Corn is one of the most popular crops in the garden, cultivated by many farmers and gardeners. This is not only a tasty addition to salads, but also an excellent pet food. Planting corn in the open ground with seeds is a great way to get this unique product. Cultivation of corn in the open field begins with the selection of varieties of crops. Before planting corn, you need to know exactly which of the many varieties is better to grow. In this article we will talk about varieties of corn, about the rules of planting and caring for a plant in the open field.
Corn: Description of Cultivated Plant
Corn - a representative of the family of cereals, or Myatlikovs. This is an annual herb that came to our territory from Mexico.
Did you know? Corn - the name of the genus, which is represented by one plant with the same name - corn.The plant can reach 3 m in height, and some species can grow up to 6 m. An upright stem develops from a well-developed root system. Corn differs from other cereals in the structure of the core, which is not hollow. The leaves are large, with a solid edge and horizontal veins. Leaves of light green color grow up to 10 cm. The height of one leaf is about 1 m. From the outside, the leaves are slightly pubescent. On one stem can be located from 12 to 23 leaves. Corn fruit is a kernel that can vary in color and size depending on the variety.
Features of planting corn in the country
Corn in the country is a great helper not only in preparing various dishes, but also in caring for livestock, so most of the summer residents are involved in its cultivation. Before you plant the corn in the garden or on the site, you must choose a place for the crop and prepare the soil.
Site selection for planting
There is an opinion that the cultivation of corn seedlings is possible only in the southern regions of the country. However, the sowing of corn in the garden can be carried out in regions with a temperate climate. The main thing - a well-lit, warm place, protected from the wind.
Important! Before planting corn, you need to worry about the neighbors of the plant. It is better to choose a place next to the pumpkin, which with its wide leaves protects the root system of corn from overheating, or with legumes - they emit nitrogen, which is necessary for corn.Also often when choosing a plot for planting, gardeners think, after which it is better to plant corn. Grain, pulses, cucumbers, tomatoes and root vegetables will be the best predecessors.
Soil requirements
In order not to worry further about how corn grows and bears fruit, it is necessary in advance to worry about the composition of the soil in which the crop will grow. The best option would be well-heated, well-drained soil with a good moisture level and a high level of humus.
How to plant corn
In order to plant corn, many factors need to be taken into account, as not only the right place and soil play a big role, but also the planting dates, the plantation scheme for corn, as well as the procedure and method of planting corn. Next, we take a closer look at all these nuances of growing corn.
Landing dates
In order for the corn to bring a good harvest, when growing a seed crop, it is necessary to know exactly when to plant it. In this case, you need to decide in advance on how you will grow the plant: by means of seedlings or by planting seeds immediately in open ground.
Did you know? If you live in the northern regions, it is better to abandon the sowing of seeds in open ground and carry out planting seedlings.Sowing seeds in open ground is possible only when the frosts are gone, and the soil temperature is at least +12 ° C. This is usually the end of April - the beginning of May. If you grow a seedling culture, the seeds can be sown in separate containers in early May, but the seedlings should be planted in open ground in mid-June.
Preparing the soil for planting
In order for corn to be pleased with its high yield, before planting it is necessary to carry out some procedures related to the preparation of the soil for cultivation. First of all, care must be taken to ensure that the soil is well hydrated as well as well drained. Preparing the soil for planting in a day or even a week does not work, so it is worth doing this in the fall. First of all, it is necessary to dig the area 25-30 cm deep. This can be done with a cultivator. Also in the soil it is necessary to add organic matter, namely - rotted manure, phosphate-potassium fertilizers.
Important! If the soil in your area is too acidic, you must add lime to this soil: 2-3 kg per 10 meters.In spring, before planting, it is necessary to break through the soil in order to destroy the already formed weeds, as well as for better access of oxygen.
Planting seeds in open ground
Planting seeds in open ground can begin when the temperature outside is not lower than 12 ° C. Before planting corn from seeds to seedlings appear faster, it is better to soak them. Many gardeners often do not know how to soak corn for planting, and simply spoil the seeds, keeping them in water or not warming them up sufficiently. In order for everything to go well and the seeds have risen, it is necessary to warm them 5 days before planting to a temperature of + 35 °, and then soak in warm water for several days. Water needs to be constantly changed. After all the preparation before planting is over, we proceed to the very process of planting seeds: in the ground you need to make small grooves and sow the grains in them, deepening them 5-7 cm deep. The first shoots can be seen after 2-14 days.
Did you know? In order for the corn crop to please you without interruptions, you can sow it by the conveyor method: plant corn with different ripening periods at intervals of 2 weeks.It is necessary to sow corn in such a way that the distance between the plants is at least 40 cm, and the width of the aisle is about 1 meter.
Gardeners have recognized the most successful square-nesting method of planting corn, in this case, the seeds are sown in wells of 3 pieces. in each. Grains are covered with moist soil, and above - with dry ground. At emergence of shoots it is necessary to remove weak sprouts and leave the most viable and developed.
How to grow corn in a seedling way
In cooler regions, corn is most often grown for seedlings and only then planted in open ground. Also, the seedling method is suitable for those who want to get a harvest ahead of time. Growing maize seedlings in the way begins with the preparation of a suitable container and soil mixture. Best suited special cassette for growing seedlings, paper or plastic cups. 
For seedlings, it is necessary to prepare the soil, it is best to mix 2 parts of compost, 1 part of peat and 1 part of sand, you can also add part of ash. In one container it is necessary to plant one seed to a depth of 2-3 cm and sprinkle sand on top. It is necessary to grow seedlings at room temperature and moderately water the plants, avoiding stagnant water.
Important! Planting seedlings should be carried out together with the earthy lump, planting a plant in the hole 2-3 cm deeper than the size of the coma, mulch the top with sand.
Features of growing corn in the country: how to care for the plant
In order to obtain a high-quality crop of corn, it is necessary not only to plant the plant properly, but also to care for corn during the entire period of its growth.
Hilling and weed removal
Hilling is a procedure that has a positive effect on growth and also helps fight weeds. Spud plant can be manually (at home planting) or by using machines (industrial scale planting). Given that the corn stalk is thick, and the plant itself is large, hilling will help the corn to “resist” the gusts of wind, and also contribute to faster and better growth. In addition, in the planting, which is heaped up, the moisture is preserved better, and the process of hilling itself involves loosening, which contributes to better access of oxygen. If you spud a plant, it will save you from having to remove weeds. Although there are many ways to control weeds: this is the mechanical treatment of plantings, namely weeding, or the treatment of plantings with chemical preparations.
Did you know? If you grow corn for yourself, it is better to weed the plant by hand and not to use chemicals in the fight against weeds or pests.
Watering and feeding
The first time after planting the corn must be fertilized when the plant already has 6 developed leaves. For feeding you can use humus or compost based on mullein or chicken manure. You can also use chemical fertilizers, for example, ammonium nitrate in liquid form, potash, phosphate, and nitrogen fertilizers will favorably affect the state of corn. With regard to irrigation, it is especially important to observe the level of humidity during the formation of cobs. Next, water the plant should be moderate, only when you notice the drying of the soil. Watering should be carried out so that the plant does not suffer from stagnant water.
Important! Some gardeners recommend doopydy corn, arguing that it increases its yield, for this purpose, cut off male plants from plants from the top of the stem and shake pollen from them to female flowers.
Corn harvesting
The fact that it is time to harvest, corn itself will inform its owners. The first stage is milky maturity, its first sign is the color of the kernels, they must be light yellow in color, be soft; the next sign - the difficulty of separating the leaves, covering the ear; the third sign is the darkening of the tips of the panicle. There is also the concept of biological maturity - yellowing leaves, orange color of the grains, brown brush. 
It is important to harvest in time, for this you need to know exactly what you are collecting corn for: for fresh consumption, it is necessary to collect corn in the dairy stage of ripening, corn for grain or, for example, for popcorn, in the stage of biological maturity. There are no particularly strict rules for harvesting maize, but there are some recommendations that are better to follow. The first is not all the cobs need to be torn off at once, but to begin picking from those closer to the top. Collect corn to break off the cob from the stem. Store the cobs must be in a dry room, folding them on an elevation so that they do not become food for rodents.
As you can see, getting a good corn crop is quite simple, and the cultivation of this crop does not require much effort. The main thing is desire, and you will be able to please yourself and your loved ones with delicious dishes with the addition of this product, or arrange a permanent feed for your animals.
