Until recently, corn was grown only abroad. At the moment in the arsenal there are different varieties from early ripening to exotic. There are types of maize that can ripen even in the north. In fact, corn and maize are one and the same, the only fodder crop with dense and large ears is called corn, and maize is sweet table corn with excellent taste.
Maize growing rules
Many gardeners grow maize in the same way as fodder crops, so they do not get high yields. Maize requires a special technology of vegetable growing.
Vegetable corn is more thermophilic. It is imperative to control the weather, frosts are detrimental to the plant. Sowing is carried out from late April to mid-June.
Maize: plant photo
Seed preparation and sowing
Maize seeds are laid in the ground at a soil temperature of at least 10 degrees. Mandatory etching is required - use a fungicide and a mixture from pests. If the soil is dry, it is recommended to shed furrows. Do not place vegetables and forage crops in the neighborhood, there is a high risk of over-pollination. The result will upset you, as the maize will accumulate a large amount of starch and lose its taste. The ideal option is separation by climbing plants at a distance of 300 m from each other. Also, maize and corn should be sown at different times and varieties with different flowering periods should be chosen.
Fertilizers
The vegetable culture is very grateful to the fertile soil; it is better to plant the plant after potatoes, zucchini and beans. Be sure to add humus and top dressing. Maize is very sensitive to weeds, so weeding is required constantly, plus it is necessary to loosen the aisles.
Maize care
For a rich harvest of maize, it is necessary to pinch the plant, it is also recommended to remove the undergrowth of the third and other shoots. Unfavorable weather (drought or too wet) can negatively affect pollination, in which case you can do it manually. Be sure to water the maize abundantly, it is hygrophilous, especially during the period of sweeping until it is waxy. During flowering, top dressing is made: a mixture of trace elements is perfect, and during the formation of cobs with ammonium nitrate. From pests, the plant is treated with insecticides.
It should be remembered that chemical treatment must be carried out in protective clothing and with a mask on the face (to avoid poisoning and burns)
Harvest
The maize ripens at the moment when the stigmas on it become brown, and the maize grain acquires an elastic shape and becomes a bright yellow color. Long-term storage is not recommended - the maize grain loses its sweet and delicate taste.
