Corn planting and care in the open field in siberia

Corn is a fairly ancient culture. Nevertheless, they began to grow it in our region relatively recently - only a couple of centuries ago. This is because she is quite "finicky" and needs constant care in the process of her growth. But the resulting harvest will delight any gardener with fresh tender cobs filled with sweet grains. Today we will talk about the features of planting and caring for corn, as well as the varieties most suitable for growing in Siberia (according to the reviews of experienced gardeners).

Corn: general information, main varieties

Corn or maize is native to Central America. In Europe, it appeared for the first time in the 16th century, and on the territory of the Russian Empire only by the end of the 17th century. Unfortunately, corn is a crop that is not very common in our region, and this is understandable: it loves warmth very much, therefore, it is not an easy task to cultivate it on a large territory of far from hot Russia. It is massively grown in the States, Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, as well as in the Volga region and the Caucasus.

Gardeners grow mainly the sugar variety of corn, since it contains a large amount of sugars that slowly turn into starch, respectively, young ears have exceptional taste.

Corn is a thermophilic crop, so you need to choose special varieties for Siberia.

Corn is an annual plant with a rather powerful stem up to 2 m in height and the same root system - quite strong and penetrating deep into the soil to a depth of 2 m and a width of one meter, which allows the crop to protect itself from a lack of moisture and prevent possible damage from strong winds ... Corn is a dioecious plant, that is, male and female "origins" are located on the plant in different places.

Advice. The best taste of corn is observed at the stage of milky maturity, that is, when the ear begins to bloom (this process lasts about 2-3 days). It is then that you should start harvesting young ears.

Consider the corn varieties most resistant to adverse environmental conditions:

• Gourmand 121. Hybrid variety that ripens quite early - the crop can be harvested as early as 2.5 months after planting the crop. The plant grows not very tall, the cobs are also small - up to 15 cm in length with small yellow grains.
• Spirit. It is a very “resistant” variety that gives its first harvest 2 months after planting. The plant grows quite large with similar ears filled with yellow grains. The crop is distinguished by its excellent taste in comparison with many varieties.

Spirit grade

• Farmer. The variety is early maturing, yields an excellent harvest of small ears with bright orange grains that are distinguished by excellent taste.
• Jubilee. The variety is mid-season, growing up to 1.8 m in height. Gives a good harvest of large ears with excellent taste.
• Epic. A mid-season variety that grows up to 1.5 m and gives an excellent harvest of large ears filled with yellow-orange grains.The taste is pretty good.

Planting corn in the Siberian region

As for the choice of a suitable site for planting corn, everything is somewhat more complicated here than with many other crops, since corn is quite picky about the type of soil and climatic conditions. So, choose fertile soil for planting corn, saturated with nutrients, always water and air permeable.

Advice. You should not choose clay-rich soil for planting corn, as this soil will be too heavy and a dense crust will form on its surface, which impedes the growth of the crop.

The soil must be carefully dug in the fall to the depth of a shovel bayonet and it is imperative to add a considerable amount of manure and green fertilizers - 5-6 kg of manure / compost with the addition of peat, 2-3 tbsp. tablespoons of superphosphate and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of potassium fertilizer. The amount of fertilizer is given per 1 square meter.

By the end of summer, it will be good to sow the area for planting corn with winter rye, and a week before planting the crop (in early May), grind the emerged seedlings and add them to the soil.

Corn is grown both as seeds and seedlings. Since the best harvest can be obtained in the second way, we will consider it. First of all, we select suitable containers for germinating seedlings (pots, boxes) and make a drainage layer at the bottom, consisting of seed husks and crushed eggshells. After that, you can pour the soil mixture and sow two corn kernels into each container to a depth of about 5 cm. Be sure to cover the pots with seeds with foil and leave them in a warm place for a week.

Corn seedlings

When the first shoots appear on the surface, remove the foil and move the pots to a place with sufficient sunlight for 3-4 weeks. During this period, the young plant will already have a fairly strong root system.

In open ground, planting of corn should be carried out somewhere by the end of May, that is, at a time when the last spring frosts have already passed and a stable warm temperature has been established. We prepare not very deep grooves, keeping the distance between the planted seedlings within 25 cm.The distance between the rows should be at least half a meter, preferably 0.6-0.7 m.

Care features

In order for the growth of corn to be rapid, and the harvest rich, it is necessary to timely implement a number of standard care measures as for any crop: get rid of weeds, periodically loosen the soil, feed and water the young plant.

While loosening the soil, it is necessary to simultaneously huddle the culture with moist soil, carefully covering the aerial roots of the plant with it. Keep in mind that at first (during the first few weeks) corn grows rather slowly - this does not mean that you need to take any action. Just be patient.

During the entire growing period, corn must be fed several times and watered at least a couple of times a week (the frequency of watering will depend on the amount of precipitation in your area and the air temperature).

Seedling corn

As for dressings, for the first time it is necessary to carry it out when the plant has 3-4 first leaves (preferably infusion of mullein in a ratio of 1: 8). The second time the plant should be fed in the phase of 6 leaves, but this time the mullein infusion should be "stronger" - 1: 6. The last time the feeding of corn is carried out before the appearance of "panicles: mix potassium fertilizer, superphosphate and urea (1 tablespoon of each component)."

Young cobs can be harvested when the grain is fully ripe and the head of corn is full of them, and when you press on the grain, juice will sprinkle from it.

Our material is coming to an end. We introduced you to the peculiarities of growing corn in the cold Siberian region of Russia. We wish you a rich harvest!

How to grow corn in Siberia: video

Growing corn: photo

The delicate and rich taste of sweet cobs, densely stuffed with juicy grains, yellow, like little suns, have been loved by everyone since childhood. But growing corn on a personal plot seems ungrateful to many gardeners. To collect a generous crop from its bushes, which has reached technical ripeness, you will have to work hard, and first of all, get the necessary knowledge about agricultural agricultural technology.

Requirements for growing conditions

Corn loves warmth. It is mainly cultivated in the southern regions of the country. But it is possible to breed a culture in a temperate climate and even in the much harsher conditions of Siberia. The main thing is to choose the right place for the corn and provide competent care for the plantings. Outdoors, it grows best in areas with maximum sunlight. In the shade and with a lack of heat, the development of its bushes slows down, and the grain on the cob does not ripen to milk ripeness. Plants are sensitive to cold winds and drafts, so it is important to reliably protect the beds from them.

Sweet corn has no special requirements for the quality and structure of the soil. The ideal option for her is light fertile soil with low acidity, rich in humus and well-drained. It is better to plant corn bushes in a personal plot next to legumes, tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkin. It will be unsuccessful to place them near the beds with table beets and celery.

They begin to prepare a place for future corn beds in the garden in the fall. This is especially important when cultivating early maturing varieties. The soil is carefully dug up, choosing the roots of weeds from it. It is correct to do this early, before the first frost. Then the site can be watered abundantly so that the weed seeds that have fallen into it will sprout, and then weed them out. If you follow these recommendations, the spring preparation of the garden will be easier, and planting maintenance will require less time and effort.

Sweet corn responds well to fertilization. Preparing the soil for the beds, they are brought in twice: in autumn and spring. Before winter, they are scattered around the site (by 1 m2):

• humus (5 kg);
• double superphosphate (0.2 kg);
• potassium salt (0.1 kg).

Fertilizers are buried in the ground by digging to the depth of a bayonet shovel. Spring preparation of the site is less intensive. Before planting corn kernels, the soil is fertilized with nitrophos (50 g of the preparation per 1 m²), and then slightly pushed. The procedure is carried out 2–2.5 weeks before the planned date of sowing the seeds. The earth with high acidity is additionally limed.

Sowing corn on the beds

Planting corn with seeds is a simple and quite effective way of growing a crop. Its terms are determined by the characteristics of the local climate. To get friendly shoots, corn grain is sown when the weather is warm and the threat of frost has passed. The thermometer should not fall below 10-12 ° C during the day. In Siberia, you can start planting corn closer to mid-May.

The result will be better if the seeds are prepared before placing in the ground. Professionals advise to soak them. There is nothing complicated in this procedure, for it you will need:

• a piece of gauze, burlap or any other fabric;
• some wood ash;
• the corn itself.

You need to soak the seeds according to certain rules. The fertilizer is thoroughly dissolved in water heated to 22-25 ° C. Then, corn seeds are dipped into this nutrient composition. They do not keep them in it for a long time, 12 hours are enough. An envelope is made of gauze, it is abundantly moistened with a prepared solution and the planting material is placed in it. The condition of the seeds will be checked daily to ensure they are supplied with oxygen. If they have not yet hatched, they are mixed, if necessary, moistened and covered with gauze again. Finish these manipulations when the first shoots appear.

The sprouted corn grain is placed in a slightly loosened soil, having previously marked grooves in the garden, the interval between which is made equal to 0.5-0.6 m. At a distance of 40 cm from each other, holes of medium depth (6-7 cm) are dug in a row. 3-4 seeds are laid out in them. The square-nest planting scheme is optimal for maize: with this arrangement, self-pollination is successful in adult plants and the yield increases. Then the hole is filled with wet soil, and a layer of dry earth is poured on top as mulch.

Sweet corn springs up pretty quickly. If the seeds are soaked, then young shoots will appear in 10-12 days. If you do without preparation, you will have to wait 5-7 days longer. When corn sprouts appear from the soil, only one more powerful one is left in each of the planting holes, and the rest are weeded out.

Growing seedlings

The seedling method of growing a crop is also popular, in which the crop on plants ripens faster. In this case, planting of corn is carried out earlier - in April. For sowing seeds at home, deep containers filled with a mixture of peat and sand or sawdust are suitable. But it is much more convenient to arrange the corn grain in separate cups. This will save time on the care of the seedlings and reduce the likelihood of damage to their roots when moving to the beds.

Advice

You can also get corn seedlings in the greenhouse. It will be correct to install it in the summer cottage in March, so that by the time the seeds are planted, the soil is warmed up enough.

For germination, corn seeds need temperatures around 18-20 ° C. Fluorescent lamps will help provide them with enough light and heat. Better to install them before sowing. If you ignore these guidelines, young sweet corn will stretch out a lot, and care for its long shoots will be difficult. After watering, they will bend down, practically lying on the ground, and hurt. Any draft will be disastrous for them.

Caring for corn seedlings consists of watering and fertilizing. They need a lot of water, it is impossible to allow the soil to dry out in containers. When the seedlings begin to develop intensively, the time will come for feeding them with a solution of mineral fertilizer. They will also respond well to growth stimulants. Young corn is provided with additional nutrition every week.

It can be placed in open ground from the first days of May, if weather conditions permit. By this time, 2-3 powerful leaves will appear on the seedlings. In regions with a colder climate (in the Urals, in Siberia), the procedure is carried out later - in the last week of spring. It is permissible to postpone it even until the beginning of summer. Pits are made in the permanent area before planting corn bushes. They are watered abundantly. To place plants in the beds, the same scheme is used as for sowing seeds. Correct planting of corn is completed by mulching the surface of the hole. It is sprinkled with sand, which will not allow the soil to become covered with a hard crust.

After landing

It takes little for sweet corn to produce a rich harvest. Planting care includes:

• watering;
• top dressing;
• loosening the soil;
• hilling;
• weed removal.

Sweet corn loves clean beds and light, porous soil through which its roots can breathe freely. It is especially important to follow these rules at the initial stages of the development of its bushes. During this period, loosening is indispensable, but they are stopped as soon as the adventitious roots are formed in the corn. Then the time comes for hilling, which will make the bushes more resilient. They will need to be completed at least 1-2 times per season.

Corn on the backyard is closely monitored, removing weak shoots and stepchildren from the bushes. It is not worth breaking them out, there is a safer and less traumatic way to the stem - carefully cut them with scissors.If this is not done, they will take away the strength and nutrients from the corn, which are necessary for the grain to be poured and ripen on the cobs. The formation of numerous stepchildren is a reason to think about whether the watering of the beds is carried out correctly. This is how sweet corn most often reacts to a lack of moisture.

But an excess of water will not benefit the plants: depriving the flow of oxygen, their roots may die. Determining waterlogging is easy. The leaves of the corn take on a purple hue, and the development of the bush slows down. As a result, the plant is dwarf in size, and its ears do not fully ripen.

Watering and feeding

Planting is watered once a week or even less often - once every 10 days. The signal for the next moistening is the state of the soil. It's time to start the procedure if it has dried out to a depth of 5 cm. If corn is grown for grain, it needs abundant watering. The soil should be at least 10-12 cm wet. 1.5-2 buckets of water are spent for each hole. It is this dosage that is necessary to obtain ears densely stuffed with tasty grains.

Advice

During the flowering period of corn, which begins closer to mid-summer, depending on the timing of planting and the selected variety, it is recommended to lightly shake the brushes located at the top of the stems. The procedure is carried out in the middle of the day. There is one more way - do not touch the brushes, but simply knock lightly on the base of the stem. This care helps the plants to pollinate.

Tall bushes of corn in open winds are best tied up. The harvest will be more plentiful if the plantings are generously fed. During the season, the beds are fertilized with organic and mineral compounds at least three times. At the germination stage, as soon as the young sweet corn has released the first leaves, the plants are watered with manure or dung dissolved in water.

The second feeding is carried out at the stage of flowering corn bushes. It's not scary if this time was lost. Mineral fertilizers containing many trace elements are then applied at a later date - during the formation of the first ovaries on corn. During this period, plants will benefit from wood ash. It can simply be scattered over the surface of the ground. For the full development of corn, 1-2 glasses of fertilizer are enough. Further care for her involves the introduction of drugs, which contain a lot of potassium and phosphorus. Start to it as the cobs grow.

The technology of growing corn is not complicated. With the knowledge and desire to get the long-awaited harvest of ripe ears, even beginners in the gardening business will be able to. Their taste and usefulness were appreciated even by the ancient Indian tribes - the Mayans and the Aztecs. Despite the southern origin of the culture and its tender love for warmth, its zoned varieties are successfully cultivated in unfavorable conditions for it in the Urals and Siberia.

Corn grain has a rich chemical composition. It contains many vitamins, minerals, amino acids, carbohydrates, proteins. It is nourishing and healthy, and neither adults nor children can resist the unique aroma of juicy freshly boiled ears. But other parts of the plant can also be used on the farm. Livestock loves to feast on its stems and leaves, so certain varieties of the crop have long been grown for silage. The plant is also used in folk medicine: corn silk has a beneficial effect on the liver and helps to reduce appetite. Aren't there enough reasons to make growing corn in your dacha on your to-do list for the coming season?

Both children and adults love to eat sweet corn. There is always a place for planting a crop, it can be either the border of the hedge or the middle of the site. The main thing is that there is a bed well lit by the sun's rays. Beginning gardeners should familiarize themselves with the peculiarities of agricultural technology before starting planting work.Taking into account the region, it is necessary to decide whether or not to be afraid of frosts in spring and plant corn, be sure to take this factor into account.

When to plant corn in the spring in the Moscow region, Siberia and the Urals?

You should not rush to plant seeds in open ground, they will not germinate in cold ground. In the southern part of Russia, planting in summer cottages begins in early May.... For the middle zone and the Moscow region, the terms are often shifted by 2-3 weeks. Cold-resistant varieties provide for early sowing, however, to protect young shoots from freezing, it is recommended to use a covering material at night. If weather conditions do not allow starting sowing, the seedling method of growing crops, which is typical for the Urals and Siberia, should be used.

Seedlings have hardened in the ground

The weather conditions of Siberia make it possible to obtain the fruits of milky-wax ripeness; full ripening does not occur due to climatic features. They begin to plant in late May or early June. Experts do not recommend soaking the seeds; it is enough to do with the planting of good quality corn. And in order to germinate the shoots faster, a black agrofibre shelter is used. It attracts the sun's rays, creates a favorable environment for the development of sprouts.

The landing dates are indicative. You need to start work taking into account the temperature of the soil warming up. It should be in the range of 10-12 ° C.

Can the plant tolerate frost and what temperature does it withstand in spring?

Corn under the snow

The homeland of corn is considered to be South America and the middle strip of the continent, which testifies to the thermophilicity of the culture. The breeders had to make a lot of efforts to breed varieties and hybrids that are resistant to spring frosts... Seeds planted in open ground and seedlings withstand a minimum temperature of -1-2 ° C, and some hybrids even up to -4 ° C. This is a great achievement, because the optimal temperature indicators in which the sprout develops are 12-18 ° C (the biological minimum is determined by the range of 8-10 ° C).
Depending on the temperature regime, the germination rate of seedlings changes. The biological minimum ensures the germination of shoots in 18-20 days, while at + 20 °, the shoots appear above the soil surface in 5-8 days.

When planting corn seeds for the first time, you need to focus on the average monthly temperature. As a safety net, you should prepare a covering material that will protect the seedlings from spring frosts.

How to properly plant corn outdoors?

To grow the crop we want, we have to follow some rules of how to grow the crop. Sow seeds on time, plant seedlings on time, remember that corn, like any other inhabitant of the garden, is afraid of frost, can hardly endure it (after all, Siberia is not Ukraine), as well as loosen the earth and feed the plant in time. It depends on how it will grow and how many fruits from the summer cottage will appear at the home.

Sowing corn seeds

How to plant seeds and grow seedlings

You can plant a crop in open ground by seed and seedlings. For correct sowing of seeds for seedlings at home, cassettes (cells with a volume of 45 cm2) or peat pots (diameter 12 cm) are used. The containers are filled with fertile soil mixed in equal proportions with humus or compost. To reduce irrigation work, a hydrogel is added to the soil mixture. This component allows you to increase the moisture content of the substrate, reducing the number of procedures for moisturizing seedlings by 3-4 times.
In the spring, before sowing, the seeds must be soaked, they are spent in a damp cloth for 5-7 days. After soaking, the swollen grains are buried in prepared containers by 3-4 cm (3-4 pcs are placed in the pots, 2 pcs in the cassette cell).
Seed germination is slow. At this stage, it is important to maintain the desired temperature regime and good lighting.... With a lack of natural light, daylight lamps are installed, so they will grow faster. After the formation of 3-4 leaves on the shoots, weak shoots should be removed, leaving only strong-looking seedlings. A week before transferring seedlings to open ground, it is necessary to harden daily to adapt to their natural habitat.

Seedlings can be grown in a film greenhouse or greenhouse

Landing in the spring in the ground at their summer cottage, scheme

For corn beds, choose a place without shading. The plant is drought-resistant, one of the main conditions for the growing season is a sufficient amount of sunlight. Compliance with the planting scheme is considered an equally important point, because corn is a cross-pollinated species. For this reason, the bed is formed from several rows, otherwise there may be problems with pollination. Experienced gardeners use the following planting options:

• rows with 2 seeds per hole (distance between holes - 35 cm, row spacing - 45-50 cm);
• square-nesting method (the interval between plants is 45 cm on all sides or 9 shoots per 1 m2).

  We plant corn in open ground

Preparing the soil in the country for growing crops

The area for the garden bed must be carefully cleaned, removing all plant residues and weeds. It is better to do this in the fall, so that after digging, the larvae and pests will freeze out at the first frost. The soil will be ready for planting corn if legumes or pumpkin crops, potatoes, cabbage were grown in front of it.
Of the fertilizers, rotted manure is most suitable.... Complex mineral products that enrich the soil with micronutrients are also suitable. The structure of the soil must be loose so that the root system can develop unhindered. Heavy soil is diluted with chopped straw or sawdust.
The earth is first loosened, then the locations of the holes are outlined. The immersion depth of the seed is determined taking into account two factors: the degree of soil moisture and the condition of the seeds (dry or germinated). Swollen grains are embedded in moist and warm soil to a depth of 3-4 cm, dry ones - by 5-6 cm.

The development of each culture is facilitated in particular by the proximity to other plants. The following companions are suitable for corn: cucumbers, pumpkin, beans and other beans. If it is planted between rows, such as cucumbers, it is important to leave enough space to ensure that both vegetables are adequately nourished.

Preparing the soil for planting corn

Care after planting so as not to be afraid of frost

Many people consider corn an unpretentious plant that requires only weeding. However, it is not. To get a good harvest and ears with excellent taste, you will have to follow simple rules of care.

Watering

Corn loves moisture, it can absorb up to 4 liters per day. But this does not mean that the garden needs to be poured. Waterlogging slows down the development of the root system, changes the color of the leaves (a purple tint appears). These factors jeopardize the yield of the crop, so irrigation should be carried out taking into account the degree of soil moisture. The optimal soil index is 70-80%. During irrigation, 1-2 liters of water are consumed for each bush. In the absence of the possibility of regular watering, it is recommended to periodically loosen the ground. This procedure is popularly called dry irrigation. Loosening essentially prevents the soil from drying out. But the best way to maintain moisture in the beds is to use a spot irrigation system.
Water consumption rates are different at each stage of plant development. After planting the seedlings, moderate watering will be required, after the formation of 7 leaves, the amount of liquid increases to 1.5 liters per bush. After the fibers on the cobs begin to darken, irrigation is carried out less frequently or the amount of water used is reduced.

Loosening row spacings

Weeding, loosening

Weeding prevents thickening of the beds, which so attracts pests, creates favorable conditions for the development of diseases. Therefore, sprouted weeds are periodically removed from the site.
It is rational to combine this procedure with loosening the soil and hilling. This increases the air permeability of the soil, allowing oxygen to feed the deeper layers. With this care, the root system develops better, the plant's immunity is strengthened. As the stem forms, the corn becomes more resilient, allowing it to withstand both gusty winds and heavy rainfall.

Top dressing

In addition to fertilizing the soil at the stage of preparing the beds, it is necessary to feed the plants. This is due to the build-up of green mass throughout the growing season. Complementary feeding is introduced in several stages, and nutrients for each of them are strictly defined.
The first top dressing consists of slurry or poultry manure solution, applied after the formation of the 4th leaf on the shoot. After 2-3 weeks, a second feeding is introduced, consisting of 20 g of ammonium nitrate, 20 g of potassium salt, 40 g of superphosphate per 1 m2. After the appearance of 7-8 leaves, the plant needs nutrition with zinc, boron, copper and manganese.

Top dressing of corn

When using fertilizers, you should not increase the consumption rates. An overabundance of minerals is as dangerous for shoots as their deficiency.

Agricultural technology of corn is simple. One of the main issues requiring attention is the temperature regime, the observance of which creates favorable conditions for the growing season of the plant.

Many gardeners grow corn on their plots, and the reasons can be completely different: someone just loves to eat it boiled, or even raw, others create living fences from new unusual varieties of corn, and still others use it as protection from the wind of other vegetable crops. In any case, a vegetable such as corn, due to its high content of nutrients, deservedly takes its place in Russian gardens.

The timing of planting corn seeds depends on the chosen method of growing this crop. In order to get good seedlings, the seeds are sown in containers in late April - early May, and already in late May - early June, you can plant seedlings in the ground, after the return frosts.

With the seedless method, that is, direct sowing of corn seeds in open ground, planting is carried out when the weather sets in the street with a temperature of at least +10 0 С (mid-May).

It is clear that the given planting dates may apply to gardeners in the cold zones of the Urals and Siberia, and in warmer regions, planting usually occurs two weeks earlier.

Growing corn with seedlings allows you to harvest 2 ... 3 weeks earlier than with direct sowing into the ground, but it is a more laborious process, so the choice remains with the gardener.

Some summer residents grow certain varieties using seedlings, for example, early ripening, while others - in open ground, and thus extend the corn season, gradually collecting and consuming the fruits.

A nutritious substrate for corn can be bought ready-made (based on peat) in a gardening store, or you can prepare it from improvised elements by mixing compost, peat and sand in a 2: 1: 1 ratio, respectively, with the addition of ash and complex mineral fertilizers. It is recommended to plant seeds immediately in separate pots, so you must first stock up on cups: plastic or peat. It is advisable to buy the latter, since corn does not like transplanting very much, and the peat pots will go with the seedlings into the ground together, and the plants will more easily endure stress. If plastic containers are chosen, then they must have a drainage hole at the bottom.

Before planting, the seeds are soaked in warm water for 12 hours for germination.This operation will greatly speed up the sprouting process (everyone has seen what corn kernels look like: they have a very hard shell).

In each cup, make a hole no more than 4 cm deep with your finger or the back of a fork and spill it. Then seeds are placed in them and covered with earth. Once again spill and wait for the emergence of corn seedlings at a temperature of 20 ... 23 0 C. You can plant in pots not one grain, but two or three, and after the appearance of two leaves - thin out, choosing the strongest and most powerful sprouts.

Although the seedlings will spend at home for about a month or less, you still have to take care of their development. In the early stages of development, corn needs regular watering, and drying out of the land affects negatively young plants. You also need to loosen the soil in pots, destroying the formed earthen crust. A week and a half before planting in the ground, seedlings can be fed with a complex water-soluble fertilizer.

Planting is carried out according to the scheme 35x70 cm, while the seedlings are buried 1 cm into the soil. Planting holes are pre-spilled and maize is planted, one pot per hole. At the same time, it is important to leave the earthen lump intact and not damage the roots of the plants if the seedlings are in plastic cups. If in peat, then the seedlings are placed in the ground with them. After planting, the ground is lightly squeezed with your hands and shed well.

CORN - planting and growing corn (Siberia, Ural, Far East): video

> Corn prefers to grow in well-lit, sunny areas with loose soil. In order for the soil to be sufficiently breathable, sand or vermiculite is added to it. In addition, it is advisable to add compost or humus to the garden bed, as well as complex mineral fertilizers. When choosing a place to plant corn, its height should be taken into account: since the plants are quite tall and powerful, they are usually planted along the fences.

The operation of pre-soaking the seeds before planting is similar to the seedling method. After that, the seeds are planted, maintaining the distance between adjacent plantings in a row and row spacing according to the scheme 35x70 cm, respectively. The seeding depth can vary from 3 to 5 cm depending on the soil. At the stage of the appearance of eight leaves of planting in corn, they are thinned out if they were planted in 2 ... 3 copies in one hole.

Experienced gardeners grow cucumbers in the open field next to corn, and this is no coincidence: the two crops form an excellent symbiosis: such a neighborhood has a beneficial effect on the yield of corn and cucumbers at the same time.

Firstly, corn covers the cucumbers from strong winds, and secondly, it serves as a support for them: the gardener, as the cucumber lashes form, wraps them around the trunks of corn.

Thus, cucumbers do not lie on the ground, which reduces the likelihood of their rotting. At the same time, corn does not feel much heaviness under the fruits of cucumbers.

In general, this culture takes root with many melons, but pumpkin whips, for example, corn, can no longer be burdened. With such a symbiotic planting, timely feeding of crops is necessary, since competition for nutrients in the soil will still be actively pursued.

The planting scheme can be different, as an option, corn is planted in the middle of the garden bed, and cucumbers are planted at the edges, while the distance between crops should be at least 30 cm. It is imperative that corn overtakes cucumbers in growth.

>

Like any vegetable crop, corn can be attacked by pests and diseases. Most often, it is exposed to various types of fungal diseases: root and stem rot, fusarium and red rot of the cobs, etc. All of these diseases are caused by different types of fungi that can be introduced with untreated planting material.

In addition, corn can be affected by bacteriosis of the cobs and leaves. They not only deprive a greater share of the crop, but also overwinter in the ground.Therefore, at the first signs of such diseases, they need to be dealt with with powerful fungicides, and as a prevention of their appearance, the seeds are usually soaked in their solutions before planting.

There are also a lot of pests in corn: firstly, these are wireworms, which are especially gluttonous comrades who can destroy the crop in a very short time. Moreover, if the land is not cultivated from them, then they will remain to live in it. Secondly, corn moth caterpillars are very fond of planting corn, but if you do not leave garbage on the beds after collection, they will freeze over the winter. The fact is that this type of pest is able to overwinter only in the remains of corn stalks. As a preventive measure, it is recommended to pickle seeds with special preparations before sowing.

The specific timing of harvesting depends mainly on the method of planting (seedlings or in open ground) and on the ripening period of the selected variety. In the general case, the ripeness of the ears is determined visually, guided by the following signs:

• the top layer of the cob wrapper has dried up;
• the wrapper becomes light green;
• stigmas dry up and acquire a brown color;
• when you press on the grain with a fingernail, a milky juice comes out of it;
• the grains themselves are bright yellow and tightly joined together in rows.

Timely harvesting of corn is very important, since when it is delayed, there is a large loss of nutrients and varietal taste. In addition, the consistency of the grain also changes: when boiling, the corn will be tough and firm.

Corn is best stored at low positive temperatures of 0 ... + 2 0 C. In such conditions, the harvested crop lasts up to three weeks, and at higher storage temperatures it deteriorates quite quickly. Therefore, most often part of the crop is quickly eaten, and the rest is sent for processing - conservation or freezing. By the way, while corn does not lose nutrients.

Corn for seeds is initially planted as far as possible from its general plantings in order to prevent cross-pollination. To obtain high-quality corn seeds, the healthiest and strongest plants are chosen, and on them the largest ears without traces of rot and other diseases. It is better to mark them separately in some way, usually tied with a ribbon.

Here they wait for the moment of wax ripeness, and not milk ripeness, as with a standard harvest, so they are left on the plant until the grains acquire a bright yellow color and hardness (cutting of such ears often occurs in mid-September).

After cutting, the corn cobs are sent for ripening for a couple of weeks, after which the seeds are removed and dried. Self-harvested corn seeds are stored for up to 5 years and at the same time have excellent germination.

Nowadays, there are quite a large number of fruitful varieties of corn with different ripening periods. Several of them with the most optimal characteristics for planting in all regions of the country are given below with brief descriptions:

It belongs to the hybrid varieties of the very early fruiting period. The ears ripen with a length of at least 20 cm, the grains have a delicious taste. The height of the stem reaches 1.9 m, the lower ear is laid at a height of half a meter.

Also a hybrid variety. An interesting feature of this corn is the combination of purple grains and pleasant taste. They say that it is purple sweet corn that has a wider range of substances useful to humans, therefore, by planting such corn, you can not only decorate the garden with an unusual plant, but also get an additional dose of vitamins when consumed.

An early ripe corn variety with white grains. The cobs are about 15 cm long. The stem grows up to 1.8 m in height.