pests, the seeds are treated.

Corn planting scheme

A crop that requires cross-pollination has two different inflorescences on one plant, a female and a male. For productivity, plant in an equilateral area. A proven scheme for planting corn in open ground on private farms is the square-cluster method. The holes are made at a distance of 60-70 cm. Another option: in the row spacing the interval is 60 cm, between nests at least 40 cm.

Advice! In mixed plantings with cucumbers or pumpkins, the holes are placed every 1-1.5 m.

Corn planting depth

It has been noticed that it is better to deepen seeds in open ground by 3-4 cm in heavy soils and up to 7 cm in sandy loam. The grains have time to warm up, and seedlings emerge in warm weather after 10-12 days. With different methods of planting corn using modern hand-held seeders for large seeds, the planting depth is also adjustable.

How to plant corn in open ground with seeds

Planting seeds directly into open ground is best done in still moist soil that has retained spring moisture deep down. If the temperature is suitable for sowing, using a special garden marker, similar to a huge rake, draw lines, at the intersection of which holes are made. The marker teeth are adjusted to the optimal distance for planting corn. Use a hoe to make holes to the required depth and, while the soil is wet, immediately throw in at least three or four seeds.

When the sprouts rise to 7-8 cm, they are thinned out, leaving the strongest ones. In the southern regions, two sprouts are usually left in the nest, in the northern regions - one at a time. For those who want to plant corn and cucumbers, the holes are placed, doubling the interval between them.

Comment! To enjoy delicious cobs in milky ripeness for a long time, they use the conveyor method of planting sugar varieties. Seeds are planted every 2 weeks, starting from late April to early June.

Preparing corn before sowing

Sprouted seeds or dry seeds are planted in the ground, but this is preceded by a preliminary stage of preparing planting material.

Before germination, the seeds are first discarded, whole and large ones are selected. They are sorted into linen or canvas bags and left to warm up in the sun for 3–4 days.

Sprouted maize seeds

After this, experienced gardeners disinfect the planting material for half an hour in a solution of potassium permanganate or formaldehyde, then wash it and dry it on thick cloth or paper.

You can plant the seeds after this step, but it is more effective to increase germination and productivity by germinating the seeds. To do this, place gauze in several layers in a container, moisten it until wet, and then place seeds on the surface. It will take them an average of 7 days to germinate.

As soon as the first shoots appear, the seeds are planted in open ground, preferably early in the morning.

Planting in open ground

Sowing maize is carried out in only two ways: seeds and seedlings. The first method is suitable for southern regions with hot, humid summers, and seedlings should be used by gardeners in temperate latitudes.

High germination can be achieved by planting germinated seeds in sun-warmed soil. Therefore, the optimal time for planting is the end of May, when the daytime temperature reaches +20 degrees.

Maize sprouts

Cultivation of seedlings is relevant for northern regions or for obtaining an early harvest (2-3 weeks earlier than when planting seeds). To obtain seedlings, germinated seeds are planted in peat cups or small containers, from where the seedlings can be easily removed later.

The best soil for seedlings is loose, slightly acidic, well-drained and fertile. Both ready-made soil substrates from the store and homemade soil from a mixture of leaf soil, peat and drainage in the form of sand are suitable.

It is not recommended to keep seedlings at home for growing: when planted in open ground, this can slow down the growing season.

Before immersing the germinated planting material, the soil is abundantly moistened. To be safe, place 2 seeds in each container at once. Seedlings are planted in open ground together with a lump of earth after 3–4 leaves appear. The planting depth is small - 5–6 cm, then the soil needs to be watered abundantly.

Pre-sowing seed preparation

About a week before the planned sowing time, you need to germinate the corn:

• dilute a little wood ash in warm water;
• put the corn grains there for half a day;
• wrap them in a napkin moistened with the solution;
• Unwrap them every day, letting them “breathe”, after moistening, wrap them again.

When the seeds hatch, plant them in the garden.

Planting seeds in the ground

Loosen the top layer of the pre-dug bed, make several furrows 5-6 cm deep at intervals of 50-60 cm.

Place the seeds in groups of 3-4 pieces, the distance between groups should be at least 0.4 m.

With such a square-cluster planting, adult plants will self-pollinate, which will increase productivity.

After these manipulations, fill the grooves with moist soil, mulching the surface with dry soil.

The maize will sprout soon.

If you soak corn seeds before planting, then after a week and a half you will see young shoots. If you plant dry seeds, seedlings will appear a week later.

When the greens grow a little, leave one of the strongest and most powerful in each of the groups, weed out the others without regret.

Planting scheme

The volume of the harvest largely depends on the corn planting scheme, of which there are 4:

• in two rows
• in one row
• square-nested
• conveyor

The simplest and most reliable way is in two rows with a distance of 0.5 m for cross-pollination. In this case, the distance between plants should not exceed 35 cm. When choosing a method, it is worth considering that adult plants may suffer from a lack of air circulation with such dense planting.

When planting in one row, the holes can be located closer - up to 30 cm from each other. The depth of planting seeds in a row is only 10 cm, and to guarantee germination, 2 seeds are placed in each hole at once. Otherwise, the fit will look sloppy, with large gaps. The holes are filled with moist soil and covered with dry mulch on top.

Maize planting scheme using the square-cluster method

The square-cluster method of dense planting is excellent for the convenience of inter-row cultivation, timely loosening and thinning of crops. Corn seeds are planted in two or three parallel lines, with a distance between rows of 70 cm and between plants of 35 cm.

The conveyor planting method is used for continuous harvesting throughout the season. To do this, seeds of different ripening periods are planted in the ground, one variety at a time, every 15 days.

How to feed corn

It doesn’t matter which growing method is chosen, in any case, you need to feed the plant after 6 strong leaves appear on the stems.

An infused solution of 5% mullein or a 10% solution of chicken manure is suitable as a feed. It is recommended to apply fertilizers after watering the soil, otherwise there is a risk of burning the plant. A few weeks after fertilizing, you should replenish the soil with mineral fertilizer. To do this, you need to add 20 g of potassium sulfate and superphosphate to the area between the rows.

From July 1 to July 15, foliar feeding can be done. Fertilizers that contain nitrogen are suitable for this. A urea solution (50 g per 10 liters of water) gives a good effect. Spraying can be done in the morning or evening hours. To prevent the leaves from turning pale, the composition can be supplemented with 30 g of magnesium sulfate.

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Cultivation care

Fertile soil

Corn needs infrequent but plentiful watering: water should wet the earthen ball under the plant 15 cm deep. The crop needs moisture most during the period of laying and maturing of young ears.

The plant does not tolerate changes in humidity well, which ultimately affects the quality of the grain. For maize, loosening the soil to a depth of no more than 5 cm and frequent weeding are important.

It is also worth hilling up - this is important for surface roots, which corn tends to form. By throwing soil to the trunk, the gardener helps the plant not to collapse under the influence of strong winds or the weight of its own fruits.

The best option for feeding the crop is considered to be organic: mullein or chicken droppings diluted in water in a ratio of 1 to 10 and 1 to 20, respectively. They are applied 1 month after the first shoots appear.

If organic fertilizers are not applied in time, then when 4–5 leaves are formed, you can feed the plant with ammonium nitrate.

Corn seedlings transplantation

Timely application of fertilizers will ensure high crop yields along with large fruit size.

Main minerals for feeding:

1. Nitrogen. It is applied when inflorescences are laid, after the formation of 6 or 7 leaves
2. Phosphorus. Apply to the soil when the first shoots have already appeared, and then twice more: during flowering and when grains form on the cobs.
3. Potassium is applied throughout the entire growing season of maize
4. Calcium is added as needed to speed up root hair formation.

The lack of some element is reflected in the condition of the leaves: they turn pale with a lack of nitrogen, become brown and deformed with a deficiency of potassium, and acquire a purple color without a sufficient amount of phosphorus.

After the formation of the 8th leaf, the corn begins to grow actively, adding up to 10 cm in height every day. At the same time, side shoots - stepsons - begin to appear. They need to be cut with a sharp blade or knife in order for the plant to produce large fruits. If this is not done, then in the fall small inflorescences will form in the axils of the stepsons.

How to grow corn: care features

Corn that was planted at the optimal time requires some care. Its features are determined by technological and natural factors. Optimal conditions for the development of a good full ear necessarily include:

• good nutrition;
• loosening, weeding;
• sufficient soil moisture.

Here are the details:

Fertilizers

Complete nutrition for the plant is provided through the application of fertilizers. Fertilizing is done when six leaves appear on the plant. Organic and potassium fertilizers and liquid ammonium nitrate are applied under the roots.

Corn Shoot Care: Pixabay

To determine what the plant is missing, carefully examine the shoots:

1. When the stalk and leaves are pale and the corn is stunted, add nitrogen fertilizer to the soil.
2. If the edges of the leaves become wavy, then you need to add phosphorus fertilizers to the soil.
3. Reddening of the leaves indicates a lack of phosphates.

Mandatory fertilizing is carried out during the ejection of panicles and during the formation of cobs.

Watering and loosening

For full growth, corn must be provided with optimal watering. On average, one shoot consumes 2–4 liters of water per day. Moisten the soil as soon as the rows are dry. Adequate moisture supply is especially important during the period of cob formation and at the stage of milk maturity.

Air access to the roots ensures loosening. It is important to take into account this point: the higher the plant, the closer to the surface of the earth its roots are. Based on this, the optimal weeding depth is selected. Loosen after watering and removing weeds.

Pinching and post-pollination

Stepchildren—additional side shoots—can reduce crop yields. They retard the development of the cobs, so they need to be removed. Do this carefully so as not to damage the plant trunk.

You can improve fruiting and increase the yield of corn using the method of post-pollination. To additionally pollinate flowers:

• at the top of the stem, pick off the male panicle;
• shake the male panicle over the spadix (female flowers).

This technique ensures high-quality cross-pollination, which helps to increase the total number of grains in each ear.

Female corn flower for post-pollination: Pixabay

When to harvest corn? For harvesting for future use and fresh consumption, corn is harvested during the period of milk ripeness. If it is necessary to collect grain for long-term storage, the cobs are kept until waxy ripeness. During this period, the grain contains no more than 30% moisture. Harvest time from the moment of maturity is up to 14 days. If the grain is harvested later, part of the harvest will be lost.

Now you know exactly when and how to plant corn in order to grow a bountiful harvest. Take the advice of scientists, and corn from your personal plot will definitely please you with the quality, quantity and taste of the grains.

Original article: https://www.nur.kz/household/garden/1788008-kogda-i-kak-sazat-kukuruzu-vesnoj-posadka-vyrasivanie-uhod/

Pollination

Ears setting

The yield of corn planting can be increased using artificial pollination technologies. For this event, choose calm, windless weather.

The technology is simple: pollen is shaken from the panicles onto the emerging ears or alternately brushed over the female and male flowers with a soft brush.

Harvest and storage

Harvest time depends on the planting method (seeds or seedlings) and the ripening period of a particular variety (early, middle, late). As a rule, this is the end of August - beginning of September. Corn cobs are considered ripe when:

• the upper leaves covering the cob have dried out
• stigmas turn brown and dry out
• the wrapper turns light green
• the grains are tightly packed in rows, have acquired a bright yellow color and, when pressed, release a whitish milky juice

Ripe fruit

The optimal storage conditions for fruits are low temperatures (from 0 to +2 degrees), at which the cobs can not spoil for up to 3-4 weeks. If you keep the fruits in warm conditions, they will quickly disappear.

When harvesting, you can choose planting material for the next year. As a rule, seed varieties are planted separately from others to prevent cross-pollination. You should not expect milky ripeness of the cob, but waxy ripeness, at which the seeds acquire a bright yellow tint and wrinkle a little.

The cobs are cut off and left to ripen for 2 weeks, then the seeds are carefully separated, which are stored without loss of germination for up to 4–5 years.

Harvesting

Cobs at the stage of milky ripeness are removed as follows: hold the stem with one hand, and unscrew the cob from it with the other. You should know that the top ones ripen about a week earlier than the bottom ones. Therefore, harvesting is carried out in several stages. Harvesting cannot be delayed, as a significant delay can affect the taste and quality of the grains.

Note: Harvested milk cobs are not stored for long. They should be eaten immediately, processed for canning (freezing), or stored in the refrigerator, without removing the leaves, for a period of one week.

A month after the milk cobs have been collected, it is time to harvest the seeds. The signal to start harvesting will be the darkening of the stem and the drying of the leaves. The cobs are separated from the stem by twisting them slightly. Then the covering leaves are removed and left to dry. Dried grains lend themselves well to husking.

The collected planting material is stored in a dark, dry and cool place in a hermetically sealed container. In this case, it will retain its ability to germinate for up to 10 years.

Joint planting of different crops

The plant coexists well with other crops, and the best neighbors for maize are legumes: peas, beans, as well as zucchini, sunflowers, pumpkins, melons or potatoes. For these plants, maize serves as both natural shelter and support. Buckwheat, melons and legumes will be good predecessors for cereals.

Seeds of corn and beans can even be planted in one hole, and then the seedlings do not need to be thinned out. This mutually beneficial relationship is based on the fact that maize receives nitrogen from the soil, which is produced by beans. She, in turn, uses the corn stalks as a support for growth.

Combined planting of cucumbers and corn

The same successful symbiosis of maize with cucumbers and pumpkin, which corn protects from strong winds and prevents their fruits from lying on the ground. At the same time, partner plants should not be allowed to overtake the grass in growth, creating unnecessary shading. It is not recommended to plant corn and tomatoes together.

The optimal plantings after corn are legumes, beets, carrots, perennial greens or winter grains, and leafy vegetables.

Diseases and pests

Maize fruit affected by blister smut

Although the plant does not require care, it is susceptible to diseases, so corn plantings must be inspected regularly.

The most dangerous diseases:

1. Blister smut. A fungal disease that develops at low temperatures and excessive humidity levels. A characteristic sign is oval-shaped swelling in the affected areas
2. Dusty smut . In hot and dry weather, the cobs are affected - they turn black and curl
3. Diplodia (dry rot). Appears in the form of black dots on the grains and cobs
4. Helminthosporiosis . It goes by quickly. The affected area is inflorescences and leaves on which brown spots appear

Insect pests also cause damage to the crop. They are fought with the help of drugs Decis, Karate Zeon, Danadim, Deltamethrin.

Corn stem borer

The danger is:

• Swedish oat fly
• stem borer
• root aphid
• meadow moth
• wireworm
• cotton bollworm

To prevent the appearance of diseases and insects, it is necessary to follow preventive measures:

1. Carry out deep soil treatment mechanically
2. Disinfect planting material
3. Adhere to crop rotation rules

Kinds

Fruits of the sugar type maize

There are only 8 types of cereal crops, and only 5 of them are of industrial importance:

1 Sugar . It has received the widest distribution and is most often used in breeding due to the milky and sweet taste of the cobs. Mostly young grains are eaten

2 Starchy . It is characterized by a high starch content and is also called flour or soft. Used for the production of molasses and corn flour, it lends itself well to processing. The grains are large, white or red

3 Dentoform . The cobs have large, rich yellow grains. It is resistant to diseases and has high yield. Used as feed and industrial raw materials, but also eaten

4 Indian . Another name is siliceous. An early-ripening, starchy species, the grains of which are used to produce corn flakes and grits. A characteristic feature is grains of different sizes, which can be white, light yellow and even almost black.

5 Bursting . Mainly used in the food industry for the production of popcorn

6 Wax . Least valuable species. It has poor resistance to adverse influences and produces small yields. The grains are white and yellow, covered with a waxy film

Another 2 species (membranous and sharp-grained) do not have food or industrial value.

Corn benefits and harms

Corn has many beneficial properties. It contains vitamins B, E, calcium, phosphorus, iodine. Cereals improve intestinal function, are characterized by choleretic properties, and accelerate metabolic processes. Corn has a number of disadvantages. Its use should be discontinued during exacerbations of gastrointestinal diseases. Contraindications also include thrombosis and thrombophlebitis. If you managed to grow a generous harvest, do not rush to eat this cereal crop. Study all contraindications. If they are absent, feel free to eat it.

Varieties

Maize for popcorn production

Of greatest interest to gardeners are the resistant, productive varieties: Lakomka, Sochny, Spirit, Dobrynya, Hopi, Early Golden Sundance.

Sweet varieties have become very popular:

1. Strawberry corn. The grains are red, the cobs look like large purple cones. It has a pleasant taste, but is also used in confectionery as a natural coloring agent, and when dried as a decorative element.
2. Bonduelle. Sweet, early ripening sugar variety. Easy to care for, has an excellent taste, can be used for eating, freezing and canning.
3. Gourmand 121. Early ripening variety, very sweet and tasty. It is characterized by high resistance to diseases and pests

For consumption and for making homemade popcorn, it is recommended to grow the maize variety of the same name - Popcorn . The grains of this variety have a high content of fat and starch; the seeds have the property of exploding at high temperatures.

Necessary conditions for growing corn

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At the time of sowing, the soil at a depth of 10 cm should warm up to +12 degrees. From germination to waxy ripeness of grains, it takes from 70 days to 4 months. On private plots, people usually cultivate early ripening varieties of corn.

They begin harvesting the cobs by waiting until the top fibers turn brown. At this moment, the yellow grains of the cob will be in milky-waxy ripeness.

• Cobs removed from the stems can be stored at a temperature of +20 degrees for no more than 2 days.
• Products can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 weeks. For long-term use, corn kernels can be frozen or canned.

To form a large vegetative mass and yield, corn spends a lot of nutrition and thereby greatly depletes the soil.
Therefore, after harvesting the crop, it would be wise to apply organic and mineral fertilizers to the site. Breeders have developed corn hybrids that have a short growing season and increased resistance to cold. Thanks to this, the crop can now be successfully grown even in the northern regions of the country. But in these areas it is grown through seedlings.

Suitable varieties for different regions

Depending on the weather and climatic conditions of growth, different varieties with different indicators of resistance and germination are selected for each specific region.

So, in Siberia with a harsh continental climate, growing maize varieties will be successful: Spirit, Khutoryanka, Lakomka 121, Bylina, Jubilee. These varieties can withstand sudden weather changes and cold winds, and also ripen faster.

Sugar corn KHUTORYANKA

For the Moscow region, it is better to select early ripening varieties, which are best planted as seedlings. A balanced choice would be the following varieties: Gourmand Belogorye, Triple Joy, Anava, Spirit.

Sugar corn Lakomka Belogorye

In central Russia and the Urals, a good harvest can be reaped by planting a plant of the following varieties: Pioneerka of the North, White Night and Tiraspolskaya-33.

Sweet corn Spirit

In the Leningrad region, temperatures above +10 degrees occur less often than is necessary for full ripening of maize , so the cobs in this region must be harvested in a state of milky ripeness. The best choice would be early ripening varieties: White Night, Early Pearl, Perborn, Early Sugar.

Sugar corn Rannyaya Lakomka

Special zoned varieties were bred for cultivation in Turkmenistan: Anau-62 and Paytagt.

Variety Khmelnytsky

Corn hybrids bred for Ukraine are distinguished by high yield potential (on average 15 t/ha) and resistance to negative environmental influences . These are: Dneprovsky, Khmelnitsky, Baturyn, Synevyr, Dnipro, Kvitnevyi, Solonyansky, Orzhitsa.

Variety Dneprovsky

Varieties of sweet corn released in Belarus: Brusnitsa, Almaz, Lyudmila, Porumbel, Konkurent.

Maize variety Porumbeni

Which variety of corn to choose for growing

When choosing a variety, it is worth considering the region in which you plan to grow corn. Experts recommend that gardeners living in the Urals purchase early ripening varieties, namely:

• "Tiraspolskaya-33";
• "White Night";
• "Pioneer of the North."

By providing proper care for tall herbaceous crops, you can reap a rich harvest in the Moscow region. When choosing seeds for the middle zone, you should give preference to unpretentious species, which include “Dobrynya”, “Gamma”, “Madonna”, “Early Golden” and “Bonduelle”.

Thanks to the painstaking work of breeders, today the cultivation of corn is possible even in Siberia. For this region, it is best to purchase cold-resistant varieties such as Lakomka 121, Khutoryanka, Jubilee F1, Spirit, Bylina.

Favorable days for planting according to the lunar calendar 2022

Bed with maize

Sowing and planting corn in 2022 in accordance with the lunar calendar will be successful in the period from May 7 to May 9 ; gardening work should be avoided on May 5 and 19. In June you can work on maize on the 5th, 6th, 13th , but you should refrain from working on the 6th and 17th.

In July, the favorable period for work is 3, 11, 16. The unfavorable period is 2 and 17. You can work on late varieties in August on 6 and 8; you should avoid working in the garden on 1, 13, 15.

Where can I buy

It is better to buy corn seeds for planting on the site in specialized stores or online. Planting material tolerates long-term transportation by mail and storage without losing the germination and taste of the fruit.

Seeds of hybrid varieties of maize

Manufacturers of seed material offer varieties with different characteristics of durability, ripening and taste of the fruit.

Agricultural holdings most often sell hybrid corn seeds:

• Dow Seeds (Dow Agro Science);
• Pioneer (DuPont);
• Syngenta (Syngenta);
• Gran 220, Tesla (All-Ukrainian Scientific Institute of Selection);
• Corypheus, Clifton (KVS).

The basic rules for preparing corn for planting with seeds and seedlings, planting patterns and care features are collected for clarity in short videos:

Corn is a tasty and healthy plant that, with due care and effort, every gardener can grow in his or her own summer cottage. The reward for your labors will be a bountiful harvest of this southern crop, which can be obtained even in a temperate climate. In addition, the crop can be cultivated for silage and livestock feed.

VIDEO: SOWING CORN IN OPEN GROUND

Planting corn in open ground: how to get a good harvest with minimal care (25 Photos & Videos) + Reviews

When to plant corn: optimal planting dates

Corn is a fairly heat- and light-loving plant, so it is not recommended to rush to plant it in the spring. But there’s no point in delaying it either. Everything has its time, so to speak.

With the seedling method of cultivation, corn seeds are sowed at home approximately 4 weeks before planting in open ground, with 1 week allotted for the emergence of seedlings.

At what temperature

Sowing seeds should be done only when the soil warms up to a temperature of +10-12 degrees (or even better +13-14 degrees) and the threat of return spring frosts has passed.

Important! If you sow corn in soil that is not warmed up enough, the seedlings will appear very slowly and unfriendly; in such conditions, the seeds are more damaged by wireworms, become moldy and lose their germination capacity.

By the way! In the phase of 2-3 true leaves, corn can withstand frosts down to -2 degrees, however, at -4 degrees the seedlings die.

Approximate sowing dates in different regions

Of course, depending on the climatic characteristics of your region of residence and current weather conditions, the timing of planting corn in open ground and for seedlings may vary, but approximate dates can still be given:

• In the south of Russia - this is the second half - the end of April;

There is no point in planting corn seedlings in the southern regions.

• In the middle zone (Moscow region) - the second half of May;

This means that corn seedlings can be planted in the second half of April.

• In the North-West (in the Leningrad region) - early June;
• In the Urals and Siberia - no earlier than the 3rd decade of May - early June.

According to the lunar calendar in 2022

Many gardeners believe that corn planting should be done according to the Lunar calendar .

Favorable days according to the lunar calendar when you should sow corn for seedlings or open ground in 2022 are the following dates:

• in April - 3-9, 12-15, 26-27;
• in May - 1-6, 10-15, 19, 24, 31;
• in June - 1-3, 7-13, 16, 19, 20, 24-30.

dates are considered unfavorable days for sowing corn in 2022 (Full and New Moon , as well as the period when the Moon is in Aquarius, since it is a barren and dry sign - in italics):

• in April - 1 , 16, 23-24 (Aquarius), 30 ;
• in May - 16, 20-22 (Aquarius), 30;
• in June - 14, 17-18 (Aquarius), 29.