Corn yield is a hot topic for gardeners. The grain is used as food; silage is prepared from the unripe cobs and green parts of the plant. They feed animals during difficult winter times.
All summer residents like to pick a cob of milky ripeness, boil it and eat it. The taste will delight you. The quality is much higher than that bought in a store or market. The gardener knows what fertilizers were applied when planting the crop and what the crops were treated with.
The grain is perfectly stored. A good harvest can be used in winter to make porridge.Flour makes delicious baked goods. Popcorn is prepared at home (in a regular frying pan).
Enthusiastic gardeners combine corn planting and cucumbers. Tall stems serve as support for climbing cucumbers and protect plants from cold winds. But gardeners also want to get a good corn harvest.
What kind of culture is this?
In Russia, this crop was traditionally grown in the southern regions: in the Kuban, Caucasus, Rostov and Voronezh provinces. The grown crops were fed to animals and used as food. Bread was made from corn flour.
In other regions, the crop was not planted: there was not enough heat and light. Since Khrushchev's visit to the United States, the situation has changed. The Secretary General assessed the technical characteristics of the plant and declared corn the “queen of the fields.” They began to plant areas in all regions of the country with it.
But grain varieties were not given - they were not zoned. Today the situation has changed. Breeders have created varieties and hybrids capable of ripening. Corn is grown almost throughout the country.
Gardeners in small areas get a good harvest corn for grain. To do this, it is enough to choose the right planting material and fulfill the requirements of agricultural technology.
Cultivation rules
A plant left to its own devices will never produce a decent harvest. Careful care is required. To achieve the desired result, the requirements of the plant should be taken into account. Main features of corn:
- sensitivity to sunlight (it does not grow in the shade, but withers);
- love of warmth;
- requirement for moisture;
- responsiveness to soil nutrition (requires application of organic matter and mineral fertilizers).
Getting started growing corn, weeds should be carefully removed from the proposed planting areas.Seeds during germination are inhibited by harmful plants. In the third leaf phase, active elongation and thickening of the stem begins: corn is no longer afraid of any aggressors.
Some gardeners recommend using herbicides to reduce labor intensity. However, you must strictly follow the manufacturer's instructions.
The plant should be provided with regular watering during the period of growth and development. Lack of moisture in the soil reduces the quality of grain and reduces yield. It is optimal to arrange drip irrigation with humidity and temperature sensors.
It is recommended to keep the soil loose. It allows air to reach the roots. The plant loves it.
It should be remembered: loosening is dry watering. In dry times (if it is impossible to water the corn), it is recommended to carry out this activity once every 3-4 days. To increase productivity, it is recommended to carry out foliar feeding. They are 30% more effective than applying fertilizers to the soil.
When growing crops for grain, only the net weight of the cereals is taken into account. They begin to collect when the stem is completely dry (from the cobs to the ground).
If you follow the rules of agricultural technology, it is possible to achieve a corn yield of 55 centners per hectare.
How to plant?
This culture does not tolerate cold weather. It is recommended to plant on ridges at an air temperature of 20–24 degrees Celsius. The soil at a depth of 10 cm should warm up to 12–15 ⁰С.
There are two ways of sowing: in trenches and holes. The second method is more labor-intensive. There are no other fundamental differences.
In large areas, dry grain is poured into moist soil. A gardener can grow corn seedlings. This will protect the plantings from pests and diseases.
It is recommended to place at a distance between rows of 70 cm. In small areas you can plant at intervals of 40 cm.
How much corn can be harvested from 1 hectare?
The productivity of a plant depends on a set of measures. You should start with the selection of seed material.
Choosing a variety or hybrid
When planting for the first time, it is necessary to determine how the crop will be used. A gardener wants to get high-quality grain in a short summer: he should focus on hybrids. They give a good harvest. But they cost more.
The varieties are time-tested. Regular cultivation on the site will allow you to harvest your own high-quality planting material. But the yield is inferior to hybrids.
There are no restrictions when growing for silage. For a good harvest, it is recommended to mix an early-ripening variety with a late-ripening one. This will increase the mass: green cobs of early ripening varieties will be added.
Popular varieties
There are 800 registered in our country hybrids and varieties of corn. Of these, 50 are grains. The most popular:
- Tango. Tested in the North-West region. The plant stretches up to 2.5 m. It has long cobs. Average yield up to 100 c/ha. Under favorable conditions it produces up to 145 c/ha. Weakly responds to drought. But a decrease in soil moisture reduces the number of ears. Harvesting begins 100 days after germination.
- Premium MS 190. Designed for regions with cool climates. But it demonstrates excellent resistance to drought. The height of the stem is about 2m. Ripens within 112 days. Cultivated relatively little - 10 years.
- Oriol. Grown in the Volga region. Drought resistant. The grain is large. The cobs are full. The stem height is less than 1.7 m. This makes it easy to grow and collect. Productivity 120 c/ha.Used for human consumption and as animal feed.
You can grow green mass for silage production from any variety. To do this, planting is done later or harvesting is done earlier.
Known hybrids
The price of hybrid seeds is 30% higher. This is due to the production costs of achieving the required characteristics. But gardeners with small plots should choose them: the planting area will be reduced. The average annual precipitation rate for hybrids is reduced.
Often planted:
- Euro 401. Designed in Poland. It has high productivity. If the growing conditions are met, 160 c/ha will please you. Grows up to 2.5 m. Each stem bears 4 ears. The grain is leveled. The average ripening period is about 120 days from germination to harvest. Ripens steadily under different weather conditions. Not afraid of drought.
- Ross. Made in America. It has long been acclimatized in our country. Gives record yields - 12 t/ha. But the hybrid is demanding when it comes to watering. Does not tolerate drought well.
- Krasnodarsky 436 MV. Tall (up to 2.7 m) stems, wide leaves. The ground is well shaded and moisture is retained for a long time. Water consumption is reduced and the labor intensity of cultivation is reduced. Productivity up to 160 c/ha. Heavy green mass allows you to prepare excellent silage.
You should not think that the hybrid does not require care. The declared yield can only be achieved if the rules of agricultural technology are followed.
How to store seed stock?
Productivity is ensured by proper storage of the seed fund. The collected grain needs to be sorted. For subsequent plantings, fully ripened grains should be selected. They must not contain signs of damage or signs of disease.
Corn is stored either on the cob or shelled. The air humidity in the storage should not be higher than 17%.
Storing in cobs requires more space. With this method, the grain does not rot or get wet. A gardener can use this method: huge amounts of corn are not grown on plots.
The poured hulled grain needs to be checked regularly. The bitten grain should break into small pieces. If the skin is dented, the humidity is too high. The storage should be ventilated and the layer thickness should be reduced.
Protection of plantings from pests
When the tops grow, the plant must be protected from pests. Aphids love juicy young leaves. The root worm destroys the growing point. Insects can destroy the entire crop. Spraying with fungicides will help.
In the early stages, it is effective to treat the plants leaf by leaf with a double dose of urea. The operation is carried out in the evening after sunset. The weather should be calm and windless. If it rains within 3 days after treatment, the operation should be repeated.
