Corn is the best grade

The maize is the queen of the fields, its yellow cobs with grains resembling little suns remind of summer, the seaside, where from morning till night street vendors offer sweet boiled corn of various varieties with honey baklava.

It is also grown in garden plots and not only in order to feast on in the summer, but also for freezing, conservation for the winter.

The best varieties and types of corn for growing from seeds

Corn takes third place after grain and rice in the ranking of food and agricultural products. It is rightfully considered a grain crop. After all, she feeds not only people, but also animals. Breeders are developing new types of seeds, paying particular attention to the sugar content of the ears and increased yields.

Let's take a look at the top 10 corn varieties.

Bonduelle

Bonduelle corn varieties does not exist... This is the name of a company that produces various canned and frozen vegetables.

Sweet corn of the Bonduelle trademark is especially popular on the Russian market. The main trading facilities of the Bonduelle-Kuban company in Russia are located in the Krasnodar Territory.

Sweet corn varieties are grown in the southern steppe expanses Spirit and Bonusused to make the so beloved canned food.

Dobrynya

Dobrynya is a vegetable early ripening period, the first crop is ready for harvest after 2-2.5 months after seed germination. A medium-sized plant reaches a height of up to 1.7 m, cobs begin to form at a height of 0.7 m.

Dobrynya

Dobrynya refers to very sweet sugar varieties of corn. The cobs reach the size of 25 * 5.5 (diameter and width) and consist of 16-18 rows of grains.

Harvesting for fresh consumption, conservation and freezing is carried out in the phase of milk ripeness. For the processing of grain into cereals, flour, starch, heads of cabbage are harvested after yellowing and drying of the ears.

Unpretentious to growing conditions, quite resistant to diseases such as mosaic, wilting, rust.

Gourmet

Gourmet grade early the ripening period, from the moment the seeds emerge to the first production, only 75-80 days... Plant height from 1.45 m to 1.8 m.

Fruits grow up to 22 cm long, the number of rows on the cob is 18-20. The weight of sweet juicy fruits reaches 170-250 gr... The grains are bright yellow and elongated.

Gourmet

It is appreciated for its excellent taste, which is preserved after processing into canned food and freezing. Gourmet is high-yielding a variety of corn that is well resistant to downy mildew.

Early golden

This type of corn is a plant early ripening period - 90 days... Low vigor hybrid is well resistant to fungal diseases.

The cobs are small, reaching a length of 19 cm, juicy with a pleasant melting consistency of boiled grains. It is used for conservation and freezing.

Early golden

Spirit

Hybrid middle ripening period, the period from the moment of emergence to the receipt of marketable products is 90-100 days... The plant is up to 2.1 m high, the size of the cobs reaches a length of 22 cm. The grains are large, golden yellow, very sweet and delicate in taste.

Stably high yielding and productive Spirit is resistant to fungal, viral diseases and rot. The hybrid is used boiled and can be preserved.

To extend the period for receiving marketable products, planting seedlings of early varieties can be done with an offset of 10-15 days.

Spirit

Ice nectar

Ice hectare belongs to varieties late fruiting period (130-140 days). The plant is up to 1.8 m high and 20-25 cm long on cobs. The grains are creamy white, juicy and very sugary.

Ice nectar

The ice hectare is one of the sweetest of all varieties and hybrids. It can even be consumed raw. The hybrid is leader in yield.

In order to avoid the loss of sugar content of the grains, the hybrid must be planted separately from other varieties, excluding cross-pollination of the plants.

Sundance

Sundance is a variety with early ripening period (70-90 days). A stunted dwarf plant reaches a height of no more than 1.5 m. The diameter of the ears is 5.5 cm. The length is no more than 20 cm. Bright yellow, slightly elongated grains of medium size and good taste.

The hybrid is used for fresh consumption (cooking) and conservation.

Sundance

Pioneer

Pioneer corn is a variety middle ripening period. The period for receiving the first product is 100-110 days... The plant is resistant to unfavorable growing conditions that do not affect its yield.

This type of corn is used for agricultural purposes and is used for livestock feed: grain and silage.

Pioneer

Syngenta

Syngenta hybrid middle ripening period (up to 110 days). The Dutch hybrid is distinguished by its high productivity and yield. Disease resistance is high.

The height of corn reaches 1.8 m. The cobs, up to 20 cm in size, are stuffed with pale yellow grains in 16-18 rows. Milky cobs are juicy and tender. Recommended for fresh consumption.

To obtain products at an earlier date, it is recommended to grow under agrofibre.

Syngenta

Jubilee

Jubilee is a high yielding hybrid middle ripening period (80-100 days). A tall plant can reach a height of 2.5-2.8 m, cobs up to 23 cm long densely packed with pearl-yellow grains. The grains have a thin skin and a delicate sweet taste.

High yielding, a disease-resistant, multipurpose variety. Suitable for both cooking and preservation, it behaves well after defrosting.

Jubilee

Growing features

1. Grow corn only in well-lit, sunny areas... For good yields with high quality ears, the soil must be fertile, well fertilized and slightly acidic.
2. Sowing seeds is carried out at soil temperature not less than +10 degrees... The depth of planting seeds in the soil is 6-8 cm. To obtain earlier production, the plant is grown through seedlings, while the seeds are sown in March or April.
3. After the appearance of 3-4 leaves of the plant thin out, leaving between plants up to 0.5-0.7 m.
4. It is imperative to hilling plants to avoid lodging.
5. Harvesting is carried out when the cobs reach milky or milky-wax ripeness.

Do not deny yourself the pleasure of growing these "sunbeams" on your site.

Besides the fact that you will enjoy eating corn, it is also a natural support for climbing plants: cucumbers, climbing beans.

Sweet corn is defined by botanists as the only species of the genus Corn cultivated as an agricultural crop. Mankind began to cultivate it more than 5,000 years ago and to this day has managed to develop a huge variety of varieties. Information about what varieties of corn are, helps to understand which material is best to choose in accordance with the purpose and conditions, and also to determine the care requirements. In the article, you will find out what varieties of corn are - early, early ripening, late and their hybrids, varieties of sweet corn, bonduelle and for popcorn, as well as which varieties of fodder corn.

The best varieties of corn

Photo: corn of different varieties

It is impossible to single out the best varieties of sweet corn from the general variety, since even within the species itself there is an extensive classification. For example, only popcorn varieties are suitable for making good popcorn. Geography is no less important - a plant that grows well in the Krasnodar Territory will not necessarily be as productive in the Lower Volga region.

Of course, in a number of situations, it is about the nutritional properties of the product and the culinary versatility. It is desirable that the seeds are equally good after conservation, and boiling, and freezing. From this point of view, the best varieties suitable for home cultivation in Russia should be called such as:

• Gourmet-121 - a variety that has become popular due to its maximum yield and strong immunity to diseases. Plant vegetation lasts 10-11 weeks. During this time, the stems gain a height of 1.5 meters, and the thick cobs lengthen up to 20 cm. Upon reaching milky ripeness, the grains become juicy-sweet and perfectly preserved when frozen and preserved.

• Dobrynya - an early ripening variety of sweet corn with large fruits. This hybrid is sown in May after the soil warms up above + 10˚C. The stems grow up to 1.7 m. With a rise of more than 70 cm, each plant yields an average of 1.5 ears. This variety is quite resistant to mosaic, rust, wilting, not capricious to the type of soil. Ripening to milk ripeness occurs 11 weeks after sowing.

• Spirit Is an excellent growing corn hybrid popular in warmer regions. It is often planted at the end of May and gives the first harvest two months after the transfer of seedlings to the soil. Fruits up to 20 cm long are densely overgrown with juicy golden grains with a lot of sugar.

• Early Gold-401... The growing season of this undersized hybrid lasts 90 days, during which the ears grow up to 19 cm in length. Advantages of the variety: resistance to diseases, good taste after conservation and freezing.

• Ice nectar... The variety received such a poetic name due to its excellent sugary taste, which is best manifested in fresh and boiled ears (up to 22 cm). In addition to its excellent sweet taste, Ice Nectar attracts gardeners with its high yields.

• Sundance - an early hybrid, harvested from the fields 10-13 weeks after planting. Despite the short stature, the "dance of the sun" gives massive cobs up to 5 cm in thickness and up to 22 cm in length.

Corn: varieties and hybrids

In the botanical classification, the species Sugar maize (Zea mays) is divided into 9 main groups, belonging to which is determined by the structure and shape of the grain:

• Sugar corn - the largest group, vastly growing all over the world. Representatives with different vegetative periods, stem height, grain color with a low starch content can be found.

Kuban sugar corn variety

• Dent corn often found as late-ripening varieties with a modest deciduous volume, but solid cobs. Serves as raw material for the production of cereals, flour, alcohol.

Dent corn

Toothed corn also comes in many different types and colors.

Toothed corn of different colors

• Flint or Indian... It is believed that the variety brought by Columbus from the American shores belonged to this group. Siliceous corn is characterized by a high concentration of hardened starch, high yield and early maturity. The most popular flint corn in Russia is a pioneer.

Flint or Indian corn

• Floury (starchy)... Hybrids with the maximum concentration of starch in grains, with abundant green mass, living only on the American continent, where alcohol, starch, molasses and flour are made from them.

Starchy corn

• Waxy - varietal group of dent corn with a double layer of storage tissue and a mealy middle layer. It is poorly distributed in the world and has a modest hybrid spectrum, although it is highly demanded in China.

Waxy maize

• Bursting corn are represented by dense plants on which several fruits with small grains appear. Serves not only for making popcorn, but also threshes into flour, cereals, flakes.

Pop corn Strawberry corn

• Semi-dentate - a hybrid obtained from crossing dent and flint corn. It is widely used in the food industry.

Half-toothed corn

• Filmy - is not used for food. Rarely grown as a forage crop.

Flaky corn

• Starchy-sugar Almost 100% of maize consists of a storage substance of a powdery consistency, which is why they are not used industrially.

Sweet corn varieties

Early corn: varieties

Early maturing members of the species are popular with gardeners because they can produce a good harvest in a short time frame. This is important for the reproduction of culture in regions with short summers. For greater efficiency, they are often planted in peat cups in the form of seedlings.

• Trophy F1 - a disease-resistant hybrid that begins to bear fruit 11 weeks after sowing. The weight of a medium-sized ear is 200-220 grams, length - 21-23 cm, thickness - 4.5 cm. Gold-colored grains have a pronounced sweetish taste and remain soft for a long time. This variety is pleasant both boiled and preserved. A constant harvest of soft fruits is carried out by conveyor planting with a break of 10 days.
• Jubilee F1 - medium early and immune to many diseases variety of yellow sweet corn, which bears fruit in the period from August to May. On giants 2-2.5 meters tall, long ears grow with 18 rows of round seeds. The sweet taste remains during boiling and freezing.
• Landmark F1 - a hybrid of maize with a vegetative period of 11-12 weeks. Defined as a very sugary variety with an extended shelf life without loss of nutritional properties. On each stem, from two ears with 13-14 rows of bright yellow kernels are formed. The crop tolerates mechanized harvesting well, is versatile in storage and use.
• Sugar F1 - a common hybrid with a medium early ripening period - from 75 to 80 days. The stems rise up to 1.8 m and bear several 20 cm of ears with an average weight of 220 g. The caryopsis is colored golden amber, has a delicate sweet taste, and is used for various culinary purposes.

Mid-season varieties of sugar corn

Despite the longer maturation, medium-ripeness corn hybrids are much better suited to short-term air droughts. Many varieties can boast of excellent taste that persists with various culinary treatments:

• Sweetstar F Hybrid, the main characteristic of which lies in the name - it is a very sweet variety.And it is sown at an early date in suitable weather, and is well tolerated by the seedling planting method. Stems grow up to 2.2 meters. The ears are 5-6 cm thick, usually have 15 bright golden kernels and stretch 20-23 cm. The variety has a high immunity to diseases, gives an impressive harvest, and retains its taste perfectly.
• Technical ripeness of the variety Brusnitsa comes in 77-90 days after sowing. The cobs from 6 cm in thickness and 21 cm in length gain a mass of 170-180 g. Ripe grains are colored in a rich yellow color and have a sweet taste that persists after freezing and boiling. Lingonberry is often planted in batches with pauses of 1.5-2 weeks, which gives a constant harvest of juicy young ears by autumn.
• Sugar hybrid Favorite ripens in 58-55 days and, as a rule, does not rise above 180 cm. A good harvest is provided by fertile and light-textured soils - up to 55 kg of ears can be removed from 10 square meters. Most often, the Favorite variety is boiled and canned.
• Corn seeds Pearl ripen 12-13 weeks after sowing, but reward patience with very sweet grains. On even ears, up to 20 rows of juicy and soft grains are formed, equally well suited for cooking, freezing and preservation.
• Gourmet corn does not differ in high stem height, but competes with other hybrids in terms of ear size (23 cm) and yield. Bright color and taste are preserved after freezing and cooking.
• In a disease-resistant variety Mermaid the growing season takes an impressive 92 days, but the size of the ears corresponds to - on average, 256 g. Lemon-yellow grains have a delicate structure and a pronounced sweet taste. They retain their shape with any cooking method.

The most productive varieties of late corn varieties

Late-ripening corn varieties cannot boast of a quick crop appearance, but they please with their heroic resistance to various kinds of unfavorable factors.

• Late grade of sugar maize Polaris ripens 100-105 days after sowing. On the 2-meter stems of the hybrid, massive golden ears are formed with a diameter of 5 cm and 23-24 cm in length, reaching a weight of 320 grams. With good care, more than 20 tons of crops are harvested from 1 hectare. Polaris corn is resistant to lodging and many diseases. Most of the delicate, thin-walled grains are sugar.

• Bashkirovets - a real giant among sugar corn hybrids, growing up to almost 3 meters in height. To match the plant and the ears - up to 23 cm in length, 5 cm in diameter and 19 rows of weevils. The mass of one light yellow ear with even large grains reaches 350 grams. The Bashkirian is rarely affected by diseases and is well suited for any treatment.

Popcorn corn varieties

The corn kernels that are used to make popcorn have an excellent structure. There is a drop of water inside them, which turns into steam when heated, because of which the grains burst with increasing internal pressure. Exploding corn has a very large productive yield - a small handful makes an impressive bowl of popcorn. Best hybrids:

• Russian bursting 3 - late ripening variety, ripening in 13-14 weeks. The stems of this hybrid grow up to 180-190 cm, and by the time of ripeness, cobs weighing 240-260 g, yellow with an orange top, are formed on them. On average, when heated, 98% of the grain explodes.
• Oerlikon - the variety of popcorn recommended for cultivation. The elastic and voluminous product has a pleasant aroma and taste.
• Volcano Is one of the most popular exploding corn varieties. On the two-meter stems of this variety, yellow cobs 22 cm long with rice-shaped grains grow. The variety tolerates adverse weather and disease well.

Krasnodar corn varieties

• Krasnodar - a hybrid of medium ripeness with a stem height up to 180 cm.The conical ear grows up to 20 cm in length and becomes technically ripe 13-14 weeks after sowing. Grain - yellow, flattened, pleasant to the taste when stewed, boiled and fresh.
• Krasnodar Sugar 250 - a variety of medium early ripeness, ripening in 75-78 days. The ears are similar in shape and color to the previous variety, but the grain contains more sugar.
• Variety Krasnodar 436 MV is an interline hybrid characterized by high resistance to drought, lodging, and diseases. Large dentate cobs.
• Krasnodarskiy 303 TV - a simple hybrid with medium late ripening. Rises up to 23-240 cm, resistant to many diseases. Large cylindrical ears produce fine grain with thin yellow walls.

Fodder maize varieties

The fodder varieties of the plant are assessed according to other indicators than the varieties of corn for grain, since in this case the leafy part is more important than the fruit part. In Russia, such qualities are possessed by such varieties as Pearl, Saratov Sugar, Aurika, Golden Fleece, Kuban early ripe, Viola. Thus, they simultaneously serve as a source of quality silage and good grain.

White corn varieties

White corn is a famous corn hybrid with small sweet grains. Plants of this variety grow more than 2 meters in length, have linear pointed leaves. White corn is very moody about the presence of light and this greatly affects the yield.

White corn mini stript variety

Japanese corn

Japanese corn has unusual foliage with pink lines and atypical seeds.

Japanese corn Japanese variety of kukruza Pearl miracle

Bonduelle corn variety

Bonduelle corn varieties

The Bonduelle brand is the most popular brand of canned corn in Russia today. The popularity of this product among the people has led to the erroneous opinion that Bondeul is the name of a particular corn variety with excellent taste.

In fact, under the name Bonduelle, there is a wide range of products from a company named after one of its founders, which produces various canned vegetables. The company is believed to be using the world famous Bonus and Spirit corn varieties.

Learn all about corn seeds and how to choose them for planting >>

Video: corn varieties and their hybrids

Sweet large corn is one of the favorite dishes of almost everyone, a kind of pleasant memory from childhood, especially at the beginning of the summer season. A popular plant, a native of America, in ancient times was cultivated by the ancient Maya and Aztecs.

Corn is 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 presented in all their diversity. Moreover, home cultivation significantly "cultivated" the tall beauty, depriving her of the ability to self-seeding and growth in its 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 at the top of the stem (male flowers) and shake them over the flowering cobs (female-type flowers).

Description and external characteristics

The root system of almost every corn variety 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, causing a more dense fixation of the plant in the soil and contributing 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 type of corn).Male inflorescences are at the top of the stem in the form of panicles, while female ones are hidden in the leaf axils. The mass of such a complex ear, which is an ear of corn, ranges from 35 to 500 grams.

All existing varieties of corn are divided into several main types according to the grain structure and direction of use. Below are the main ones in the context of varieties.

Sweet corn varieties

Sweet corn is the most popular and beloved, especially in the period of its milky-wax ripeness; a tasty ingredient in many salads, is the basis of many high-yielding hybrids. Upon reaching full maturity, corn accumulates a significant amount of sugars. The surface of the grains is wrinkled; they themselves are glassy in cross-section. Sweet corn is successfully used in the canning industry.

The most popular and popular varieties of sugar corn are Ice Nectar, Rannyaya Zolotaya 401, Spirit, Lakomka 121, Dobrynya, Sundance.

Spirit

It is a new hybrid and a striking representative of the sweet corn variety; suitable for almost all regions of Russia. It is characterized by grains of bright yellow color, which are collected in cobs up to 20 cm in size. The taste is soft-sweet (due to the high sugar content in the grains), the pulp is quite juicy. The plant is 2 meters high. When growing this variety by seedlings and planting in open ground at the end of May, Spirit corn will delight you with a high-quality harvest after 2 months.

Dobrynya

A hybrid characterized by early ripening. Planting is carried out in May, after 70 days you can collect ripe cobs. It has a sweet taste and impressive ears. Plant height is about 170 cm, the formation of cobs occurs starting from a height of 70 cm. Excellent for fresh consumption, freezing, canning. It grows in any soil and has good disease resistance.

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 milky maturity, cobs of the Lakomka 121 variety are very tasty boiled, also used for freezing and preserving.

Ice nectar

A late-ripening variety characterized by excellent taste and good yield. Among the rest, it is considered the sweetest. Corn cobs can reach a length of 22 cm, which indicates their significant size.

Sundance

It has slightly elongated yellow grains that are great for canning and fresh consumption. On each bush, which is short in stature, two cobs up to 20 cm long and up to 5 cm in diameter are formed. This variety is sown at the end of May and ripens for 70-95 days.

Early Gold 401

This variety is short, with a growing season of about 90 days. High resistance to disease. Medium drought tolerance. The cob weight is up to 190 grams. Grain of yellow color with high taste characteristics.

Toothed corn: description and varieties

It is characterized by large ears, strong stems, high yield and good silage yield. In America, it is the main type of corn grown commercially and used for animal feed purposes. Its grains resemble a tooth in shape and at the top have a depression formed during ripening. Plants usually do not bush, the grain contains up to 75% starch and is used for the production of alcohol, flour and cereals.

Odesskaya 10 and Sterling are prominent representatives of dent-like corn varieties.

Odessa 10

A late-ripening variety that gives a significant yield of green mass and a low yield of grains. Most often grown for silage.

Sterling

Medium late high-yielding variety, zoned in almost all areas of corn cultivation.

Flint corn: characteristics of varieties

It has a strong, smooth grain (without depressions, rounded on top), white or yellow, which is almost entirely composed 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 maize with dentate led to the appearance of semi-dentate corn.

The most common varieties of corn are Voronezh 80, Voronezh 76, Severodakotskaya.

Voronezh 80

An early hybrid that ripens in 70 days. It is appreciated for its ease of maintenance and high sugar content. The size of the cobs is from 20 to 25 cm, the height of the plant is 170 cm. It is used in canning. Seeds for crops next year cannot be used. Zoned in the Sakhalin region and northern regions of Siberia.

Voronezh 76

Early ripening variety. It ripens in almost all regions of the central black earth zone.

Severodakot

Medium early grade. It is planted in the southern and southeastern regions of Russia.

Popcorn: Popcorn Varieties

Outwardly, the description of varieties of corn of this type is similar: the grains are smooth and shiny, burst when heated. It was this look that became the basis for the appearance of everyone's favorite popcorn. The plant is characterized by good bushiness, a large number of ears, and the presence of a significant number of leaves. The best varieties of corn for popcorn are Volcano, Oerlikon, Dniprovskaya 925.

Volcano

It is characterized by excellent taste properties of toasted grain and its high percentage of increase. The variety of corn for popcorn is medium early, drought-resistant, high-yielding, plant height - up to 220 cm. The length of the cob is about 22 cm. It is grown in forest-steppe and steppe regions.

Oerlikon

Medium early variety, characterized by excellent taste and pleasant aroma. Used to make popcorn, cornflakes and sticks.

Other types of corn

• Waxy maize. Seeds of the variety of this subspecies are characterized by smoothness and dullness of the skin. In cross-section, the grain structure resembles wax. This species, whose varietal variety is rather limited, is very popular in China.
• Starchy corn. One of the oldest on the planet. Most common in southern North America and South American countries. Corn varieties (photos of the plant can often be seen on many specialized resources) are characterized by late ripening. Plants of medium height, many leaves, medium to strong bushiness. The grain is round, matte, smooth, has a convex top. Starch content - up to 80%.
• Filmy corn. In industry, this type is not used due to the complexity of processing, because not only the ear, but also each grain is covered with individual wrappers.
• Sharp (nose) corn. It has no special value, therefore it is not very common.

Fashionable novelty - Hopi corn

This variety of corn differs from the others and has its own flavor - an unusual, unusual black and purple color of the grains, caused by the presence of a special enzyme. Mainly grown in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The taste is sweet and delicate, with a pronounced nutty flavor. This variety was found 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 supplanted by the usual bright yellow or orange corn. This "purple" variety, which has many varieties of different colors, has taken a worthy niche in the consumer market and is widely used in cosmetology, in the manufacture of blue mixtures and corn chips. The popular alcoholic drink "Chicha Morado" is prepared on the basis of blue grains. There are many varieties of Hopi corn, the color range of which is quite wide: from light gray to almost black.Several colors can be combined in one ear, which makes these varieties of corn decorative.

Fodder varieties of corn

The fodder varieties of corn, the purpose of which is to obtain a significant amount of silage for feeding livestock, include such varieties as the Kuban early-ripening hybrid, Aurika, Viola, Saratovskaya sugar, Golden Fleece, Pearl. Fodder maize, the varieties of which are characterized by a high degree of leafiness, is also used to obtain 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 lands. The predecessors of a tall crop can be legumes, winter crops, row crops and spring wheat. It can also be planted after tomatoes, root crops and melons.

Soil fertility plays a huge role in obtaining a rich and high-quality harvest, therefore it is imperative to carry out top dressing (organic and mineral). In the autumn digging into the ground, you can add rotted manure and phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. In the spring, before planting, the site is pre-leveled with a rake (to remove the surface crust and break up clods of earth).

Planting corn should be done in soil warmed up to 12 ° C, this happens around the end of April; seeds are planted to a depth of about 7 cm.On the eve of planting, about a day before, it is recommended to apply nitrogen fertilizers (for 10 m2 - 200 grams) and loosen the soil to a depth of 10 cm.

Acceleration of seed germination can be ensured by preliminary soaking in warm water. To do this, they should be placed in a gauze bag, which is placed in a sunny place for 4 days, and then placed in a solution of potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Then the seeds should be washed, placed in a container and placed 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 delight about the 12th day.

Many amateur gardeners, in order to obtain a harvest in a short time, plant ready-made corn seedlings, which are usually 30 days old at planting.

Sowing corn is required in rows, the spacing of rows is 60 cm, between plants - 40 cm. Seeds are planted to a depth of 3-4 cm in a well-watered hole. Of the emerging seedlings, of which there may be several (since several seeds fall into the hole in order to ensure their germination), the strongest plant should be left, the rest should be disposed of.

When planting corn, you can use the conveyor method, that is, plants with different ripening periods can be planted at intervals of 15 days. This will ensure uninterrupted harvesting throughout the summer.

Plant feeding

Top dressing of corn should be done when the plant has six leaves. During this period, you can add compost, humus, mullein, chicken droppings. In addition to organic matter, between the rows, ammonium nitrate, superphosphate and potassium fertilizers are introduced in liquid form.

The lack of trace elements required by the plant can be determined by the appearance of the corn. When the leaves are short and pale, 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 acquire a purple hue, 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, the growth of corn is slow for some time, therefore it is required to carry out loosening and weeding (about 3 times during the growing season) in order to enrich the soil with oxygen and remove the upper earth crust.The intensive growth of maize begins after the appearance of the eighth leaf; during this period, the daily growth can be 5-6 cm. When lateral shoots - stepchildren - are formed in corn, 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 can be low temperatures in the early stages of the growing season, excessive fertilization, as well as sparse sowing.

Watering corn, infrequent and abundant (water should penetrate to a depth of 10-15 cm), is required during the period of laying and ripening of young cobs.

Varieties of corn varieties allow this crop to be used in various ways. This nutritious grain plant is not called. Corn is considered the second bread, the queen of the fields and a cereal with golden grains. All such statements are correct, and this culture really deserves attention.

History

After Christopher Columbus brought the first ears of corn to America, the culture spread very rapidly to many countries in Europe. In their native lands, corn was called maize. For its nutritional properties, it was prized by people in Germany, Italy and Australia.

Maize came to our country during the Russian-Turkish war, after the conquest of Crimea. The island where the crop was originally cultivated belonged to Turkey, so at first corn was known as Turkish wheat. Since then, the cultivation of maize has gradually begun to gain momentum. Now it is grown on a large scale both for culinary purposes and for household needs.

The nutritional value

Corn is widely used. Young ears are boiled and eaten hot. A variety of salads and other dishes are prepared from canned grains. Ripe grain is ground into cereals and flour. There are certain varieties that go into animal feed. The consumption of corn is not limited to its taste. The herbal product brings tremendous benefits to human health. Maize cobs are rich in protein and fat. In addition to vitamins C, B and E, they have a supply of iodine, iron, boron, fluorine, calcium, phosphorus and potassium.

Main types

The culture, familiar at first glance, turns out to have an incredible variety of varieties. There are the following types of corn: starchy, waxy, bursting, flint, membranous, sugar and dentate.

An ornamental maize variety has recently been developed that should not be eaten. Its advantage lies in the appearance of bushes and cobs. Alternatively, this type of corn can be useful for decorating a summer cottage. There is a variety of corn that is considered useless - this is a husky maize. It is extremely rare, because it is not used at all on the farm. The ears of this species throw out too many spikelet scales.

The use of various varieties of corn on the farm

Types of flint and dent corn are considered universal. They are very popular in the agricultural industry. Due to their high starch content and low mealy content, these maize varieties are valuable animal feed. But the properties of milk grains make it possible to use them as food for people. Boiled corn has good taste and nutritional qualities. The seeds of the siliceous variety are smooth and round, while those of the odontoid variety are long and flattened. Flint corn varieties are used to make flakes and everyone's favorite sticks. Some of these varieties are:

• Syngenta. The European corn variety has been successfully acclimatized and is being actively cultivated by Russian farmers. Livestock farms use it to make nutritious forage. The yielding species belongs to the early varieties of corn.
• Pioneer. Siliceous type of corn with increased resistance. He is not afraid of spring frosts and even late frosts, if the cobs have reached their final maturity.Because of these characteristics, maize is the most popular variety on farms. Corn seeds, as you might expect, are decently priced.
• Spirit. This is an unpretentious hybrid that is invulnerable to fungal and other diseases, as well as not susceptible to pests. It is considered one of the most productive and unpretentious varieties. Spirit normally tolerates preventive procedures carried out with the help of insecticides.

Starchy corn is widely used in industry. In the composition of the grains, 75% is starch. The plant has seeds with a smooth surface and a loose structure, their shape is round. Alcohol and starch are obtained from maize. The culture belongs to medium-sized and late-ripening varieties.

There is a variety of red corn. Their color ranges from burgundy to black. Maize is rich in antioxidants, which is why it is included in the diet. Dark-burgundy corn has a lot of necessary properties that normalize metabolic processes in the human body.

There is another subspecies of corn called waxy. It is a modified variety of toothed species, the seeds of which have a two-layer shell. Outwardly, they look like a wax drop, but inside they have a mealy sticky structure. The seeds possess such properties due to the content of amylopectin.

Conservation varieties

You can always find corn on the shelf of every store in beautifully arranged cans. The preservation of such grains and the preparation of dishes from them is gaining popularity. Many people mistakenly believe that behind the tin is a special kind of corn - Bonduelle. In fact, this is the name of the trademark, since various types of this plant are used for the production of this product. The best varieties of corn are selected, most of which are French hybrids. A similar assortment is produced under the Eco and Vernet brands.

The nutritional grains of the hybrids are generally white and oblong in shape. Corn is famous for its excellent taste. Assorted blanks are made from sweet corn. The varieties of such hybrids are described below.

Sweet

Hybrids differ in variety and grain size. They produce generous yields and are disease resistant, but have a short growing season. They are used in cooking because of their high glucose content and low starch content.

The most common varieties of sweet corn:

• Dobrynya bushes are tall (170 cm). The plant is unpretentious to the type of soil, has an increased immunity to rust, mosaic and wilting. The cobs are very large and early ripening. The grains are very juicy and very sweet.
• Lakomka 121 is a sugar variety with high yield rates and stable immunity to diseases. The fruiting period is short. It is used for food at the stage of milk maturity.
• Early gold 401 is a short crop with medium-sized ears. It differs from the varieties of corn described above by a longer growing season. For the entire period of its development, it is almost not exposed to fungal and bacterial diseases.
• Spirit F1. This variety is grown in seedlings, so the first caryopses are removed after 30 days. Corn has long ears and a high sugar content.

Such wonderful grains can be included in the so-called Bonduelle corn variety.

Early

• Jubilee F1 is a mid-early variety from which long-term fruiting can be expected. He will delight on the cob until the fall. The grains are large with a thin shell and are completed in 18 rows. The ears are about 23 cm long. The variety is resistant to viruses. Maize is used for freezing and cooking.
• Trophy F1 is a corn with golden grains, incredibly tasty and sweet. The weight of the ear can reach more than 200 g. Their length is about 22 cm. The ripening period is 2.5 months from sowing the seeds.The variety is distinguished by its early maturity and stability. Suitable for conservation.
• Landmark F12. Bushes - high, give two ears of medium size. Differs in high yields, good immunity and excellent taste of grains. The peculiarity of the variety is the long-term storage of caryopses. The hybrid has a long growing season.

Bursting

Frequent visits to theaters and other places of recreation are accompanied by the beloved popcorn of children and adults. And such a delicacy is so diverse that each visitor can choose to his taste. The culprit of such a pleasant pastime is the popcorn. It differs from other types of maize in the shape of the grains.

They look like rice or pearl barley. There are several types of such crops:

• Volcano. The fact that the variety is the most suitable raw material for making popcorn is evidenced by its name. The bushes of this plant are capable of great returns. They reach 2 m in height and have long ears (22 cm). The peculiarity of the variety is that it perfectly adapts to climatic conditions and is resistant to bacterial lesions. The grains are yellow, like rice.
• Zeya belongs to the early varieties of corn. Bushes - medium height with caryopses about 20 cm. It has a color close to black. But it can change depending on the weather. If there is little rainfall in the summer, then the corn acquires a darker color.
• Lopai-lopai is a short crop with medium-sized ears. The plant has good immunity. Its properties are not inferior to other types of which popcorn is made. The grain of Lopai-Lopai corn is yellow.

A few tips for growing

Perhaps, after introductory information about corn varieties, amateur gardeners will want to plant a crop on their site. Although the plant is considered a field plant, it is often grown in a vegetable garden. First of all, it should be remembered that maize is a thermophilic crop. For normal seed germination, the temperature should not be lower than + 10 ° C, and the most optimal one should be + 22 ° C. This largely depends on the choice of the variety.

It is good when the weather is warm at the time of the formation of the cobs. With a cold snap, they will not develop well, and the gardener will suffer a significant decrease in the yield. During flowering, auxiliary pollination can be carried out. This is done by shaking the flowering panicle of the plant. This technique contributes to better graininess. Throughout the entire flowering period, which lasts 10 days, such actions are carried out 2-3 times.

Planting corn

Corn loves light. This implies not only choosing the right place, but also maintaining the required distance between the plants. Too dense plantings will not obstruct the sun's rays, and the plants will begin to stretch upward. Row spacing should be 60 cm and between bushes 30. Fertile light soils will help the plant to develop properly. Corn does not tolerate heavy loams. Sugar maize does not tolerate too wet and clogged areas.

Care

Corn is a drought-resistant plant. This means it should be watered sparingly. With abundant watering, the plant can infect a fungal disease. Due to the lack of moisture, the milky phase of the cobs will pass too quickly and the corn will become tough and tasteless. This will also affect the formation of grains - the upper part of the ear will remain almost empty. The culture responds well to complex fertilizers. A positive result is obtained from a mixture of superphosphate (10 g), potassium chloride (20 g) and ammonium nitrate (30 g). Corn is also demanding for additional feeding with the presence of molybdenum and zinc. The introduction of the latter will protect it from diseases.

Growing hybrid varieties

Elite maize varieties incorporate the best characteristics of the most resistant and valuable species.Thanks to breeding achievements, there are about 250 types of corn varieties around the world. Some of them can be grown in summer cottages, and every farming lover can choose the type he likes.

In our country, a plant is grown by an unusual method for it - seedling. Grains of hybrid corn varieties are sown in boxes, like other vegetable crops grown in seedlings. After transplanting into the ground, the corn must be watered and the leaves must be irrigated.

Conclusion

Curious gardeners are most likely interested in at least some varieties of corn. The characteristics described in the article allow you to choose a variety according to purpose and personal preferences. Corn is one of the few plants that can be so widely used in different areas of the economy. And if you remember about its beneficial properties, then this product has no price.