Early sugar corn: cultivation, fertilizer, care

There are many varieties of corn grown by farmers and owners of household plots. Some varieties are cultivated to produce fodder grains, others - green mass. In the food industry it is used sugar corn. You can consume its mature cobs in cooked form or in canned.

Biological features

It represents sugar corn high (up to 3 m), an annual herb subtropical plant with a well-developed root system. The stem of this plant can reach 7 cm in diameter. Female flowers in sugar corn are collected in the cobs, male flowers in panicles. The fruit is a kidney-shaped or round granule. The color, depending on the variety, can vary. Most often varieties with yellow cobs are grown.

From the fodder, sugar corn is distinguished by more delicate leaves and a lower height. Cobs on it develop faster. Flowering can begin even when the plants reach a height of 20-25 cm.

Advantages of growing

Above was given a detailed description of corn sugar. The plant is thus high, with a developed root system. Of course, in the conditions of the Russian climate, to get a good harvest of this subtropical culture, it will be necessary to pay some attention. However, the time costs will certainly be rewarded with a hundredfold. Among the most useful crops for health, corn is one of the first places. Its fruits contain one third of all trace elements necessary for humans. Also corn kernels are rich in all sorts of vitamins and other useful substances. Contain the fruits of this plant and a large number of sugars. Hence the name of the group.

The most popular varieties

Of course, a truck farmer who decided to start growing this remarkable and unpretentious culture, first of all, should be concerned with the purchase of seed. There are many varieties of sugar corn. In Russia, in most cases, early ripening varieties are grown. Usual corn in our climate does not just ripen. The most popular varieties among Russian truck farmers are:

• Kuban sugar;

• Spirit F1;

• Gourmand;

• Dobrynya.

Corn Kuban: virtues of variety

This unpretentious, middle-aged weakly bushy variety. The Kuban sugar corn ripens on the 92-96 day after emergence. The grain in this variety is large in size and has a bright yellow color. The cobwebs themselves can reach a length of 19-24 cm. The advantages of the Kuban sugar corn are, first of all, high taste qualities and versatility. Cobs can not only be cooked, but can also be preserved for the winter. The variety requires hilling before forming panicles.

Corn Sugar Spirit F1

This early variety is often grown by seedling method. With the use of such technology, the ears can be obtained by the end of July - early August. Sugar Corn Spirit F1, among other things, has a stable yield in all years. This is also attributed to its undeniable merits. The grains of Spirit F1, like those of the Kuban, are very large and sweet. Many gardeners consider this variety to be the most delicious of all existing at the moment.

Variety Gourmand

The main advantage of this variety is considered a large yield. Also, corn Gourmet sugar is very resistant to all sorts of diseases. The vegetation period lasts only 70-75 days. During this time the cobs grow up to 20 cm in length. The grains are wide, very juicy and sweet. More often than not, the goblets are consumed in cooked form. But they can also be preserved.

Corn Dobrynia

The advantages of this variety include, in the first place, very large cobs. Grow up an early hybrid Dobrynia can up to 170 cm in height. You can choose this variety for cultivation, including those to summer residents, whose land is not very good in the plot. The Dobrynia hybrid is absolutely undemanding to the soil composition. Also this early sugar corn is absolutely not afraid of such common diseases as mosaic and rust. The cobs of this variety are ripening on the 70th day after planting. Unlike many other hybrids, they can be collected not only in the phase of milk maturity, but also dried up.

Seed preparation

So, the grade of corn sugar is selected, and the planting material is acquired. Next, you need to prepare seeds. In principle, they can simply be immediately planted in the ground. However, the prepared material will ascend faster, and corn itself will later grow much healthier and more productive. Pre-sowing preparatory activities are included in the following:

• Seeds are laid out on a sheet of paper in an even layer and placed on a sunny place for 5 days.

• The heated material for a day is soaked in a warm solution of potassium permanganate (weak) or a growth stimulant.

Prepared in this way the seeds will rise a few days faster.

Where to plant?

A good harvest of corn can be collected only if during the season it will receive enough sunlight. Therefore, to place this plant stands either on the south or south-west side of the house, or on a flat plot, provided that there are no large trees nearby. It is very good, if from the side, whence prevailing winds blow in this particular area, there will be some barrier (construction, bushes, etc.). Sugar corn is a high plant, and it can simply be broken or "rolled up" by the wind.

In most cases, villagers place corn along the fences or next to the terrace. If desired, this culture can also be used as an element of landscape design. For example, it is easy to make a temporary hedge from it when zoning the site.

The best predecessors

Planting of sugar corn can be made practically after any other garden crop, under which fertilizers were introduced. The best predecessors for this plant are potatoes, cabbage and peas. It is not recommended to sow this crop after millet. The fact is that these plants can hit the same pest - the corn moth. It is also not advisable to plant this crop after beet or next to it.

Very often, corn is placed next to cucumbers and the latter are let through the stems and branches. You can plant this plant and next to the pumpkin. However, it is not necessary to adapt the stalks of corn under the whip of this culture. Pumpkins are too heavy.

What should be the soil

One of the characteristics of corn is the low demand for soil composition. This plant will feel good both on podzolic soil, and on chernozem or even peat bogs. However, it is best to plant this culture in a light, well-permeating soil and water, with an acidity of 6-7 pH. The site for corn is to be as deep as possible. After all, the roots of this plant can go down by 1.5-2 m.

Before planting in the furrow it is desirable to make organic fertilizers (reparted manure, humus) and some phosphoric mineral top dressing (for example, superphosphate at the rate of 10 g / m ² ).

How to sow

They start planting corn in mid-early May, that is, at a time when the soil warms up to at least 10 g. The sowing time should be chosen taking into account the fact that this culture does not tolerate night frosts at all. Plant corn with sugar rows. The distance between the bushes at the same time should be 25-35 cm between the rows leave 60-70 cm of free space.

Deepen the seeds of sugar corn into the soil by about 5-6 cm. Too close to the surface of the soil they can not be placed. The fact is that corn kernels are one of the favorite delicacies of many species of birds. After planting, the area, of course, should be watered additionally.

Corn sugar: growing seedlings

As already mentioned, maize is a plant later. And even from the early varieties of the harvest have to wait a long time - at least 2-3 months. Therefore, many summer residents grow this crop in seedlings. In this case, truck farmers use approximately the same planting technology:

• In the boxes are poured a special substrate, composed of garden land and compost in the proportion of 1x1.

• Seeds are pre-germinated at room temperature in wet foil paper.

• Plant them to a depth of 3-4 cm.

Plant early varieties of corn sugar for seedlings in late April - early May - about 25 days before being transported to the open ground. Since the transplantation of corn does not bear well, instead of boxes you can use special peat cups. In any case, during transport to the open ground, it is worthwhile to carefully ensure that the roots of the plants are not damaged. If there is no need to obtain a very early crop, it is better to plant corn directly in the soil.

What fertilizers are needed for sugar corn during growth

Like any other garden crop, corn from time to time needs fertilizing. This plant is very large, and it needs a lot of nutrients. Feed sugar corn at least twice a season. When planting, as already mentioned, it is useful to introduce organic and phosphoric fertilizers into the furrow. Very good corn also responds to funds containing a large amount of zinc. This can be, for example, PMU-7.

The second time the plants are fertilized two weeks after planting. In this case, it is better to use a lot of nitrogen containing agents.

What fertilizers are needed for sugar corn during growth, will be learned from the state of the bushes themselves. Any kind of negative changes may indicate a shortage of some elements in the soil. So, for example, the lack of nitrogen will be manifested in yellowing and drying of the leaves (under the condition of periodic watering). Potassium starvation is manifested by the suspension of development and the appearance of "burns" on the tips of the leaves. If there is a lack of phosphorus, the green maize tissues will begin to turn red.

How to water

The water of corn in the process of growth requires quite a lot. Allow soil to dry out under this plant is not recommended. Otherwise, the corn will cease to grow, and its cobs will not develop. It is also impossible to transfuse this culture. This can lead to over-consolidation of the soil. Without oxygen, the roots of the plant will cease to grow well, and the bushes lacking nutrients will significantly reduce the yield.

In particular, a lot of sugar corn, the cultivation of which is relatively simple, requires moisture in the formation of cobs. At this time, water it more often. If the plant has enough water, it will certainly please the owners with juicy and sweet grains.

Signs of maturation

Harvest of corn should be harvested on time. Corns of unripened cobs are not too tasty and do not differ in juiciness. Overexposed fruits become too hard and dry. Harvest corn usually after 20-25 days after the beginning of flowering - in the phase of milk ripeness. During this period, the fruits of this plant contain the most sugars. The main signs of maturation are:

• Drying of the edges of the upper wrappers;

• Darkening of the pistil threads at the top of the cob;

• Tight fit to each other grains;

• Uniform color of all fruits.

When pressing on ripened grains their shell bursts, and the milk-sugar liquid flows out.

Harvest corn usually for several weeks in a row. Cobs on the bushes are formed not simultaneously. The harvested crop should be immediately processed - boiled or preserved. The fact is that when stored in the cob, the percentage of sugar content decreases very quickly. Harvest the corn is early in the morning. It is at this time in the grains accumulates the most sugar. If corn still has to be stored, it is best to freeze it first.

Diseases and pests

To infection with various kinds of fungi and bacteria, maize is fairly stable. However, sometimes this plant does get sick. The most common problem is sprouting of sprouts. This happens usually with too early planting of seeds. Cold air and soil, under conditions of high humidity, provoke the development of penicillin fungi. Fight this disease with various fungicides.

Also sometimes sugar corn is affected by helminthosporium. In this case, leaves, internodes, roots, and sometimes cobs, can suffer. This disease manifests itself in the second half of summer in the form of large brown spots. For its prevention, it is necessary to burn the post-harvest remnants of corn.

Testimonials for truck drivers

Of course, according to the popularity of the cottage dwellers, the main crops, such as cucumbers or tomatoes, for example, are inferior to corn. Not all gardeners grow it. However, there are also devoted devotees of this wonderful plant. Most fans of this culture explain their love for her primarily by the opportunity to diversify the family table. After boiled cobs are really very tasty and besides contain a lot of substances useful for the body.

Good deserved sugar corn reviews also for the fact that it can create special conditions for growth, for example, the same cucumber. Planting beds with this corn culture allows creating a special "greenhouse" microclimate. Thus, in the vicinity of this plant, cucumbers develop much faster.