Content
Sweet corn has long been a popular cereal crop and is cultivated by humans for both feed and table purposes. And this is not surprising, since corn is famous for its gastronomic qualities, as well as its high nutritional value, providing a person with a third of the necessary microelements. In addition, growing sweet corn is not difficult: by planting the seeds on a plot of land in the spring, every gardener will be able to enjoy the unusually tasty cobs in mid-summer.
The difference between sweet corn and regular corn
Not everyone can distinguish sweet corn from regular corn, because obvious differences are invisible to the untrained eye. However, there are still distinctive features:
- regular corn has darker and larger seeds;
- the cob of sweet corn is often barrel-shaped with a blunt end;
- in sugar varieties, even in their raw form, grains have a pronounced sweet taste: it is the increased sugar content that is the main difference between sugar varieties and feed varieties;
- Sweet corn kernels are much softer than regular corn.
Unlike regular corn, sweet corn must be harvested as soon as it reaches the milky stage.
The best varieties of sweet corn
Breeders managed to obtain more than 500 types of crops; the best varieties of sweet corn are discussed below.
Dobrynya
The variety is an early ripening variety and remains popular among gardeners due to its easy and rapid seed germination, as well as its ease of care and resistance to fungal infections. Seeds can be sown in the soil as soon as the nighttime temperature does not fall below +10 °C. The plant reaches a height of 1.7 m, the length of the cobs is approximately 25 cm. The taste of the grains is very delicate, milky and sweet. 2 - 2.5 months after sowing, the crop is ready for harvesting. Corn of the Dobrynya variety is suitable for both boiling and canning.
Spirit
An early-ripening, productive variety, growing in height by 1.9 - 2 m and having a cob length of 19 - 22 cm, weighing approximately 200 - 350 g. The grains have a fairly high concentration of sugar in their composition - more than 12%. Seedlings are planted in open ground in May, and after 65 days the heads of cabbage reach full maturity. The variety is resistant to diseases and pests. And thanks to its good adaptation to any conditions and consistently high yields, the cultivation of Spirit sweet corn is suitable for the main business.
Ice nectar
This variety is a late-ripening variety: at least 130 days must pass from the moment of sowing until the cob is fully ripened. The stems of the plant stretch up to 1.8 m in height, the length of the cobs is 25 cm, they contain juicy, large grains.Ice nectar has a distinctive white kernel color and the highest sugar content of any sweet corn variety. Therefore, the hybrid belongs to the dessert category, and people suffering from diabetes should use it with caution.
Gourmet 121
This is also a dessert, high-yielding, early-ripening variety. The plant is not very tall, stretching up only 1.45 m. The cobs grow 20 - 21 cm long, they have large grains of a soft yellow color with a thin skin. The variety is heat-loving, so it is recommended to grow it through seedlings rather than by sowing seeds in open ground. The ripeness of the cobs occurs on the 67th – 70th day after planting the grains.
The earliest varieties of sweet corn (for example, Dobrynya, Lakomka 121) are suitable for growing in harsh climatic conditions, since the harvest can be harvested before the onset of cold weather. Late-ripening varieties (for example, Ice Nectar) are grown in milder conditions, and although they take longer to ripen, they have higher yields.
Sweet corn growing technology
Sweet corn is considered an unpretentious crop, but still has its own growing characteristics. This tall plant prefers sunny places; if there is insufficient lighting, it cannot form cobs. In the southern regions of the country, grains begin to be sown from the beginning of May, in the northern regions - closer to the end of the month.
Scheme for planting sweet corn in open ground:
- Site selection and soil preparation. The site should be sunny, protected from wind and draft. Poor soils should be well enriched and aerated (dug to the depth of a spade). To enrich the clay soil, add peat, sand, as well as humus or compost (one bucket for each square meter).Sandy soils are enriched with organic matter (7 kg per sq. m) and turf soil (3 buckets per sq. m).
- Preparing grains. Only whole, large seeds, without any visible defects, are suitable for planting. To protect future sprouts from fungal infection, it is recommended to pickle the grains. To do this, they are soaked for 10 minutes in a manganese solution.
- Sowing. Furrows are made in the soil 5 - 7 cm deep, at a distance from each other of at least 40 cm (but not more than 75 cm). Seeds are placed in these furrows every 15 cm, after which they are carefully sprinkled with a layer of soil, watered and mulched.
Growing several varieties of sweet corn on a field at the same time is subject to the following rule: regular sweet varieties should be planted at a considerable distance from dessert ones (at least 400 meters). Another method is to plant corn with approximately the same flowering date, two weeks apart. This is done in order to exclude the possibility of cross-pollination, as a result of which the starch content in the grains increases, and their taste is greatly affected.
Sweet corn care
After all the seedlings have sprouted, the soil between the rows must be regularly loosened and the weeds pulled out. This is done after watering, at least 3-4 times per season, while hilling each plant. These procedures are necessary to improve soil aeration.
Watering sweet corn should be carried out regularly, especially abundantly in the eight-leaf phase, during the ejection of panicles and during the period of milky ripeness. If the plant lacks moisture, it will stop growing. Watering is carried out 2 - 3 times a week, at the rate of three liters per plant.
During the entire season, sweet corn is fed 2 times.The first time - with organic fertilizer (a solution of bird droppings or mullein infusion), after the formation of the first node on the plant. The second time - with mineral fertilizer, during the period of flowering and laying of cobs.
In addition, the crop actively forms side shoots (stepchildren), which must be cut off, leaving two or three main ones. If this is not done, the ears will form weak and empty, since the plant will waste its energy on maintaining side shoots.
Conclusion
Sweet corn requires some attention, and if you do not water and feed the plants on time, you will not be able to grow a good harvest. At the same time, we should not forget that cross-pollination of fodder and table varieties is unacceptable. Strict adherence to agricultural techniques for growing sweet corn will allow you to get a rich harvest without much effort and expense.
