Corn is deservedly considered the oldest plant. The golden cob with dense grains is familiar to everyone. Corn is a plant cultivated almost everywhere on an industrial scale. It has become a necessary feed, food and industrial crop.

Description of culture

Corn is classified as a cereal. Its cob, which is eaten, is a grain (seed), and not a fruit with pulp. Although the grains of young corn are very juicy and meaty. You can determine which family a plant belongs to by its structure. Botanists clearly classify corn as a relative of grains.

Corn, also known as maize (Zea mays) is a tall herbaceous plant with cobs. This is an annual crop from the cereal family. Can reach three meters in length.

The root system is fibrous, penetrating to great depths (up to 1.5 m), and well developed. The grain has one embryonic root, which, as it develops, reaches a considerable length. It remains functional throughout the life of the plant. Then lateral roots appear, followed by adventitious roots.

Large roots extending from the lower nodes act as supports for the tall stem, providing stability.

The stalk of corn is straight and quite thick (up to 8 cm). There is no emptiness inside; unlike many cereals, the trunk consists of loose parenchyma. The leaves have a linear-lanceolate shape. They are large and tough. The length reaches 1 m and the width is up to 12 cm.

Corn is classified as a monoecious plant. There are male flowers that are collected in large panicles and are located at the top of the stem. The female inflorescences are located on the cobs and grow in the axils of the leaves. These are the so-called corn silks (thread-like fibers). Once pollinated, they then form a fruit (seed).

The grains fit tightly together on the core. An ear of corn can hold hundreds of kernels. Most often, they are yellow in various shades. Can be: black, red, purple. Corn is a vegetable or a cereal - this becomes clear when comparing the main distinguishing features of the family. The structure of the cob testifies in favor of the cereal.

History of the origin of corn

The lands of modern Mexico are recognized as the birthplace of corn. They began to grow it about 11 thousand years ago. The ancestor of corn was then many times smaller. Theories about the origin of the cultivated plant species are different:


Many breeders adhere to the first hypothesis. Maize, even before the arrival of Europeans, grew in the north and south of America. Since the 15th century, the plant began to spread at high speed throughout the continent. For this, new varieties were needed, which stimulated the development of crop breeding and led to the formation of different varieties of corn.

Types of corn

Over the past millennia, many types of corn have evolved. Based on grain morphology and shape, it is customary to distinguish seven main varieties of the crop:


There are several more less common species: caragua, nosed corn, Japanese. These species and their varieties are used for growing for silage, for feed, and for decorative purposes.

Corn cultivation

Corn has many advantages over other crops. The plant is unpretentious, it is not afraid of difficult weather conditions (resistant to drought, high temperatures, winds). Its grains have excellent nutritional and feed qualities. Growing this cereal is economically profitable.


Corn is a heat-loving crop, but it is resistant to cold. Seeds begin to germinate when the soil temperature reaches +10ºС. The first shoots can tolerate frosts down to -3ºС. Although the plant is less moisture-loving, it requires a high water content in the soil. Especially during the period of grain formation and ripening. The growing season lasts from 84-140 days, depending on the variety.

The soil for sowing should be light and loose. Sandy loam, loamy and chernozem soils, which have a slightly alkaline or neutral reaction, are considered the best. If the soil is well fertilized, then a high yield can be achieved on sod-podzolic and drained drill soils.

It is useful to fertilize. Twice: during the formation of 3-4 leaves, before the appearance of panicles. For example, if there is a lack of phosphorus, which is a necessary supplement, the plant will slow down and the leaves will turn reddish.

Organic and mineral fertilizers are used. Organic mixtures are applied before plowing the soil. The amount of fertilizer must comply with the standards.

Corn is grown in two ways:


It is necessary to follow the seed sowing scheme. Corn is a cross-pollinated plant. Plant in rows or using the square-cluster method. The row spacing is 60 cm, in the row - every 40 cm. You can use the conveyor principle for varieties with different ripening periods. Seeds are sown at intervals of 10-15 days. The depth of the impact is about 7 cm.


It is not recommended to cultivate corn for several years in a row in one field (place): it is alternated with other cereals (wheat), legumes, and root crops.

Seeds are planted by the end of April or in the first half of May. Depends on the region. Further care comes down to watering, loosening and thinning the sprouts. When they grow to 20-25 cm, the side shoots (stepchildren) must be removed. This will increase productivity. Artificial pollination can be carried out.

The benefits of corn

The benefits of this tasty cob are difficult to overestimate. This is a valuable food crop. Rich in vitamins and microelements. Contains large quantities of vitamins E, A, PP and B. The composition includes about 27 elements from the periodic table. Corn has little energy value, so it is included in the menu of many diets. It normalizes the condition of the gastrointestinal tract, tones the muscles, and can rejuvenate the body.

Boiled corn is especially useful for people with diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. It is suitable for allergy sufferers. The cereal is valuable because the grains, when heat treated, do not lose their beneficial properties.

Corn cobs and various parts of the plant are used in many areas:


This is not a complete list of uses and uses of corn. Finding out which family corn belongs to is not difficult. Only specialists need this for correct classification. It is much more important to know and appreciate the beneficial properties of this irreplaceable plant.

Corn (lat. Zea) is a genus of plants of the flowering department, class Monocots, order Porciferae, family Poaceae.

Corn (cereal) - origin of the word.

Linguists interpret the origin of the word “corn” differently. The word came into Russian speech from the southeast of Europe, and, according to scientists, is related to the Romanian word cucuruz, meaning “fir cone,” or the Turkish kokoros (corn stalk). According to another version, corn began to be called a cereal whose grains were thrown to poultry, calling it with the sounds of kukuru. Corn is often called maize, the name given to the grain by Christopher Columbus, who described the plant as mahiz, “the seed that makes the ear.” Corn is also known as “cob” and “Turkish millet”.

Corn - description and photo.

Corn is an annual herbaceous grass that reaches 3 meters in height; in rare cases, the height of corn can be 6-7 meters. The corn root system, consisting of lobes and adventitious roots, develops well and penetrates deep into the ground up to 1.5 meters. Support roots sometimes form at the first internodes, absorbing nutrients from the air.

How does corn grow?

Single straight stalks of corn up to 7 cm in diameter, unlike other cereal plants, do not have an internal cavity, but contain loose parenchyma. The plant produces large leaves that grow up to 1 meter in length and 10 cm in width.

Corn, like any monoecious plant, is endowed with unisexual flowers. Male flowers are located at the tops of the shoots of the plant. Female flowers are connected into inflorescences-cobs growing in the leaf axils.

As a rule, no more than 2 ears are formed on one stalk of corn, but bushy varieties of the plant may have more. A mature ear of corn grows up to 4-50 cm in length and has a circumference of up to 10 cm. The weight of an ear of corn varies from 30 to 500 grams. Each cob is densely covered with leaf-like involucres.

Wind-borne pollen from the staminate flowers of corn settles on the stigmas of the female thread-like styles emerging in a bunch from under the involucres. After pollination, the development of fruit grains begins. Corn kernels grow close together and are located on the cob. One ear of corn can contain up to a thousand round or slightly elongated kernels. Most varieties of corn are distinguished by yellow grain color, but some have red, blue, purple, and black grains.

Where does corn grow?

Corn is native to Guatemala and Southern Mexico. Nowadays, the cereal has spread throughout the world, but the leaders in large-scale cultivation are the USA, Brazil and China. The top ten countries where corn is grown also included Mexico, Argentina, India, South Africa, France and Russia.

Types of corn, names, descriptions and photos.

The only representative of the genus Corn grown in cultivation is sweet corn, also known as maize (lat. Zea mays ssp. Mays or Zea saccharata).

In addition to sweet corn, the genus is divided into 4 species:

  • Zea diploperennis;
  • Zea luxurians;
  • Zea nicaraguensis;
  • Zea perennis.

And 4 subspecies of Zea mays growing in the wild:

  • Zea mays ssp. Mexicana;
  • Zea mays ssp. parviglumis;
  • Zea mays Huehuetenangensis;
  • Zea mays ssp.

The modern classification includes 10 botanical groups, differing in the shape and structure of the fruit.

  • Sweet corn(lat. Zeamays saccharata,Zea mays ssp. mays) (English: Sweet corn) is a common variety of corn, beloved by agronomists, which is grown all over the world except Antarctica. The bushy plants produce several ears, and the varieties of corn developed have kernels of a wide variety of colors. The ripened, translucent corn kernel, consisting of horn-like storage tissue, contains a minimum of starch and a large amount of sugars. This cereal is grown for industrial preservation; the forks are suitable for boiling.

  • dent corn(lat. Zea mays indentata)(eng. Dent corn) gave birth to many productive late-ripening varieties. The plants are sparsely leafy, characterized by vigorous stems, massive ears and the formation of a large number of aerial roots. During the ripening of corn, a characteristic dent appears on the large elongated grains, making the grain look like a tooth. The varietal group derived from dent corn is cultivated in America as a forage plant. Corn kernels are used to produce flour, grits and alcohol.

  • Flint corn (Indian corn)(lat. Zea mays indurata)(eng. Flint corn) - the very first type of corn exported from America. It is successfully grown throughout the world and has the widest distribution of all members of the genus. The round, wrinkled kernels of corn can be yellow or white in color and consist of 70-83% hardened starch. The varietal diversity is characterized by early ripening and high yield. The most popular varieties of corn are those developed by hybridization with dent corn. Flint corn is grown primarily for grain, but also for the production of corn sticks and flakes.

  • Starchy corn (mealy, soft corn)(lat. Zea mays amylacea)(eng. Flour corn) - the oldest representative of the genus, distinguished by small, densely leafy, bushy plant forms. Large round corn kernels with a convex top have a smooth, matte shell. The grain contains over 80% starch. Starchy corn grows only in South America and the south of the North American continent; it is grown for the production of starch, flour, alcohol and molasses.

  • Waxy corn(lat. Zea mays ceratina)(eng. Waxy corn) - a group of modified tooth-like North American hybrids, distinguished by a two-layer storage tissue: a hard, matte outer part, resembling wax, and a mealy middle layer consisting of sticky amylopectin. The group has a very limited range and a small number of varieties. In China, waxy corn is especially popular.

  • Corn popping(lat. Zea mays everta)(eng. Popcorn) - a group represented by bushy, leafy plants that form several medium-sized ears filled with small grains. The grain is smooth and glossy. Corn varieties are divided into 2 subgroups:
    • Pearled corn: has a beak-shaped top of the grain and tastes like pearl barley;
    • Rice corn: It has a round top and a rice flour flavor.

The varietal diversity is distinguished by a variety of colors. Corn grains can be yellow, white, red, blue, and there are also varieties with pockmarked grain colors.

All types of corn kernels pop when heated, which is why popcorn gets its name and is used to make popcorn. About 16% protein was found in the grains, and therefore the variety is widely used in the production of cereals and corn flakes. Initially, popping corn began to be cultivated in America, and then the varieties quickly spread throughout the globe.

  • Semi-dent corn(lat. Zea mays semidentata)(eng. Semident corn) was obtained by crossing representatives of the siliceous and dentate groups and is sometimes called semi-siliceous. Varieties of this type of corn are widely used in the food industry.

  • Membranous corn(lat. Zea mays tunicata)(eng. Pod corn) is distinguished by the intensive growth of spikelet scales, densely covering mature grains. The group has no nutritional value. According to some statements, hulled corn is used in Indian rituals.

  • Starchy sweet corn(lat. Zea mays amyleosaccharata) is not of industrial interest, and corn grains consist almost entirely of mealy storage substance.
  • Japanese variegated corn (lat.Zea mays japonica) (English: Striped maize) is mainly used for decorative purposes, as it has a rather impressive appearance. The stem is straight, slightly bushy, 1 to 2 meters high. The leaves of corn are quite spreading, drooping, colored with multi-colored longitudinal stripes located on a green background. The color of the stripes is multifaceted and varies from white and yellow to pinkish and bright red. The cobs are miniature, the grain sometimes has a purple or cherry tint, and at the stage of milky ripeness it has good taste. Japanese corn is widely used in landscape design as decorative hedges.

Corn varieties, names, descriptions and photos.

There are many varieties of corn, each with its own characteristics. Below are descriptions of corn varieties according to cereal types and photographs.

Varieties of sugar (sweet) corn.

Aurika – early hybrid of sweet corn – 75-80 days pass from planting to technical maturity. A medium bushy plant, a pair of cobs 17-20 cm long are formed in the axils, containing 12 rows of large cone-shaped grains. The weight of an ear of corn is from 190 to 220 g, the grain is bright yellow, with a thin shell and delicate consistency. The variety is used for canning, freezing, and consumed boiled and fresh.

Krasnodar sugar 250 – early variety of corn – from germination to harvest it takes 85-90 days. The cob is conical, 16-20 cm long, 4-5.5 cm in diameter. The grains are slightly flattened, yellow in color. The corn variety is resistant to rot and smut, the yield is friendly and stable. The grain is excellent for freezing and canning; its taste is high.

Kuban sugar . An early-ripening variety of corn (70–75 days pass from germination to initial ripeness). The plant is tall - 1.8-2 meters, the ear is 16-20 cm long, with ten rows of yellow-orange grains. The variety is high-yielding and is used both fresh and for canning.

Divine paper - the sweetest and most delicious corn. The variety is quite rare and unique. Ripens 90 days after emergence, the stem is 170-200 cm high, the ears are medium-sized, cylindrical in shape. Corn kernels are yellow in color with small patches of white kernels. When dried, the grains wrinkle greatly, acquiring the thickness of a sheet of cardboard, but after soaking they restore both their shape and excellent taste.

Varieties of dent corn.

Dneprovsky 172 MV . Mid-season corn hybrid. Very resistant to cold, arid climates and stem lodging. The height of corn often reaches 215-220 cm. The grains are tooth-shaped and yellow in color. The variety is used as livestock feed, the grains are ground into flour, and corn grits are made.

Krasnodarsky 436 MV . A corn hybrid that is resistant to stem lodging and drought and is quite productive. The ears are large, 20 cm long and 5-6 cm in diameter, the grain is tooth-shaped, pale yellow. The grain is widely used in the production of alcohol, cereals and flour, and is used as livestock feed.

Frame 443 SV . Medium ripening corn hybrid. The height of the corn stalk reaches 280-290 cm, the cob is large - 22-25 cm in length, the grain is bright yellow. It is used as a fodder variety of corn, as well as for the production of corn flour and cereals.

Varieties of flint corn.

Cherokee Blue – an early-ripening and extremely productive variety of corn (ripening period 80-85 days). The stem is 1.7-1.9 m high. The ear is large, 17-18 cm long, and has a rounded pyramidal shape. The grain is medium size, unusual lilac-chocolate color. This corn is very tasty when boiled.

Mays Ornamental Congo - a variety that came from South America. A late-ripening and very productive variety of corn, the ripening period of the cobs is 120-130 days. The corn stalk reaches a height of 2.5 meters, 3-4 cobs are formed on the plant. The grain is large, of various colors, with excellent taste. This variety of corn is suitable for cooking and is also eaten fresh; flour and cereals are obtained from the grains. Corn is also used for animal feed.

Varieties of starchy (mealy) corn.

Mays Concho – a high-yielding early variety of corn. The plant reaches a height of 2 meters. The cobs are large, the length varies from 20 to 35 cm. The grain is large, with a thin shell, soft, slightly sweet, bright yellow. The best variety of corn for consumption at the stage of milk maturity; it performs well in the production of cereals and corn flour.

Thompson Prolific . A powerful plant reaching a height of 2.7-3.2 meters. Corn cobs are very large, 41-44 cm long; 3-4 cobs can be tied in one bosom at once. The grain is white, large, flat. The variety is good after heat treatment of young cobs; it is used for the production of high-quality flour.

Varieties of waxy corn.

Strawberry – mid-season corn variety (ripening period 80-90 days). The stem is up to 180 cm high. The cob is relatively thin, up to 22 cm long, the grain is dark red, pointed, and resembles a grain of rice in shape. The variety is excellent for producing cereals and flour, tasty when boiled during the period of milky-wax ripeness, and is used for fattening poultry and livestock.

Oaxacan red . The plant is mid-season (ripening time up to 90 days), the stem is up to 200 cm high. The corn cob is 17-25 cm long. The grains are medium-sized, bright red in color, and contain quite a lot of useful substances. Corn is sweet and very tasty when boiled. An ideal variety for the production of corn grits and flour.

Varieties of popping corn.

Mini Striped . A high-yielding variety that came from China. The plant is not too tall - 1.5-1.7 meters tall, 3-5 ears 9-12 cm long are formed on one stem. The grain is colored with white and red stripes. An ideal corn variety for popcorn and making corn flakes.

Red Arrow . An early variety of corn (it takes 75-80 days to reach technical maturity), with high yield. The stem rarely exceeds a height of 1.5 meters; 4-5 ears of average length 13-15 cm are formed on one plant. The grain has a rounded elongated shape and is colored dark burgundy. The variety is widely used in the preparation of flakes and puffed corn.

Semi-dent corn varieties.

Spring 179 NE – a hybrid of corn grown for silage and grain. The stem is tall, 2.4-2.6 meters, practically does not bush. Ears weighing 120-140 g, up to 25 cm long, the grain is semi-tooth-shaped, bright yellow. The hybrid is resistant to fusarium and lodging.

Moldavian 215 MV – a hybrid with early ripening. The height of the plant is average, the length of the cob is 15-17 cm, the corn grains are semi-toothed, yellow in color. The plant is grown for silage and grain.

Varieties of hulled corn.

The group does not have varietal diversity, since it does not represent any nutritional value; it is grown only for its green mass used for silage and low-quality grain in terms of taste, used for livestock feed.

Varieties of starchy sweet corn.

The species is not of industrial interest, therefore it has no varieties, and corn grains consist almost entirely of a mealy storage substance.

A variety of Japanese corn.

Mother of pearl miracle - a variety of Japanese corn. The stem is succulent, with pronounced knees, 1-1.5 meters high. Corn leaves are drooping type, colored with alternating green, orange, light yellow and red stripes. Inflorescences and cobs also have decorative value and are used to create elegant ikebanas and bouquets. Young ears of corn taste good and are edible.

What are the benefits of corn?

Corn is a valuable medicinal plant, and its benefits are concentrated both in the leaves and in the grains of the cereal. It is a storehouse of vitamins B, K, PP, C, D and essential microelements: copper, nickel, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus. It has been scientifically proven that regular consumption of corn prevents the development of a number of dangerous conditions: diabetes, vascular and heart disease, stroke. Yellow grains of milky ripeness, rich in carotenoids, will help maintain visual acuity.

Corn silk, called “corn hair,” also has beneficial properties, as it contains a lot of substances, vitamins and minerals that are useful for the human body:

  • vitamins K, C;
  • pantothenic acid;
  • saponins (up to 3%);
  • stigmasterol and sitosterol;
  • tannins;
  • fatty oil (2.5%);
  • essential oil (0.12%);

Important components are also contained in corn seeds:

  • tocopherols;
  • thiamine hydrochloride;
  • pyridoxine;
  • riboflavin;
  • pantothenic acid;
  • fatty oil (up to 5%);
  • biotin.

Corn leaves are also rich in beneficial components:

  • esters of phenolcarboxylic acids;
  • flavonoids;
  • querticin;
  • routine

Corn oil, made from the germ of ripe corn seeds, has a number of healing properties and promotes:

  • regulation of metabolism;
  • improving the functioning of the biliary tract;
  • prevention of vascular diseases and normalization of cholesterol;
  • treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Extracts and tinctures of corn silk are used in home and traditional medicine to cure dangerous ailments, such as:

  • glaucoma;
  • urolithiasis disease;
  • inflammation of the bile ducts;
  • cystitis;
  • BPH.

Raw and boiled corn significantly dulls the feeling of hunger, which is why nutritionists include it in the diet of obese patients, as well as anyone who wants to lose weight.

Corn, Maize (Zea mays)- an annual plant of the Poa family, grain and fodder crop.
Homeland - Central and South America.

One of the oldest cultivated plants on Earth, incapable of self-seeding and going wild. It was first introduced into culture in Mexico by the ancient Mayans and Aztecs (about 5200 BC). The probable ancestor of cultivated corn is considered to be the common weed plant Mexican teosinte (Euchlaena mexicana), which is similar in appearance to corn. It was brought to Europe at the end of the 15th century, and has been cultivated in Russia since the 17th century. The range of corn is from 58°N. up to 40°S..

Corn is a light- and heat-loving crop, quite drought-resistant, and does not tolerate shade, especially in the first half of the growing season. The growing season is usually 90-150 days.

The plant is monoecious with dioecious flowers (the spadix in the leaf axils is the female inflorescence and the panicle at the top of the stem is male), cross-pollinating. Male flowers bloom two to five days earlier than female flowers.

Color of corn grains: yellow and white, sometimes orange, pink, red, black. From 500 to 1000 grains are formed on the cob.

The corn plant has a powerful root system. Adventitious roots are formed at the bottom of the lekgo stem. The stems, depending on the variety, reach 0.8-2 meters in height. Leaves are lanceolate, vaginal.

Depending on the properties of the grain, corn is divided into 7 subspecies: sugar, flint and tooth-like (most common in Russia), starchy, popping (popcorn), waxy (less common) and filmy (not used in industrial crops).

Corn cobs have excellent taste and nutritional properties.

Corn grain contains minerals important for the human body: potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus salts. Its protein contains the essential amino acids lysine and tiptophan. Sweet corn is rich in vitamins E, B, PP and ascorbic acid. The germ of the corn grain, which occupies almost a third of the grain, contains 35% fat.

Corn is a plant with many uses. It is used in the food industry (flour, cereal, corn flakes and sticks, corn oil rich in vitamin E, etc.), starch, brewing and alcohol industries. Corn stalks, cobs, and their wrappers are used to produce paper, linoleum, viscose, insulating materials, film, and much more. Corn silage and crushed canned cobs (along with grain) in milky-waxy ripeness are valuable comas.

Pistil stigmas are used in medicine. Extracts from corn silk have the property of stimulating the liver and gallbladder, increasing urination, and are recommended for cystitis and as an aid in the treatment of kidney stones and hepatitis.


Corn has many meanings in such industries as: feed, food, technical. Corn is usually grown for grain production. Corn grain has a large amount of carbohydrates as well as fats.

Characteristics of corn

Corn grains contain fats, carbohydrates, as well as oils, proteins and, of course, vitamins. Thanks to this, it is the best type of all feed concentrates for both livestock and poultry.

All leaves, stems and cobs are used for feed. It is stored in the form of silage for long-term storage.
Corn is also a food crop and is also used in cooking.

Starch, glucose and even oil, as well as many other technical and food products, are obtained from corn grain. Pulp and paper are obtained from the stems and are used in the production of insulation, as well as in many other industries. If we were to list all the products and products, then this list would be more than two hundred units.

Types of corn and where they grow

The historical homeland of corn is America. Not found in the wild nowadays. It is produced in many countries. Most common in the USA, Brazil, Argentina, India.

Corn is very productive with an average of 35 centners per hectare, and with artificial irrigation the yield increases to 100 centners per hectare.

Corn has little in common with other cereal plants. The height of the stem can be more than 5 meters, and the root system, having a fibrous shape, goes to a depth of 2 meters.

The stability of corn is ensured by aerial roots; they bear the main, largest and most powerful load, which prevents the crop from lodging. Early ripening varieties have from 8 to 10 internodes, while late ripening varieties have much more, up to 20 pieces.

Modern hybrids, up to two meters high, the stem is filled with sponge, making it very juicy, while the sugar content reaches more than 6%, and the leaves are longer and wider. Corn has two inflorescences, one of which is female - this is the cob. The cob has a rod shape and is covered with hairs.

During flowering, the columns of pistils are located in the upper part of the cob in the form of a bunch. The second inflorescence is male, namely the panicle. Corn is a wind-pollinated cereal.

Conditional groups to which corn can be classified

Corn has eight groups. Unlike other cereals, corn grains are varied in size and color, you can see this by looking at a photo of corn. The endosperm is divided into glassy, ​​mealy, or may have an intermediate character.

In the commercial cultivation of corn, preference is given to five groups: firstly, tooth-like, secondly, siliceous, thirdly, starchy, fourthly, popping and fifthly, sugar.

Tooth-like corn has wedge-shaped grains, elongated with depressions at the top, and the horn-like layer contains only grains on different sides. This variety of corn has a powerful stem with a well-developed root system, which are called aerial, large cobs with high yield.

Flint corn has a kernel that is flattened, shiny at the top and round, with the horn-like layer on top. Corn in this group has a large number of hybrids and varieties with different ripening periods.

Corn of the starchy group has a soft grain with a mealy endosperm. Since this type has a high content of both oil and starch, growing corn is advisable for processing in the starch industry, as well as other industries.

Popping corn is characterized by the following characteristics, namely a small grain, entirely consisting of a horn-like mass, pointed towards the top. When roasting, the grain breaks and bursts.

The sweet corn kernel is translucent in color and also wrinkled with a horn-like endosperm.

This type of corn is used in cooking, boiled for making canned food, as the sugar content reaches 16%.

Corn care

Many people have a question: how to plant corn? First you need to know that corn is primarily a heat-loving plant, but despite this, it is frost-resistant. For seeds to germinate, a temperature of at least 10 degrees is required. This plant can be classified as a short-day plant.

The next question that many people who are involved in agriculture ask is how to plant corn in the ground?

This is very simple to do; at the appropriate temperature, corn grains are planted in the ground and watered. After a while, the corn germinates and soon you will be able to get the fruit.

Photo of corn

Corn is a herbaceous, heat-loving plant, which is grown by many summer residents. Of course, in order to get a good harvest of this wonderful crop, certain agricultural techniques must be followed. First of all, you need to choose the right one. You should also decide where exactly it will grow on the site. And, of course, during the growing process, this crop, like any other, needs to be properly fed and watered.

general description

Corn is an annual plant. In nature, there are only 6 varieties of it. However, only this variety, depending on the variety, can reach a height of 1.5-3 m as a garden and agricultural crop. Unlike most other representatives of cereals, the stalk of corn is not empty, but filled with tissue. Its thickness is usually 3-7 cm.

In the lower part, this plant forms supporting aerial roots. The leaf length of corn can reach up to 1 m, and the width - up to 10 cm. The flowers of this plant are unisexual. The male ones are collected in panicles and grow at the very top of the stem. Female flowers form cobs located in the axils. The color of corn seeds is usually bright yellow. But there are also varieties with white, red or black grains. The shape and size of the seeds of this crop may vary.

Popular varieties

Corn is a southern plant whose cobs take a long time to ripen. Therefore, for the Urals and Siberia it is worth choosing mainly its early varieties. The most productive hybrids, producing harvests by mid-August, include the following:

    Sundance F1.

  • Sugar F1.

Also, under certain conditions, at a dacha in the middle zone you can get a good harvest of mid-season corn. Such, for example, as:

    Lingonberry.

Late varieties of this crop are mainly suitable only for Ukraine and the southern regions of the Russian Federation. The most popular corn hybrids of this group are Russian popping and Polaris.

Variety Sundance F1

This powerful early-ripening hybrid produces mature ears within 60-65 days after planting. Sundance F1 grain is usually used for food at the stage of milk maturity, fresh or canned. This variety received good reviews from summer residents, first of all, precisely for the excellent taste of the cobs. The Sundance F1 hybrid is also praised for its drought and frost resistance. However, this variety does not like shading and poor soils. Corn is sown (photos of it can be seen below) Sundance F1 in early May.

Hybrid Trophy F1

The growing season of this variety is 75 days. The Trophy F1 hybrid should be planted in a well-lit place, without thickening. The ears of this variety are very long (up to 23 cm) and sweet. The grain has a honey color. You can eat cobs either fresh or boiled. Some housewives also preserve grain of this variety for the winter.

Sugar F1

This is a very popular good variety of corn, the fruits of which begin to ripen already 70-80 days after planting. The grains of the hybrid Sugar F1 are very tender, juicy and sweet. The cob of this corn has an average length (up to 20 cm). The variety has earned its popularity not only for its good taste, but also for its resistance to diseases such as bladder smut.

Hybrid Lingonberry

This mid-season corn begins to ripen 85-89 days after planting. The cob of Lingonberry is quite short - 18 cm. But the grain of this variety is very large and has a pleasant bright yellow color. Like many other varieties of corn, Lingonberry does not tolerate shade at all. A site for it should be chosen with light, fertile soil. Lingonberry cobs are best consumed boiled or canned.

Hybrid Pearl

The ripening period for this corn is 80-85 days. Its cobs are of medium length (up to 20 cm) and have a bright yellow color. You can use Pearl corn grains for cooking or canning. The advantages of this hybrid for summer residents, among other things, include high productivity and resistance to various types of fungal and bacterial diseases.

Corn Mermaid

This variety is perhaps the most popular among summer residents of middle-income Russia. Its main advantage is considered to be simply phenomenal resistance to disease. There is almost never any need to treat Rusalka corn. The ears of this variety begin to ripen 80-90 days after the first shoots appear. Their length is average - up to 20 cm. The color of the seeds of corn of the Rusalka variety is lemon.

Late varieties

The Russian bursting hybrid ripens 90-95 days after planting. Its cob is very thin and has a conical shape. A characteristic feature of the variety is the cracking popcorn grain. Russian popping prefers soils that are light, fertile, and well-moistened. This variety is usually grown for flakes and puffed corn.

Long (up to 23 cm) ears of the Polaris hybrid are excellent for canning and fresh consumption. This variety is valued by summer residents, among other things, for its resistance to diseases and aging. Polaris grains are long and have excellent taste. This corn should be planted on light, fertile soils.

How to choose the right place

Corn is a crop that primarily prefers very well-lit areas. Therefore, it is usually planted on the south side of the garden or vegetable garden. At the same time, the largest harvests can be harvested by placing corn on a hill. The best predecessors for this culture are:

  • How to prepare a garden bed

    The area chosen for corn should be dug up in the fall. At the same time, manure and phosphorus fertilizers should be added to the soil. It is advisable to improve acidic soil with lime, chalk or dolomite flour. In the spring, before planting, the bed for corn only needs to be loosened a little.

    When to sow

    It is usually done in open ground immediately after the air temperature outside warms up to +12 C. In Ukraine and the southern regions of Russia, this is approximately the end of April. In the middle zone, sowing is usually done in mid-May. In the Urals and Siberia, the best planting time is considered to be early June. A sign that it is time to sow this plant is the presence of cherries.

    Corn is a relatively unpretentious crop that can be grown either using conventional technology (planting directly into the ground) or using seedlings. In the latter case, the seeds are placed in cups with pre-prepared soil mixture in mid-April (for the middle zone). You can take regular garden soil and add well-rotted manure to it. It is not recommended to keep cups with seeds in a very warm room. Good corn seedlings can only be obtained at an air temperature of no more than 20 degrees. It is best to install cups on a south window. If the seedlings do not get enough sunlight, they will begin to stretch and grow very weak.

    How to properly prepare seeds

    Before planting, corn grains should be placed in the sun for about 5 days. Then they need to be placed in warm water for an hour. Next, the seeds are dried. Before planting, it is advisable to dust the grains with hexachlorane or granosan according to the instructions. This will prevent infection of young seedlings by pathogenic microorganisms, fungi or harmful insects.

    How to plant correctly

    It is highly not recommended to be late with sowing corn. This can lead to a significant reduction in yield. The depth of seed placement during planting on light soils should be 6 cm, on heavy soils - 4 cm. The optimal distance between individual plants for most varieties is 35 cm. The only exception is very tall corn. Seeds of such varieties are planted at a distance of 45 cm from each other. The space between the rows of corn should be approximately 70 cm. Place 3-4 grains per hole. Thinning is carried out after 7-8 leaves appear on the plants. At the same time, the strongest bush is left in the hole.

    How to water corn

    The soil under this crop should not be moistened too often, but abundantly. After watering, the soil under each plant should get wet by at least 10 cm. Under no circumstances should the soil in the beds be allowed to dry out too much. Half-empty ears and low yields are the main consequences of insufficient watering of a crop such as corn. The photo below clearly demonstrates the result of overdrying plants.

    How to feed

    The first time corn is fertilized approximately 20 days after planting. In this case, a solution of mullein prepared in a ratio of 1:11 is usually used. You can also water the plants with diluted bird droppings (1:20-25). Additionally, it is worth adding phosphate-potassium fertilizers to the soil. This will be especially useful if the corn leaves become wavy around the edges. This form indicates a lack of potassium.

    Weeding and pinching

    Corn is a plant whose weeds usually have to be removed only in the first couple of weeks after planting. This culture is very strong and takes a lot of nutrients from the ground. Therefore, no weeds usually grow under it. In the phase of active development of green mass in corn, it is necessary to remove the side shoots. The fact is that they take a lot of vitality from the plant. And this, in turn, greatly affects productivity.

    After the corn grows to about 20-30 cm, it is advisable to mulch the soil in the garden bed. It is best to use well-rotted horse or cow manure for this purpose. You can also cover the soil under the plants with regular dried grass.

    Harvesting in the country and harvesting corn for silage in the fields

    When is the best time to pick the cobs is, of course, a matter of taste for the owner of the plot. Some people like their sweet corn unripe. Others prefer ripe, cooked cobs. In any case, it is not recommended to store fresh corn for too long. The cobs should be eaten or preserved no later than 20 days after they are picked.

    At the dachas, the harvest grown is, of course, simply collected by hand. Farmers who cultivate this crop over large areas use special machines for harvesting corn. This technique is something like a small combine harvester with a special header. The cutting device is usually located in front of the machine. Since corn is usually grown on agricultural land for livestock feed, it is cut off completely - the green mass along with the cobs.