Sweet large corn is one of the favorite dishes of almost every person, a kind of pleasant memory from childhood, especially intensified at the beginning of the summer season. A popular plant, a native of America, in ancient times was cultivated by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs.
Corn - the slender queen of the fields
On an industrial scale, this crop is grown mainly for fodder purposes, but it has adequately found its niche in many summer cottages and garden plots, where corn varieties are represented in all their diversity. Moreover, domestic cultivation significantly “cultivated” the tall beauty, depriving her of the ability to self-sow and grow in her former, wild state.
Now this culture is monoecious, has separate inflorescences and is cross-pollinated. Some gardeners use artificial pollination - for this, they pluck the spikelets on the top of the stem (male flowers) and shake them over flowering ears (female type flowers).
Description and external specifications
The root system of almost every variety of corn is quite powerful and goes underground to a depth of about 1.5 meters. Along the way, the formation of additional (supporting) roots on the stem is observed, which condition the plant more firmly in the soil and contribute to the optimal absorption and retention of water and minerals.
The stems of the plant are erect, can reach 6 meters in height (depending on the variety of corn). Male inflorescences are at the top of the stem in the form of panicles, and female ones are hidden in the axils of the leaves. The mass of such a complex spike, which is the ear of corn, ranges from 35 to 500 grams.
All existing varieties of corn by grain structure and direction of use are divided into several main types. Below are the main ones in the context of varieties.
Sweet Corn Varieties
Sugarcorn is the most popular and beloved, especially during its milky-wax ripeness; a delicious ingredient in many salads, is the basis of many bred high-yielding hybrids. Upon reaching full maturity, corn accumulates a significant amount of sugars. The surface of the grains is wrinkled, they themselves in the section are glassy. Sweet corn is successfully used in the canning industry.
The most popular and popular varieties of sugar corn are Icy Nectar, Early Golden 401, Spirit, Gourmet 121, Dobrynya, Sundance.
Spirit
Is a new hybrid and a bright representative of the variety of sugar corn; Suitable for almost all regions of Russia. It is characterized by bright yellow grains, which are collected in cobs up to 20 cm in size. The taste is soft and sweet (due to the high sugar content in the grains), the flesh is quite juicy. The plant has a 2-meter height. When growing such a variety of seedlings and planting in open ground at the end of May, Spirit corn will please a high-quality crop after 2 months.
Dobrynya
A hybrid characterized by early ripening. Planting is carried out in May, after 70 days you can collect the ripened cobs. It has a sweet taste and impressive size of ears. The height of the plant is approximately 170 cm, the formation of ears occurs from a height of 70 cm. Great for fresh consumption, freezing, canning. It grows on any soil and has good resistance to disease.
Gourmet 121
The variety is characterized by high yields and resistance to various diseases. The growing season is 70-75 days. The height of the plant is about 1.5 meters. The length of the cob is up to 20 cm. In the phase of milk maturity, cobs of the Lakomka 121 variety are very tasty in boiled form, are also used for freezing and canning.
Ice nectar
Late-ripening variety, characterized by excellent taste and good yield. Among the rest is considered the sweetest. Corn cobs can reach a length of 22 cm, which indicates their considerable size.
Sundance
It has slightly elongated yellow grains, which are great for canning and eating fresh. On each bush, short in stature, two ears are formed up to 20 cm long, up to 5 cm in diameter. Such a variety is sown at the end of May and ripens for 70-95 days.
Early Gold 401
This variety is undersized, with a growing season of approximately 90 days. High resistance to diseases. Medium drought tolerance. The weight of the ears is up to 190 grams. Flavored yellow grain.
Dental corn: description and varieties
It is characterized by large ears, powerful stems, high yield and good yield of silage. In America, this is the main type of corn that grows on an industrial scale and is used in animal husbandry for feed purposes. Its grains in shape resemble a tooth and at the apex have a depression formed during ripening. Plants usually do not scrub, grain contains up to 75% starch and is used to produce alcohol, flour and cereals.
Bright representatives of the tooth-like varieties of corn are Odessa 10 and Sterling.
Odessa 10
Late-ripening variety, giving a significant yield of green mass and low - grain. Most often grown on silage.
Sterling
Mid-late high-yielding variety, zoned in almost all areas of corn cultivation.
Silicon corn: characteristic varieties
It has a powerful smooth grain (without depressions, roundish on top) of white or yellow color, which almost entirely consists of starch. This species serves as the basis for the production of corn sticks and flakes and is the most common on the planet. The crossing of such a subspecies of corn with tooth-like led to the appearance of semi-dentate corn.
The most common types of corn are Voronezh 80, Voronezh 76, Severodakotskaya.
Voronezh 80
An early hybrid that ripens in 70 days. Valued for its unpretentious care and high sugar content. The size of the ears is from 20 to 25 cm, the height of the plant is 170 cm. It is used in canning. Seeds for next year's crops cannot be used. Zoned in the Sakhalin region and the northern regions of Siberia.
Voronezh 76
Early ripening grade. Ripens in almost all regions of the central chernozem zone.
Severodakotskaya
Mid early variety. Landed in the southern and southeastern regions of Russia.
Popcorn: Popcorn Varieties
In appearance, the description of corn varieties of this kind is similar: the grains are smooth and shiny, burst when heated. It was this kind that became the basis for the appearance of everyone's favorite popcorn. The plant is characterized by good bushiness, a large number of ears, the presence of a significant number of leaves.
The best varieties of corn for popcorn are Volcano, Oerlikon, Dnieper 925.
Volcano
It is characterized by excellent taste properties of toasted grain and its high percentage increase. The corn variety for popcorn is medium early, drought tolerant, high-yielding, plant height - up to 220 cm. The length of the ears is about 22 cm. It is grown in forest-steppe and steppe regions.
Oerlikon
Mid-early variety, characterized by excellent taste and pleasant aroma. Used to make popcorn, corn flakes and chopsticks.
Other types of corn
- Waxy Corn. The seeds of the variety of this subspecies are characterized by smoothness and matte peel. In a section, the grain structure resembles wax. This species, the variety variety of which is quite limited, is very popular in China.
- Starchy corn . One of the oldest on the planet. Most common in southern North America and in South American countries. Corn varieties (photo plants can often be seen on many specialized resources) are characterized by late ripening. Plants of medium height, have many leaves, medium and strong bushiness. The grain is round, dull, smooth, has a convex top. Starch content - up to 80%.
- Captive corn. In industry, this type is not used due to the complexity of processing, because not only the cob, but also each grain is covered with individual wrappers.
- Ostrozernaya (nosed) corn . It has no special value, therefore it is not widespread.
Fashion New - Hopi Corn
This corn variety is different from the rest and has its own zest - an unusual, unusual black-purple color of grains caused by the presence of a special enzyme.
It is grown mainly in the southwestern United States and in northern Mexico. The taste is sweet and delicate, with a pronounced nutty hue. Such a variety was discovered among the Hopi Indian tribes, which formed the basis of its name. It can be assumed that this is a very ancient type of plant, which was replaced by the usual bright yellow or orange corn. Such a “purple” variety, which has many varieties of different color, has occupied a worthy niche in the consumer market and is widely used in cosmetology, in the manufacture of mixtures and blue corn chips. On the basis of blue grains prepare the popular alcoholic drink "Chicha Morado". Hopi corn has many varieties, the color range of which is wide enough: from light gray to almost black. Several flowers can be combined in one ear, which makes these varieties of corn decorative.
Feed grades of corn
Fodder corn varieties, the purpose of which is to obtain a significant amount of silage for feeding livestock, include such varieties as the Kuban early ripe hybrid, Aurika, Viola, Saratov Sugar, Golden Fleece, Pearls. Feed corn, the varieties of which are characterized by a high degree of leafiness, is also used to produce high-quality grain.
Landing rules
It is advisable to plant corn in sunny places; she is not picky about the choice of soil, but still prefers light and well-warmed land. Legume precursors include legumes, winter crops, row crops and spring wheat. Also, it can be planted after tomatoes, root crops and melons.
The fertility of the soil plays a huge role in obtaining a rich and high-quality crop, therefore fertilizing (organic and mineral) is required. In the autumn digging in the ground you can make rotted manure and phosphorus-potash fertilizers. In spring, the site before landing is pre-leveled with a rake (to remove the surface crust and break up the lumps of earth).
Corn should be planted in soil heated to 12 ° C, this occurs around the end of April; the seeds are planted to a depth of about 7 cm. On the eve of planting, about a day, it is recommended to apply nitrogen fertilizers (per 10 m 2 - 200 grams) and loosen the earth to a depth of 10 cm.
Acceleration of seed germination can be ensured by their preliminary soaking in warm water. To do this, they should be placed in a gauze bag, which for 4 days to put in a sunny place, and then put in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Then the seeds should be washed, placed in a container and put in a warm place. After 3-4 days, small roots will appear, it is then that the seeds can be planted in open ground. In the field, the first shoots will please about the 12th day.
Many amateur gardeners plant a ready-made seedlings of corn, in order to obtain a crop, in a short time, the age of which when planting is usually 30 days.
Corn sowing is required to be done in rows, row spacing is 60 cm, between plants - 40 cm. Seeds are planted to a depth of 3-4 cm in a well-watered hole. Of the emerged seedlings, which may be several (since several seeds are laid in the hole for the purpose of guaranteed germination), the strongest plant should be left, the rest must be disposed of.
When planting corn, you can use the conveyor method, that is, plants with different ripening periods are planted with an interval of 15 days. This will ensure continuous harvesting throughout the summer.
Plant nutrition
Fertilizing corn should be done if the plant has six leaves. During this period, you can make compost, humus, mullein, chicken droppings. In addition to organic matter, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium fertilizers are added to the aisles in liquid form.
The lack of trace elements required for the plant can be determined by the appearance of the corn. With stunted and pale leaves there is a lack of nitrogen; if in the early stages of plant development its slow growth is observed, and the edges of the leaves become violet, it means that the culture does not have enough phosphorus. Abnormal waviness of the leaves and a change in their color (from pale to dark brown) indicate a lack of potassium.
Care Features
After planting, corn growth is slow for some time, so loosening and weeding is required (about 3 times during the growing season) in order to enrich the soil with oxygen and remove the upper crust. Intensive corn growth begins after the appearance of the eighth leaf; during this period, the daily gain can be 5-6 cm. When corn forms side shoots - stepsons - the latter should be cut off so that they do not interfere with the development of young ears and plant growth. The reasons for the formation of unwanted side shoots may be low temperatures in the early stages of vegetation, the introduction of excessive amounts of fertilizer, as well as sparse sowing.
Watering the corn, infrequent and plentiful (water should penetrate to a depth of 10-15 cm), is required during the laying and ripening of young ears.