Corn belongs to heat-loving plants, but it is also possible to grow a good crop in central Russia if early ripening varieties are used for this.
Proper cultivation of corn
It doesn’t take much effort to grow corn, but you can’t just plant it and forget it.
Crop rotation
A bad predecessor for corn is millet, since they have common pests, but after tomatoes, potatoes, melons and legumes, the crop grows and develops well.
Personally, I sow corn around the perimeter of my plot, and throughout the season it is a living fence.
Sowing
I recommend planting seeds only in regions where constant warm weather lasts for at least 4 months.
In the fall, when digging, I fertilize the soil with potassium and phosphorus. In the spring, before sowing, I dig up the soil and apply nitrogen fertilizers to it (25 g per 1 m²). Two days before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water.
Landing is carried out to a depth of 7 cm at a distance of 30 cm from each other. If I sow several rows, then I maintain the distance between them at 60 cm. This helps to provide the plant with enough sunlight and, accordingly, increases the yield.
Growing seedlings
In regions with short summers and frequent frosts, it is recommended to plant with pre-sprouted seedlings.
In early May, the seeds are planted in special peat pots. As a soil, it is best to use a soil mixture consisting of humus, sand, peat (proportions 2: 1: 1). For every 10 liters of soil, add 1 cup of wood ash.
In mid-June, bushes grown in pots are transplanted into open ground.
Care
Watering, loosening the soil and removing stepchildren are the main actions in the implementation of care. Loosening I spend at the beginning of the season, trying not to damage the roots of young shoots. At the same time, I remove weeds that shade the sun's rays and absorb nutrients from the soil.
Removal of stepchildren (side shoots) is necessary so that they do not pull on themselves the juices that are important for the formation of cobs. They can be cut and broken off by hand.
Once a week, from the moment of sowing, I spend abundant watering of the culture. But during the ripening period of the ears, I water it once every two weeks.
top dressing
I make the first dressing when 5-6 leaves appear on the stems. To do this, I use organic fertilizers, a solution of chicken manure or cow manure. I recommend fertilizing after abundant watering so that the plantings do not get burned.
15 days after fertilizing with organic substances, I add 20 g of superphosphate and potassium between rows.
Disease and pest control
Corn is not very susceptible to diseases, but if they appear, it is most likely from infected seeds. To avoid these unpleasant moments, it is best to purchase disinfected seeds or treat them with fungicides yourself.
Of the pests, the following insects most often attack corn plantings:
- wireworm;
- scoop;
- oat fly;
- stem moth;
- meadow moth;
- false wire.
Each of them will have to be dealt with individually. To avoid their appearance, it is important to regularly weed the rows, remove plant residues in a timely manner, and follow the rules of crop rotation.
Summing up, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that growing corn does not require special skills and costs, but in order to obtain a quality crop, you will have to pay attention to the cereal.
Please tell us about your experience of growing corn.
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